Schwarzenegger seeking signatures

Marisa O’Neil

Just a block from where Arnold Schwarzenegger once opened a Planet

Hollywood restaurant, more than 100 people gathered outside a Red

Robin restaurant to get a glimpse of the governor.

But this time, the chants of those supporting his political

initiatives and those opposing his policies took the place of

screaming, star-struck fans.

Gov. Schwarzenegger paid the restaurant a lunchtime visit to

gather signatures to put his reform measures on the ballot.

A handful of protesters from Newport-Mesa Unified School District

gathered with others outside the restaurant to oppose his proposed

educational reforms.

Among the governor’s proposals are ones that would give merit pay

to teachers and eliminate tenure. Many state educators have contended

that Schwarzenegger has not restored education funding as promised

when he took office.

“We want him to keep his promises,” said Patty Christiansen,

former president of Harbor Council PTA and a vice president for the

county PTA. “He keeps saying he puts kids first and he hasn’t.”

Costa Mesa City Council member and PTA member Katrina Foley came

to lend her support, as a parent, to the protest.

“I really believe we need to make sure we’re funding education,”

she said. “We have to rely on outside [funding] sources for so much.”

Schwarzenegger supporters chanting, “We want reform,” lined the

walkway to the restaurant alongside parents and teachers union

members chanting, “Don’t sign the petition.”

Roughly an equal number of supporters and protesters grew more

vociferous as a motorcade pulled into view. A sport-utility vehicle

stopped briefly then pulled to the rear of the restaurant, where

Schwarzenegger entered through a back door.

Inside the Sunflower Avenue restaurant, Schwarzenegger touted his

reforms and told a crush of reporters that he’s added $3 billion to

the education budget.

“I’m not against teachers,” he said. “I love teachers. They do

extremely important jobs.”

But, he added, he has to go along with the “wishes of the people

of California,” calling for reform. The state needs to learn to be

“fiscally responsible,” he said.

Members of the UC Irvine Conservative Student Union came to the

restaurant to hear the governor and show him that he has student

support, said member Ivan Chen, 19.

Though Schwarzenegger’s budget significantly raised her student

fees, UCI student Francis Barraza, 20, said she feels her school is

still a good value. Much of public education in the state is lacking,

she conceded, but increasing funding isn’t the only answer, she said.

“We want to reform our school system,” she said. “But you don’t

need to just throw money at it.”