As Vice President of the City College Board of Trustees, John has worked to increase public access to the institution that provides quality education for 100,000 students in San Francisco.

John has worked to prioritize spending to maximize benefits to students, while looking for equitable ways to implement state budget cuts that are fair to faculty and other employees. He has made green jobs training a prority of the distict and has championed the hiring of economically disadvantaged San Francisco residents for the District's construction projects.

As chair of the Facilities, Infrastructure, and Technology Committee, John is overseeing several construction projects, including the new Multi Use classroom building, a LEED Gold green building that is the first recent City College project to be delivered on time and on budget. He has authored a number of policy changes that have brought increased transparency and fiscal oversight.

In 2008, John won a commendation from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for his work in environmental advocacy in promoting a new green economy and environmental justice.