Council Referral Item of the Day: Financial Aid For College To Undocument Residents

08-0002-S73 (Garcetti – Reyes – Huizar – Cárdenas) with the concurrence of the Mayor, that the City of Los Angeles hereby include in its 2007-08 State Legislative Program support for SB 1301 (Cedillo), which would allow undocumented students who attended high school in California to be eligible for state financial aid for use at California public colleges and universities. To Rules and Government Committee

WHEREAS, even with the help of AB 540 many undocumented students cannot afford the costs of attending college, as they are not recognized as state residents and therefore not eligible for state financial aid; [what about the DOCUMENTED students who cannot afford the cost of attending college...have ALL of THOSE students gotten financial aid, first? What about the troops?]

and WHEREAS, in order to ensure that all citizens of California have the opportunity to attend college, earn a degree, work in a profession that pays a living wage, and contribute their talents for betterment of their community, we must never allow the cost of tuition to come in the way of the American dream;

[I understand it's not these childrens' fault that their parents broke the law to achieve this American Dream and they are born innocent and shouldn't be held back as a result...but it is not the U.S. Government's job to ENSURE that all citizens have the opportunity to attend college. YES...COST IS A BARRIER TO ENTRY FOR PEOPLE IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE...THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED A "DREAM" You are making it sound as though the U.S. Government is taking away their right to work and earn a wage? WHAT'S NEXT, COST SHOULDN'T BE A BARRIER TO LIVE IN TRUMP TOWER? HAS THIS CITY COUNCIL TAKEN SOME BAD ACID FROM THE 70's? WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE SHAMELESS IDIOTS? I THOUGH GARCETTI WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SMART?]

and WHEREAS, currently pending in the California State Senate is SB 1301 (Cedillo), the California Dream Act, which expands eligibility for State post secondary institutional financial aid and Community College fee waiver programs to include students who are exempted from paying nonresident tuition under AB 540;

and WHEREAS, under SB 1301, undocumented students applying for higher education
will be able to receive state financial aid, thereby lifting a heavy barrier to their future as college students;

[What if they don't graduate? Do they have to pay back all the money, because if not, we lose the entire investment cause they won't have the degree. If anything, it should be college loans that don't have to be paid back upon graduation, if that is your goal. And, a lot of people in America have heavy barriers. The United States Government isn't here to ensure anything but freedom and municipal services.]

and WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles should support the California Dream Act
because it is in the best interest of our state's economy to have an educated workforce to provide the innovation necessary to keep California competitive in the global economy;

[An educated workforce starts with higher graduation rates. It's not the fact that some cannot afford college that is the problem with the workforce. People not graduating high school is a problem, to start. But I know we are talking about the GOOD students with the grades to make it into college...TOO BAD! Sorry, I have empathy and sympathy for all kinds of people across society. It ain't no fun being on the outside looking in. But it's not the FEDS job to move these mountains. And in the midst of a financial crisis that has Governor Schwarzenegger trying to borrow against future lottery revenue and Mayor Villaraigosa tripling fees and creating new fees and taxes (while having LAPD be the city's biggest revenue generator as ticket writing hits new levels) -- NO MORE FINANCIAL AID FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS IF DOCUMENTATION IS CURRENTLY REQUIRED!

I'm very sorry. I feel bad for homeless, the sick, the abused, the poor, and all kinds of people's personal hardship situation that I hear about. THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE WARREN BUFFET POCKETS TO PROP EVERYONE UP INTO A MIDDLE CLASS AMERICAN DREAM.

When they won't even be able to provide basic public services that ensure public safety...a college degree won't matter when the streets look like a Rodney King riot, every day!

I feel bad that some kids are disadvantaged because of the actions of their parents. It happens to kids across the country everyday. I only see two solutions:

a) The student has to work to earn the tuition, even if it takes extra years after high school. (And again, I'm sorry you are disadvantaged because of circumstances beyond your control. The U.S. used to be able to be much more charitable, but it was so charitable that it is broke as hell, now.)

b) LEARN A VOCATION IN HIGH SCHOOL: Everyone knows more and more good college jobs have been exported and have left the country in record numbers. At the same time, they can't find enough electricians and contractors at the electric companies. Nothing wrong with making $100,000 as an electrician, mechanic, truck driver, or a host of vocational jobs that cannot be exported or imported. When you need a construction supervisor (that does not require a college education) or need someone to repair your refrigerator, or hook up your computer network...you don't fly in someone from China.]

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, with the concurrence of the Mayor, that by the adoption of this resolution, the City of Los Angeles hereby includes in its 2007-2008 State Legislative Program SUPPORT for SB 1301 (Cedillo), which would allow undocumented students who attended high school in California to be eligible for state financial aid for use at California public colleges and universities.

WAY TO GO DUMBASS L.A. SHITTY CLOWNCIL...NOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE EVERY ILLEGAL ALIEN IN THE WORLD COMING TO CALIFORNIA FOR THE FREE COLLEGE TUITION. I HOPE IT IS YOUR KIDS WHO CAN'T GET INTO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY'S AND I HOPE YOU ARE THE ONES WHO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS YOU SOCIALIST WACK-JOBS!

NOW GO TRIPLE EVERYONE'S FEES AND MAKE UP A BUNCH OF NEW ILLEGAL TAXES TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS!