Comments war: UC students and non-UC students discuss the student fee hike

It seems the recent decision by the University of California Board of Regents to increase student fees by 32% has caused not only a "students vs. regents" demonstration at UCLA's campus today, but also a "students vs. non-students" quarrel in our comments sections.

The fee hike that everyone is arguing about (justifiably so) will come in two steps by fall 2010. Basic UC education fees will rise then to about $10,300, plus another $1,000 for campus-based charges and an estimated additional $16,000 for room, board and books.

No wonder there is such a heated comments war in our blogs: With the raise, the cost of a UC education will be triple what it was a decade ago. Compared to other U.S. four-year public colleges, which have raised tuition and fees by an average 6.5% to $7,020 a year, a 32% fee hike is pretty notable.

On the L.A. Now blog, the battle rages on with two parties: non-UC students -- who seem to be a mixture of out-of-college adults, community college students and general California residents -- and current UC students. The former argue that current students are being unreasonably demanding.

Balancing the budget is never easy, is it?

Here is what the non-UC students have had to say so far:

Pablo defends his own interests against the fee hike protestors: Listen up, UC students. I'm about to lose my job and I'm close to losing my house. Do you want me to sell my 10-year old car so that I can pay for your incredibly cheap tuition?

He also said: Who taught these people that they were entitled to free (or unreasonably cheap) stuff in life?

Duken4evr believes UC students should explore other means available to pay for their education: They can always go to community college like the rest of us. Screw those spoiled brat UCLA students. Hit up your rich mommies and daddies for the difference. Cry me a river. What a bunch of useless losers.

SoCalReality presents a parent’s point of view: This state is bankrupt! Your FREE education ended at High School. You want to be treated like an adult, act like one and PAY YOUR OWN WAY. The UC system already subsidizes your education with fees below their cost. What you want is continuing "Student Welfare" on the backs of us Tax Payers; go to a cheaper collage or to a Cal State like my kids. But NO, you want caviar education paid by others. GROW UP!

And Reality takes a stand about the actual educational material: IF UC wants to save some money...get rid of the worthless soft-science degrees such as gender and ethnic studies and make those profesors get real jobs instead of pusing their anti-American rants on the tax payer dime!

Then UC students took a stand (after the jump):

Schwarzenegger becomes latest Republican to back Obama's healthcare overhaul plan

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today became the latest Republican to back an overhaul of healthcare, as the Obama administration gathers support for what it hopes will be the final bipartisan push.

In a prepared statement, Schwarzenegger, generally more liberal on social issues than most of his fellow Republicans, stressed the need for action. "I believe in the vital importance of this issue and that it should be addressed through bipartisan cooperation."

The governor, who is termed out, cited goals he shares with Obama, such as slowing the growth in healthcare costs and ensuring a strong economic recovery. "I appreciate his partnership with the states and encourage our colleagues on both sides of the aisle at the national level to move forward."

Schwarzenegger joins the bipartisanship parade of healthcare reform backers that includes former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, the former Health and Human Services secretary in the Bush administration. New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, elected as a Republican but now an independent, has also backed reform.

After the jump check out the latest Twitter updates from Michael Muskal, and your comments.

Healthcare debate Q&A

What do you think of the proposed healthcare reforms? Will any of the reforms affect you? How will a potential healthcare overhaul affect the country?

Do you have healthcare reform questions? Post them here.

California reaches a budget agreement

According to a variety of sources, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Twitter account, California's Legislature has agreed to a budget for the state.  An excerpt from The Times' report:

Most of the details have yet to be released. But interviews with lawmakers and staff involved in the negotiations suggest that the plan would reshape government in California, significantly scaling back many services that have been offered to residents -- particularly the elderly and the poor -- for years.

In addition, tens of thousands of seniors and children would lose access to healthcare, local governments would sacrifice billions of dollars in state assistance this year and large numbers of state prisoners would have their sentences scaled back. Welfare checks would go to fewer residents, state workers would be forced to continue to take unpaid days off and new drilling for oil would be permitted off the Santa Barbara coast.

"There isn't a whole lot of good news in this budget," said Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento).

But the agreement does not "eliminate the safety net for California," said Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles).

So does this breakthrough give you hope? Do you trust that the budget will meet the needs of the people?

-- Tony Pierce

Photo: Gov. Schwarzenegger, flanked by Senate Minority Leader Dennis Hollingsworth (left), Assembly Minority Leader Sam Blakeslee (second from left), Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (second from right) and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (right), discusses the budget compromise Monday.  Credit: Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press

Villaraigosa's remarks on paying for Michael Jackson's memorial service anger readers

Michael Jackson's extravagant memorial service drew criticism last week from city officials who were concerned over the event's estimated $1.4-million price tag. 

However, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced this morning that he would not be attempting to recoup any of the cost, arguing that it was the city's responsibility to oversee the event.  According to L.A. Now, he even criticized a donation website that had been set up by his staff.

“I thought it was ridiculous,” the mayor told reporters during a visit to Los Angeles Trade-Technical College. 

Villaraigosa said Los Angeles is a large metropolitan city where major events occur routinely, and that the city is obligated to protect public safety. He added that no one would have expected New York or Chicago to ask others to donate for basic city services during a major event, and he said he is not going to ask AEG, the owner of the Staples Center, to either pay or raise money to offset the city’s expenses.

Many readers believe that Villaraigosa's comments are inappropriate considering the city's financial troubles.

"Given the budget Mr. Mayor, just why should the tax payers pay funeral expenses fpr a private citizen when librarys, parks, hospitals & schools are facing shortened hours/closures, city employees are facing layoffs & furloughs? Oh, wait I know ... it's just another part of your political platform of kising up to the rich & famous," said kgoddess.

Do discounts for furloughed workers violate state civil rights laws? One lawyer says yes

Alfred G. Rava, the San Diego attorney who made headlines after claiming an Oakland A's Mother's Day promotion violated his civil rights -- has a new lawsuit on his hands. This time, it concerns a discount offered by a ski resort for furloughed state workers.  According to L.A. Now:

Rava wrote in a June 15 letter to Squaw Valley, in Northern California, that the discounts it offered over the winter violated state civil rights laws by giving the employees special treatment. Squaw is one of many California businesses that has been offering a break to California’s 200,000 furloughed employees.

Rava has requested that Squaw Valley discontinue the discounts, and he called on the resort to pay $4,049 for each of his clients, as well as $2,400 in attorney fees.

Rava's lawsuit is among more than 40 he has filed under California's Unruh Civil Rights Act, which outlaws discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical conditions, marital status and sexual orientation.  In 2006, Rava made headlines after filing lawsuits against several baseball franchises over their Mother's Day promotions, which offered free gifts for female fans. 

Many fear that if Rava's new lawsuit is successful, it could open doors for more litigation against other businesses that offer discounts to furloughed state employees. 

Should taxpayers be responsible for Michael Jackson's memorial service?

After days of speculation, many of the details surrounding Michael Jackson's memorial service have been revealed.  The venue is reserved, the date is set, and most fans already have their tickets.  Yet, one key question remains unanswered -- who exactly will be paying for all this?

Right now, it looks like taxpayers might be stuck footing the bill.

Organizers estimate that the cost of the event could to run into the millions, but city officials are still unclear over how the event will be paid for.  Although Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry said she would love for the Jacksons to help pay the costs of the memorial, she had not heard from them as of this morning.

For many Los Angeles residents, the event is eerily reminiscent of last month's Lakers parade, which caused similar controversy.  That event was eventually paid for by private donors.

"This city still has a $360-million deficit and this is a private event, much like the Laker parade. Someone in the Jackson family needs to pony up the money or cancel the event," wrote Dave.

"Sweet, more tax payer funds to support the rich and famous. I love LA. Can the city pay for my funeral as well?" said Tony Phan.

"City services for any PLANNED event should be paid for by the promoters of the event. In this case, especially, the promoters will likely make a fortune in record sales and future events that piggy back onto this spectacle. There is no reason these people should make money on the backs of taxpayers. It's no wonder our city is broke!" wrote Pablo.

Schwarzenegger asks what you think of the 'Cow Tails' video

Apparently the governor thinks that when the state's budget crisis has reached a point at which California will have to issue IOUs, debating cow tails should be temporarily terminated.

Meanwhile, state Treasurer Bill Lockyer thinks that some members of the Legislature wouldn't mind if the whole state is forced to shut down, according to L.A. Now:

Lockyer, a Democrat who was previously California’s attorney general and leader of the state Senate, said the state has had “an institutional breakdown.” He sees growing tensions between the Legislature’s majority Democrats and Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: “I would not be surprised if the Legislature’s response to the governor’s muscle is to say: Fine, shut everything down.”

He aimed some fire at GOP lawmakers, saying he believed there are “a number of Republican legislators that are gleeful about the state shutting down,” if that’s where the fiscal crisis takes California.

Surprisingly wily, Schwarzenegger has been using social media tools like Twitter and YouTube to express his point of view during the budget showdown. On Tuesday, he expressed frustration late into the night. On Wednesday, he had some video produced so he could show that, indeed, in the middle of a crisis, California was debating cow tails.

So is this a legislature that is intentionally dragging its feet to force the state to close down? Does the governor have a point? Or is he overlooking something?

-- Tony Pierce

Proposed $2-million Lakers parade draws controversy

Sunday night's Lakers victory was well received in a city that hasn't had much to celebrate as of late.  Even though Game 5 was held in Orlando, millions of Lakers fans gathered at homes and bars to watch the game unfold on television. After the buzzer sounded, crowds poured into the streets as Lakers fans from across Los Angeles came together in a grand display of pride and unity that quickly devolved into destructive rioting.

After setting a few police cars on fire and doing a bit of looting, the crowds dispersed and the revelers went home.     

The rioting, which caused significant monetary damage, has had quite an effect on the growing debate over Wednesday's proposed $2-million Laker parade. Many feel that the parade -- for which the city would pay half -- is inappropriate at a time when the city is struggling to resolve severe budget shortfalls.  Sunday night's rioting only added to the list of concerns held by many Los Angeles residents. 

"The Lakes deserve every recognition winning the championship. However, in these difficult times for the city and Laker fans, a parade/rally is insensitive and hurtful; I'll send the organization an e-card instead. If the city can afford a parade, the taxpayers of Los Angeles are then obviously being lied to by civic leaders regarding a fiscal crisis," said ELizabeth.

"Does that fee include the cost to clean up after all these hoodlums who have already rioted and caused damage throughout the city, including injuries to eight police officers? Huge huge HUGE waste of money," added MB.

More after the jump...