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):

Sculpture installation at new LAPD headquarters: art or atrocious?

In today's column, Steve Lopez finds mixed reactions to the six cast-bronze pieces recently installed outside of the nearly completed LAPD headquarters downtown. Police Chief William J. Bratton said he walked by the installation to see whether "it's as ugly up close as it is when you're driving by." A passerby said, "It's nice, but is this a pig, or what is it?"

If you haven't seen the objects in person, take a look at a these photos. Let us know what you think of the installation.

Photo: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

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.

El Monte police officer kicks car chase suspect in the head. Is it police brutality?

A car chase through the San Gabriel Valley on Wednesday ended with the suspect, a 23-year-old El Monte resident named Richard Rodriguez, being kicked in the head by an El Monte police officer after he had apparently surrendered and was lying prone on the ground.

Rodriguez was taken to the Greater El Monte Community Hospital due to injury; it was unclear if his injuries were related to the kick or to an earlier car crash, or both. He was a parolee-at-large, according to Lt. Chuck Carlson of the El Monte Police Department, who said the internal affairs department is investigating the incident as to whether excessive force was used by the police.

The ACLU says that's not good enough and called today for the immediate suspension of the officer who kicked Rodriguez, calling his actions an "egregious example of police abuse." 

Is the ACLU right?  Readers who've commented on the story in LA Now are divided.

Some were of the opinion that Rodriguez earned the kick by starting the trouble. "You start a chase and endanger lives you deserve a kick in the head," Tony wrote.  

"That criminal placed the lives of innocent people in danger while in pursuit. What if he had killed a little girl walking down the street? Then, that would be a different reaction huh? Bunch of liberal cry babies here," said reconranger.

Back the Badge added, "Good job officers. Thanks for getting this violent criminal off the streets. If you don't want to get kicked in the head folks, don't act like an animal."

Others disagreed, saying that no matter what Rodriguez may have done, the kick was uncalled for.  "It's a sad commentary on the state of our nation when so many here advocate 'street justice' in place of the judicial system. This is not the wild west," Toluca Lake Observer wrote.

"Whether or not the suspect 'deserved' to be kicked is not the point," said Dave T.  "Based on the description of his actions during the chase he belongs in prison. BUT, the (theoretical) difference between the good guys and the bad guys is that the good guys are supposed to follow the rules."

(More reactions after the jump)

Should ability override experience when firing teachers?

Tenure used to mean that a teacher would be safe from losing his or her job, regardless of recession or budget issues. However, with new statements made by top officials in the Los Angeles Unified School District, it seems that the age-old rule that experience overrules ability may be overturned. 

While the teachers union is set to fight the move, school board member Marlene Canter stated that she was ready to fight for changes in layoff policies. David Holmquist, the district's chief operating officer, said, "If the dismissal process is not reformed, we will continue to face the choice of returning to schools some teachers that we don't want working for us, or keeping them out of the classroom and paying them to do nothing while great teachers face layoffs."

Readers said: 

Ziggle:  If the union wants to regain any credibility with the public, it needs to start advocating for revisions to tenure that get incompetent teachers off the payroll and out of the classroom. Too many kids are hurt under the current system. Teachers need to get over the idea of tenure. You don't have it in virtually any other job, and people do just fine. If you're an excellent teacher, you'll either be offered a new contract or you'll find a school where your skills are wanted. If you're a mediocre or poor teacher, get out of the way and go find a job where you can be good, and not a sea-anchor on student performance.

Dave in LA: I do not think it is inconceivable that the teachers unions can strike a balance between protecting deserving teachers, and protecting children's education. Saving a teacher's job is admirable if the teacher is one that is effective. It is time unions start working with the district and the state to develop reasonable ways to identify and rehabilitate or remove underperforming teachers, and reward the most effective teachers. Future generations' education is at stake.

Informed individual: Two words -- private school. My kid started elementary school just last year. I had a choice to buy a new car or take my kid to private school. I am a proud owner of a MTA bus pass.

Do you think tenure rights should be overturned? Sound off below. 

- Michelle Castillo

Photo: Joseph Walker, former principal of Grant High School in Van Nuys, says that because of the uphill battles that administrators face in terminating teachers: “You’re not going to fire someone who’s not doing their job. And if you have someone who’s done something really egregious, there’s only a 50-50 chance that you can fire them.” Credit: Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times

Does the threat of violence stop you from going to Dodger Stadium?

L.A. Times reporter Andrew Blankstein reported last month that a man was stabbed multiple times during the Dodgers home opener against the San Francisco Giants. Blankstein followed up today with a report that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the assault.

This is not the first time that violence has been committed at the stadium. Back in 2003, a West Covina man leaving the stadium got into an argument with a group of men, which resulted in his death by shooting.

Right after the recent stabbing, our readers expressed concern about attending Dodgers games at Chavez Ravine.

"I have to say, the games have gotten worse. All these people do is ruin it for the true fans. We go and spend good money and the last thing that I want is: having to worry about my kids having things thrown at them. I had to tell my 4 year old, that the fool next to me was yelling, “dirty socks”, rather then “Giant Suck”. There needs to be a no tolerance rule with all of this fools who think, getting drunk and going to a public place is cool." - Rafa 

Dodger Stadium can bring chaotic fans, but that can happen anywhere in LA. People get unruly and they fight. Only COWARDS pull out knives and guns. What happened to fighting one on one and whoever wins, wins! That's it.  - Gina

Time to bring back those middle aged ushers with straw hats to kick butt and take names. - dodger tony

On the other hand....

Where were you during the Los Angeles riots of 1992?

Seventeen years ago today, four LAPD officers were acquitted of assault charges for the beating of Rodney G. King, which was caught on one of the most widely seen videos of the 1990s. 

The verdict was met with outrage. It was also met with the Los Angeles riots of 1992, which shocked America with the sheer force of its violence and destruction.  More than 50 people were killed and an estimated 2,000 injured in several days of rioting. 

Where were you when the riots broke out?  Share your memories of the event here.

Related:
Photo gallery: Los Angeles riots remembered
Vigil planned tonight to mark anniversary of 1992 L.A. riots

Photo: A California Highway Patrol officer stands guard at 9th Street and Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles as smoke rises from a fire farther down the street on April 30, 1992.  Credit: David Longstreath / Associated Press

MTA approves Spanish translation for the Gold Line, to some public consternation

The MTA Board of Directors voted to give the new East L.A. rail line two distinct names for Spanish-speaking and English-speaking riders.

The Gold Line's new section to open this summer from Boyle Heights to East L.A. will be named la Linea de Oro, Edward R. Roybal in Spanish-language brochures and on station signs. In English materials, that segment will be called the Edward R. Roybal Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension.

L.A. Now readers approved and disapproved the MTA Board's decision for two names for the same section of  railway for practical reasons, while some criticized the validity of the translation in Spanish and whether there should be a translation at all.

David Stein says: The correct translation would be "La Linea Oro", rather than La Linea de Oro, or La Linea Dorada. That is unless the tracks really are made of gold... or manna is to be found on the path to East LA.
As an example, it would not be correct to say La Linea de Azul for the Blue Line, rather, La Linea Azul, Azul simply being the adjective to describe the subway line.

M says: Most people have already said these things, but really, there are so many PRACTICAL problems with this naming scheme.

-This is very confusing to people unfamiliar with the area, unfamiliar with public transportation and tourists from other cities, states and countries. Who expects a train line to have multiple names, one of which only corresponds to a portion of the train line? If people only ride on one short portion of the line or only acknowledge one name and apply it to all parts of the line, people aren't going to be able to communicate with each other to give directions. I can guarantee you that only a small portion of the people that will ever ride the Gold Line are reading this blog.
This is partially the same problem that happens with the Red and Purple line. It wasn't until recently that they were finally distinguished by 2 different colors, but that is still confusing to people, especially when maps aren't clear, they don't know to look at the signs on the side of the trains or when the signs don't say the correct things and because they share many of the same stops and the same stations.
-Even if some people are familiar with both spanish and english, some people are not going to do the translation in their head to realize that la linea de oro is the same thing as the gold line. Again, especially with people from other countries and states this will be a problem.
-2 MTA policies were violated to make this change. Why are these policies in place if they can also be completely ignored?

Joel C says: Are we going to rename the Purple Line 자주색의 because it goes through Koreatown?

We have the Blue Line, the Green Line, the Red Line, the Purple Line...and la Linea de Oro? Anybody can see the problem here.

The biggest problem with this (other than Molina's ego) is the fact that the name is supposed to fit into a system of names, which are based on colors, in English. This is not a preference of English over other languages, but strictly a practical matter of consistency.

More LA Now reader's opinion after the jump...

Federal judges support cutting California's prison population by over 30 percent

Three federal judges have ruled that overcrowding in California prisons means that "there are not enough clinical facilities or resources to accommodate inmates with medical or mental health needs at the level of care they require." 

Based on this ruling, it's likely that California's prison population will be reduced by 36,000 to 57,000 inmates.  The Times' Michael Rothfeld has the details:

If the state is ordered to reduce the prison population, it would likely be able to do so over two or three years, so it would not have to release large numbers of inmates at once. Some methods of cutting the population include limiting new admissions, changing policies so parole violators return to prison less frequently, and giving prisoners more time off of their sentences for good behavior and rehabilitation efforts.

The judges said these types of measures could save the state more than $900 million a year in prison costs, money that could be used by cities and counties to put those who otherwise would have gone to prison into local jails or treatment programs...

"It's a pretty comprehensive victory for us," said Michael Bien, a lawyer in San Francisco who has fought for mentally ill prisoners. "It was a message -- a very loud, clear message -- that it's time that the public officials in California took responsibility for their own criminal justice system."

State officials announced their plans to appeal the court's ruling.

What do you think?  Are you concerned that a decreased inmate population will lead to an increase in crime?  Or do you support a decision that could save tax dollars by cutting down on prison time for prisoners who exhibit good behavior?  Weigh in here.

-- Lindsay Barnett

Photo: Inmates sit in crowded conditions at California State Prison, Los Angeles.  Credit: Associated Press.

Doctor, cyclists collide over street etiquette

Christopher Thomas Thompson, a physician who resides in Brentwood, told police officers at a preliminary arraignment that he had wanted to "teach them a lesson" when he slammed on his brakes with two cyclists behind him on the road:

"Ron Peterson, 40, broke his front teeth and nose; cuts left scars on his chin, above his upper lip and across the bridge of his nose. The other cyclist, Christian Stoehr, 29, had a separated shoulder that led to surgery, the insertion of metal implants and chronic arthritis and soreness, his doctor told police."

The incident occurred on a narrow, curvy road often populated by drivers and cyclists alike. Last summer, Peterson and Stoehr were riding next to each other on the street. According to Peterson, Thompson barely avoiding clipping the cyclists, and then screamed that the pair should "ride single-file."

Four months prior to that accident, Thompson was implicated in another incident where two (different)cyclists claim they were almost hit by him when they swerved to avoid a storm drain.

Thompson's arraignment began today. He has pled not guilty. Peter Swarth, Thompson's attorney, says that "there is much, much more, and it will be developed in court."

After the jump, see how commenters have been quick to defend both sides of the story.

Share your thoughts on the Montecito wildfire

The Montecito wildfire, which began Thursday night, has destroyed more than 100 homes and burned 2,500+ acres in Santa Barbara County.  Share your thoughts here.

Photo: Reed Saxon/AP

Discuss the Supreme Court's ruling on Navy sonar use

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling will allow the Navy to use high-powered sonar off the SoCal coast, despite protests from environmentalists who say the sonar harms whales and other marine mammals.

The Times' David Savage reports:

Chief Justice John G. Roberts said the Navy needs to train its crews to detect enemy submarines, and it cannot be forced to turn off its sonar when whales are spotted nearby. "The public interest in conducting training exercises with active sonar under realistic conditions plainly outweighs" the concerns voiced by environmentalists, he said for a 5-4 majority.

Do you agree with the Supreme Court ruling?  Do the Navy's needs trump the potential effects on marine life?  Weigh in here.

Photo: Dennis Fujimoto/AP

Los Angeles Earthquake

It wasn't exactly "The Big One", as reader Neil's photo demonstrates.  ("Damage in Santa Monica" is the title he gave his photo, submitted to Latimes.com's user-generated photo and video site, Your Scene.)

Earlier today, we asked you if you felt the magnitude 5.4 earthquake that shook Southern California.  Your responses ran the gamut from frightened to blase to downright perplexing (my personal favorite: "in my country bam earthquake was a very bad event... i love bon jovi," said reader Pesian Boy).  In retrospect, were our nerves shaken more than our foundations?  Did you find any damage at home or at work?  Were you rattled by aftershocks?  Weigh in here.

Photo by Neil from the Your Scene album L.A. Earthquake. 
Got your own photo or video?  We'd love to see it!

--Lindsay Barnett