Posted on 01/24/2007 3:35:39 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(CBS) LOS ANGELES -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called on federal, state and local officials Wednesday to develop a plan to fight poverty by investing more money in education.
During a luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Villaraigosa pushed for coordinated investment in universal preschool, education saving accounts and expanded availability of career training for youths.
"There is no clearer predictor of economic success, no more powerful weapon against poverty, than educational attainment," Villaraigosa said. "It's time to move the issue of education reform to the front and center of the national debate."
Villaraigosa's speech offered a preview of recommendations he plans to release Wednesday as chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Task Force on Poverty Work and Opportunity.
Villaraigosa Tuesday called for more federal funds to crack down on illegal firearms fueling the gang problems in the nation's cities.
"Violent street gangs represent the most significant threat to public safety in our cities today, and illegal handguns are their weapon of choice," Villaraigosa told more than 50 mayors who dubbed themselves the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition.
"If we can stop guns from illegally falling into the hands of gangs, we can stop the violence and stop the killings," Villaraigosa said. About 30 percent of guns used in Los Angeles are illegally obtained, while the bulk of legal guns are purchased by "straw purchasers" who then transfer them to others, he said.
The Los Angeles Police Department now has 18 officers permanently assigned to its anti-gun unit, while the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has a 10-member task force in the city.
"When enforcing the law, we can't simply arrest violent offenders after they commit their crimes," Villaraigosa said. "We've got to go after the illegal drugs and guns that contribute to the culture of violence in our cities."
In another trip to Washington earlier this month, he met with Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez to ask for better coordination with federal officials in fighting gangs.
It's NOT the "education" it's the MONEY! They are NOT interested in "education" at all.....just in bilking idiots who think they are for the "children."
AS a former California tax payer I've heard this same crap out of the same political types for the past 40 years. Oh we need more money for education, they get the money and we still get uneducated kids out of the public schools and gang problems. Saying that guns cause this crime culture is like saying Viagra causes aids (that argument has been spotted here on Free Republic also).
Ditch diggers have the same earning capacity as engineers?
The world will always need both. Until the engineer makes a completely autonomous ditch digger.
Is this rocket science? Of course the secret to cutting crime is education. But why would anyone with any sense think the education problem can be fixed by throwing money at schools? Any chance the real problem might be children having illegitimate children? How many kids make it when there is no family behind them? If we don't address that problem, we've lost.
The problem is that they are doing little to nothing and boring us to death in the meantime.
Education reform: Paddling from K to 12.
That's a good start! Of course the answer is education. Until the little gang-banger sees a doctor or lawyer as the preferred role model and not the rap star or pro athlete then there is little hope for them.
Chicago - the crime rate during the day when school is in session. All the money that goes down the rat hole of Chicago schools to keep those daycare centers for 14-18 year olds open. They scream each and every year for more money. They didn't succeed with the "more" they got last year or the year before that or the decade before that. Money isn't the answer - unless you're a member of the NEA...
don't question the NEA. No gubmint program is ever a failure, it's just underfunded!
This guy is a moron...he is the one that led them out of their schools for their Amnesty protests last year.
A liberal education is good for a trip to the poor house.
Math lesson for the day ... Remember, the government doesn't pay for more than three illegitimate children, so cut it off at three.
That phrase has gotten to be nothing but a platitude. It's utterly meaningless both as a suggestion and a solution.
"Villaraigosa pushed for coordinated investment in universal preschool..."
Villaraigosa's wife is a former teacher.
Universal preschool was on the ballot in a past election cycle.
Prop. 82...Originally introduced /crafted with the assistance of Rob Reiner (Meathead).
Legal, taxpaying voters went to polls and defeated Prop. 82.
Numerous reasons were cited for Prop. 82's defeat.
What part of this does Villaraigosa not get..Legal, taxpaying Californians are not endeared to universal preschool.
Endorsers of Prop. 82..CTA, Senators Barbara Boxer and Fienstein.
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