Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa went to Washington, D.C., last week to introduce new proposals for lowering urban poverty through education.
Villaraigosa chairs a task force of major city mayors and called last week for the federal government to invest in education to fight poverty.
While in Washington, he proposed every student have a federally subsidized college savings account, with the government matching contributions up to $500 per year. He did not specify how students would be eligible for the program or when the accounts would be started.
His plan also includes expanding the earned income tax credit and reshaping schools nationwide to offer vocational job skills, spending up to $650 per student in order to develop a “career academy curriculum.”
The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday that his proposal asks Congress to spend at least $44 billion, which would be in addition to money from state and city governments as well as charitable contributions.
While they may be costly, Villaraigosa said he believes his initiatives are vital.
“The cost is in the billions; the dividends are in the trillions,” he told the National Press Club on Wednesday.
Gabe Rose, president of Bruin Democrats, said he supports the mayor’s ideas.
“Fighting poverty is crucial,” he said, adding that he applauded “innovative and different ways to think about it.”
Rose said that with a Democratic majority in Congress, Villaraigosa’s proposals may be taken seriously.
“It’s realistic to see funding,” he said.
But some skeptics of Villaraigosa’s plan said the mayor’s proposals may meet opposition in Congress.
“Any new domestic priority spending is going to be difficult in this fiscal climate when you have dollars going to the war and a growing deficit,” Michael Stoll, a UCLA public policy professor and associate director of the Center for the Study of Urban Poverty, told the Los Angeles Times.
And Katya Balan, vice chairwoman of Bruin Republicans, criticized Villaraigosa’s plan for its lack of details.
“It seems to be that his plan is vague and not specific,” Balan said. “It would make a lot more sense if it had more details.”
She also expressed concern over the lack of accountability in parts of Villaraigosa’s plan.
“It could end up being very hard to control,” she said. “I’m not sure it’s the best plan, but I’m hoping to see more from Villaraigosa.”
She also said his plans focus too much on public schools in lower-income areas.
“The entire system needs to be reformed,” she said.
Villaraigosa’s visit to the Capitol also included attending the State of the Union address and delivering the Democratic party’s weekly radio address.
“We are fortunate to have a well-respected, high-profile mayor,” Rose said.
His trip to the nation’s Capitol is seen by some as a chance to make a national name for himself.
“He is a rising star in the Democratic party,” Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker, told the Los Angeles Times.
Balan said Villaraigosa’s work in Washington could play an important role in shaping his political future.
“It was a great way for him to get his name out,” she said.
With reports from Bruin wire services.