Businesses Oppose LAUSD’s 187 Stance

The Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley have joined the opposition to the Los Angeles Unified School District’s decision to fight Proposition 187 in the courts.

Proposition 187, which would deny many state services including schooling for illegal aliens, was approved by nearly 60% of voters in Tuesday’s election. Gov. Pete Wilson signed an executive order Wednesday to carry out the measure, but several school districts including the Los Angeles district have filed lawsuits in an attempt to block it.

“It seems to be a breach of trust for these elected officials to go out and spend public funds to oppose this measure,” said Robert Scott, a spokesman and immediate past president of the United Chambers of Commerce.

Los Angeles school board president Mark Slavkin has argued that the district is fighting for the right for free public education as a constitutional principle. But Scott counters that the school district should not use public funds to fight a measure approved by voters.

“The answer to Slavkin is to go out and listen to the people that elected him and find out what they want him to do,” Scott said. “The schools’ obligation is simply to check the status of kids coming into school. That’s something you have to do anywhere you go in life.”

The United Chambers of Commerce, made up of representatives of the San Fernando Valley’s local chambers, voted before the election to support Proposition 187 by a 15-10 vote.