CYPRESS : City Council Hears Prop. 187 Criticism

Two residents appeared before City Council members this week, urging them not to endorse Proposition 187, the initiative that would deny education, social services and all but emergency medical care to illegal immigrants.

The council, at its Sept. 12 meeting, heard a supporter of Proposition 187 urge the council to give its endorsement to the measure. The council deferred action pending receipt of the full text of the initiative. But three council members spoke that night in favor of doing something to control illegal immigration, and no member spoke against Proposition 187.

But Father Mike Heher, pastor of St. Irenaeus Church in Cypress, on Monday offered the council 10 reasons not to endorse the initiative.

Heher’s arguments included contentions that the initiative would not solve problems and might increase them. “We could lose 15 billion tax dollars because the proposition is at odds with federal law,” he said.

Heher also told council members that “you are well aware that denying benefits to non-citizens will not solve California’s troubles.”

Teacher Carolyn Pryor, who also spoke against Proposition 187, told the council that the initiative “will cost us more money than it will ever save.”

Monday night’s council agenda did not include discussion of the initiative, and no council member commented about Heher’s or Pryor’s remarks.