LOS ANGELES, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- A judge has thrown out a plan that would have let the Los Angeles mayor take over the city's schools, the Los Angeles Times reports.
While Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa promised to appeal Superior Judge Dzintra Janavs' Thursday ruling, the school board president was thrilled.
"It confirms my long-standing belief that this legislation was unconstitutional and not in the best interest of our students," said board President Marlene Canter.
The school takeover law, which was scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, violated the state Constitution and the City Charter the judge said. The mayor disagreed.
"I believe we have the law on our side. I believe we have the Constitution on our side," Villaraigosa told the Times. "More than that, I believe we have the people on our side."
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, signaled his support for the mayor in a statement, saying he joined him his appeal.
