Bill Lee: “Student loan debt really is hampering our young people from moving forward. They are concerned mainly about how to get a…”

“Student loan debt really is hampering our young people from moving forward. They are concerned mainly about how to get a job that is going to pay enough money to pay down their debt when, really, they should be looking at how to move forward and get the type of job they want, buy a home if they want, have a family or do some of the things that their dreams have been in their minds, in their vision, and in their heart for years. Now their dreams are deferred because they have to just hang on with their families and pay student loan debt. Secondly, in our area, the cost of housing is outrageous. We met with the Secretary of HUD last week to try to determine what the Federal Government could do to help with, first, displacement and, secondly, to help develop more affordable housing, which, of course, will help young people because they can't afford to live now in the east bay or in the bay area, really. Our region is just excessively expensive, and we have to figure out how young people can stay where they want to stay and how they can have the type of life they deserve. They have gotten a degree. I went to UC-Berkeley. That is my alma mater--go Bears--and I know what a phenomenal education it is. But I also know, when you get out, you think that that degree, that piece of paper, is a ticket to something better, and here you end up having to go back home, live with your parents, and pay down your student debt. That is outrageous. It doesn't make any sense.…”