  FOR MAYOR? |
LOS ANGELES - July 24, 1997 - (VCT) State Assemblyman, Antonio Villaragosa (D-District 45) Majority leader of the California State Assembly, claims that immigration is the responsiblity of California. Speaking on the radio interview show "Which Way L.A.?" (KCRW - FM) on Thursday, July 24, Villaraigosa said, "The federal government has said that this issue of immigration isn't a federal issue, it's a Califoria issue. Guess what? California has half the immigrants in the entire nation." .......Together with Assembly Speaker Cruz Bustamante, who appeared on the same program, Villaraigosa demanded that California taxpayers pick up the tab for welfare services to legal immigrants which has been dropped by the federal government. "As I recall," said Glenn Spencer, president of Voice of Citizens Together, a grass-roots organization opposed to illegal immigration, "when the Mexicans were fighting Proposition 187 they told us that it was an illegal state scheme to regulate immigration. In fact, federal judge Mariana Pfaelzer, their co-conspirator, used just that language to strike down Proposition 187. Now they say that immigration is a state issue. You simply can't have it both ways." Bustamante and Villaraigosa pledge to hold up the state budget until Governor Wilson agrees to pay for food stamps and other services to the Mexicans. |
http://www.latnn.com/cgi-local/daily.pl?329-08
Thursday November 25, 1999
UNITED STATES
VILLARAIGOSA RESIGNS AS SPOKESMAN TO RUN
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| California Assembly Speaker and former MEChA Leader Antonio Villaraigosa waving Mexican flag and demading amnesty for millions of Mexicans who have illegally flocked to the United States. This clown wants to be the mayor of Los Angeles. (File photo) |
Los Angeles, Nov 25, 1999 (EFE) - The resignation of California legislative assembly speaker, Antonio Villaraigosa, confirms his aspirations to run for mayor of Los Angeles.
Villaraigosa announced he would resign his post next April to help in the transition to Bob Hertzberg, the likely candidate to replace him.
Villaraigosa has held the speaker's post for almost two years, a position to which he could not be re-elected but which has served as a political springboard in terms of the state's politics.
Villaraigosa intends to run for the mayorship of Los Angeles in the upcoming elections in 2001, replacing Republican Richard Riordan.
According to political observers, Villaraigosa's early resignation may help him gain support for his mayoral campaign.
However, his resignation favors Hertzberg and the democratic party, which could hinder Villaraigosa, whose political future is still uncertain.
Considered one of the most prominent Hispanic politicians in California with close ties to Mexico, Villaraigosa has been called "the future Los Angeles mayor" at social events, notably by Mexican actress Salma Hayek.
Support for Villaraigosa is split, as stated in several articles in the local press that recommended he run for district council.
Villaraigosa said his campaign will not focus strictly on the Hispanic vote, but will rather "celebrate (the city's) diversity."
He has demonstrated this focus on diversity with his support for Hertzberg for a position considered highly important in the California political arena, and held previously by two Hispanics.
"I was not elected as Hispanic spokesman. I was elected as everyone's spokesman," he said with regard to his support of Hertzberg.
© Agencia EFE S.A.
