Greuel also announces endorsements from top faith and civic leaders in South Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA – At a gathering of dozens of business, elected, faith and community leaders from the African-American community in support of Wendy Greuel, Earvin “Magic” Johnson endorsed Greuel’s campaign for mayor.
Greuel was also joined and endorsed by civil rights activist and Los Angeles Sentinel publisher Danny Bakewell and civil rights icon James Lawson on the steps of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ. They and other leaders cited Greuel’s leadership, experience, and dedication to the people of Los Angeles.
President Bill Clinton endorsed Greuel earlier this week. Greuel served in the Clinton Administration in the 1990's, and started her career learning from and working for Mayor Tom Bradley.
"The next mayor of LA has the opportunity to make a huge impact on our city, and I’m excited to work with Wendy Greuel to create jobs and lift up communities throughout LA,” said Johnson. “Wendy is a tough and experienced leader. And she’s got the public and private sector background to level with business owners about how to make LA a great place to open and expand a business. When you’re honest and fair with people, when you’re willing to look them in the eye and lay out the facts, they’ll work with you – even if they don’t always agree with you. That’s the kind of leader Wendy is, and the kind of mayor she’ll be.”
Since retiring from the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991, Johnson has become one of the most powerful African-American businessmen in the country, and is renowned for his combination of business acumen and dedication to uplifting his community. Magic Johnson Enterprises has invested millions to develop underserved neighborhoods throughout South LA.
Johnson is also one of the world’s foremost HIV/AIDS advocates – he was the main speaker for the UN World AIDS Day Conference, served as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, and his Magic Johnson Foundation has provided free HIV/AIDS testing to over 38,000 Americans across the country.
“I've also felt a strong connection to the South Los Angeles community for decades, starting when I had the privilege to serve in the administration of Mayor Tom Bradley," Greuel said today. "Today, it's a sincere honor to have the support of Magic Johnson, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and the many other leaders from across the African-American community in this race to be Mayor."
At the event, Greuel and Johnson unveiled several economic development priorities for South Los Angeles, including a roadmap for reinvesting back into the community, stabilizing and expanding existing businesses, and creating a link between job development and job training.
"As Mayor, I am committed to always putting people first and to bringing about real change to Los Angeles, starting with bringing much-needed economic development to this community we love," Greuel added.
“I am convinced that the candidate best able to lead all of Los Angeles during this troubled time is City Controller Wendy Greuel. Leadership matters. Substance on the issues and a record of results do as well. Wendy Greuel's record of accomplishment has placed her on the path to achieve an historic outcome for which I believe the City of the Angels is ready,” said Ridley-Thomas.
“It is not often that I come out this soon for a candidate, but Wendy Greuel has earned the trust of the Black community as a public servant because of policies she has championed or supported," said Danny Bakewell, publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel. "I believe that she is the best person to move Los Angeles forward and I encourage the Sentinel readers and the Black community to vote for her on May 21st.”
“In these trying times, Los Angeles needs a leader who will be just and fair, and has the leadership to create jobs and bring services where we need them most. Wendy has been coming to services at my church for years, and she has built deep ties to our community. She’ll be a mayor for all of Los Angeles,” Bishop Blake said. “Wendy is a woman of faith with a strong commitment to social justice, and she understands Los Angeles as only someone who has spent a lifetime living and working across the city could. I have absolute confidence that she will lead Los Angeles to a healthy, prosperous future.”
"I have worked together with Wendy for more than 20 years, and I know she'll be a fighter for communities across the entire city," said Connie Rice, President of the Advancement Project*. "Wendy and I share a commitment to social justice, and whether it was advocating for affordable housing when she worked with Mayor Tom Bradley, or fighting to make our schools better and our streets safer as Councilwoman and Controller, Wendy has dedicated her career to giving every single person in LA a chance to succeed. I am so proud to endorse her for mayor."
The group supporting Greuel included Bishop Charles E. Blake, presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the Church of God in Christ and pastor of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ, Kenneth C. Ulmer, Senior Pastor-Teacher of Faithful Central Bible Church, and Reverend Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray, former pastor of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Johnson’s endorsement adds to considerable list of leaders who support Greuel in South LA and across Los Angeles. In addition to Clinton, Ridley-Thomas, Blake, Ulmer and Murray, Greuel has also been endorsed by longtime Los Angeles Urban League president John Mack, Our Weekly, and the Black Los Angeles Young Democrats.
To view Greuel’s endorsement list, click here.
For more information about the Wendy Greuel for Mayor campaign, click here: www.wendygreuel.org/
- Titles for identification purposes only.