Los Angeles – Today Robert Olivarez, the Founding Past President of The Latino Democrats of LA County, and current Chair of the Latino Democrats of SoCal*, announced that in light of Councilmember Garcetti’s failure to denounce hateful comments made by right-wing shock jock Kevin James targeting the Latino community he has withdrawn his endorsement of Garcetti and strongly endorsed Wendy Greuel for Mayor.

While a variety of James’ inflammatory comments have been widely condemned in recent days, Olivarez focused on comments directed at the Latino community, including referring to immigrants as “illegal alien thug gang members” and repeatedly speaking of an "illegal invasion" of this country.

“Latinos are not ‘illegal alien thug gang members!’ We are a good and hardworking people, and we are voters. Hate speech hurts our community and hate has no place in City Hall. I have asked Eric Garcetti to call out Kevin James on the hate speech. I explained that it is important for him to stand by the Latino community and insist that Kevin James acknowledge the harm of his words, to apologize, and to make amends. Instead Eric Garcetti has responded with silence and he continues to stand by Kevin James,” said Olivarez.

“Eric Garcetti has sold out the Latino community for Republican right wing votes. As Kevin James and Eric Garcetti stand side by side, the message I must share is clear: The ‘Latino Vote is Not for Sale!’ I am proud to announce that today I am joining lots of people who formerly supported Eric Garcetti and I am endorsing Wendy Greuel for Mayor of Los Angeles. I join President Clinton, Magic Johnson, Councilman Jose Huizar, Dolores Huerta and countless other respected Democrats and community leaders in endorsing and supporting Wendy Greuel for Mayor.”

When he accepted James’ endorsement, Garcetti said he couldn’t be “prouder to have his support,” and said James would be an “adviser” on his campaign.

“I am so proud that Robert and Latino leaders across the city have joined my campaign to lead Los Angeles forward,” said Greuel. “I’m campaigning on bringing people together, not demonizing them, and it is clear that my message is resonating with Angelenos from all across our great city. I look forward to working with Robert and leaders from every community to create the progressive, world-class city that we all know Los Angeles can be.”

To see Robert Olivarez’ full statement explaining his decision to withdraw his endorsement, click here.

Los Angeles – Wendy Greuel addressed the LAUSD Board of Education today, urging board members to continue funding the classroom breakfast program and to support a proposal that would ban student suspensions due to willful defiance.

The breakfast program helps feed nearly 200,000 students in 280 schools across the district.

Since the Breakfast in the Classroom program was launched, the number of kids eating breakfast at school has increase drastically, from just under a third to some 80 percent.

“I like to say that we can’t have a world-class city without a world-class education system, but we cannot have great classrooms when our students are going hungry,” Greuel said. “Study after study shows us that a hungry child cannot learn at the same rate as a well-fed one. For far too long we have let adult issues get in the way of kid’s success at this district. Today I call on the school board to not make this mistake again. This really is a simple choice about supporting what’s in the best interest of our children.”

Greuel also called on the School Board to support a proposal by Board President Mónica García that would make LAUSD the first district in California to ban suspensions for willful defiance.

Willful defiance suspensions accounted for 48% of 710,000 suspensions across the state in 2011-2012, according to the Los Angeles Times, and the practice has received criticism as a catch-all that often sends good students out of the classroom.

“We need to spend more time with these students, not less. We need these students in the classroom to help them address their issues and get back on track,” Greuel said. “Banning suspensions for this vague catch-all category will help us address routine disciplines issues, with counselors available who can provide the appropriate services, so that we are fixing the problem, not just trying to make it go away.”

Los Angeles – Wendy Greuel and Latino leaders from across the City today condemned a new attack ad by an independent expenditure backing Eric Garcetti that lies about and distorts Wendy’s record.

The ad tries to link Greuel to Gov. Pete Wilson and his campaign to pass Prop. 187, which restricted California services for undocumented immigrants. The ad claims that Greuel was a Republican during Wilson’s “anti-immigrant era”.

In fact, Greuel has been a Democrat since 1992, and vehemently opposed Prop. 187 while working in the Clinton Administration. Greuel campaigned against the proposition with her boss, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros.

Greuel, Congressman Tony Cardenas, Councilmember José Huizar, civil rights icon Dolores Huerta, and other civic leaders called on Garcetti’s allies to remove the ad immediately, and demanded that Garcetti denounce the ad.

“I call on Eric Garcetti to denounce this attack ad which is a flat out lie. In Spanish we have a saying, ‘no tienen verguenza’ – they have no shame. To lie to the community about someone who actually fought against Prop. 187 is as low as you can go," said Congressman Tony Cardenas.

“This ad is just disgusting. It’s a desperate attempt to smear Wendy Greuel, who has been a champion for the Latino community for years. This deceptive attack has literally no basis in fact. Here’s the truth: Wendy Greuel fought against Prop. 187 and has pushed for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. I call on the independent expenditure funding this ad to remove it immediately, and I urge the Latino community to see through these lies,” said Councilmember Huizar.

“Eric Garcetti must think he can't win this election honestly, if he has to turn to these lies and misinformation to confuse the voters. This is an insult to our community that had to suffer through the very real racism of Proposition 187. Garcetti needs to denounce this dirty politics campaign immediately and run a fair campaign,” said Huerta.

“Regardless of your vote, let us separate ourselves from this ‘gotcha mentality.’ I know Wendy Greuel. I know her husband. I know there is not a hint of discrimination in their souls. They always have been and continue to be the leaders in human rights and equality for all. Their record is clear, for our undocumented neighbors they stand tall,” said Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs.

On Wednesday, Greuel launched a new video highlighting her broad support in the Latino community. The video features Huerta, Huizar, Supervisor Gloria Molina and LAUSD Board President Mónica García discussing why Greuel will be a strong leader for Latino neighborhoods.

The video can be seen here.

“I will keep talking about issues facing our City. This election is too important to be bogged down in dishonest politics,” said Greuel. “I’m going to keep talking about my plan to create jobs, keep our neighborhoods safe, and build great schools. Unfortunately my opponent’s only plan is to smear me these last few days. Angelenos deserve a real discussion of the issues, not dishonest politics.”

The attack ad is the latest in a string of unethical smear attacks against Greuel. Garcetti’s allies have already been questioned over negative push polls that were not disclosed and TV ads that have distorted Greuel’s record as Controller.

Garcetti has also been taking heat this week for equivocating in his support for a living wage for hotel workers citywide. Greuel has strongly supported the measure.

Los Angeles – Wendy Greuel today continued her call for an end to the recent onslaught of false and intimidating attack ads targeting the Latino community with just days before the Mayoral election, and she demanded that her opponent follow her lead.

Greuel condemned the latest round of attacks as deceptive and offensive. She called on independent groups supporting both her and her opponent to remove the ads immediately, including two commercials that suggest Greuel supported Prop. 187 and question Garcetti’s Latino heritage.

Under pressure from prominent leaders, Garcetti acknowledged for the first time on social media this morning that the attack on Greuel was false, but failed to join Greuel in calling on the independent groups to stop the misleading ads.

Adding his voice to denouncing the Garcetti-supporter ads, former Secretary Henry Cisneros said, “that is the truth about Wendy Greuel's firm opposition to Prop. 187. Politics should not obscure a clear truth.”

His full statement is included below.

With Latinos representing roughly half the City’s population and a third of its voters, Greuel said “Latinos deserve to be treated with respect, not coerced by the lowest kind political attacks meant to mislead and intimidate voters and I ask Eric Garcetti to join me in demanding that these ads be removed immediately.”

“Minority communities have fought hard for their right to vote and we must not disrespect this legacy by engaging in degrading and deceitful mudslinging days before this important election,” said Greuel.

“We should be talking about how we can raise communities up and lead LA forward, not lowering the discourse. Angelenos deserve better,” concluded Greuel.

Full statement from former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros:

“I can personally attest to Wendy Greuel's opposition to Prop. 187. I participated in press conferences in opposition to Prop. 187 and Wendy was present on those occasions. She made her opposition known and campaigned against that divisive and harmful measure which cynically exploited Latinos and immigrants. That is the truth about Wendy Greuel's firm opposition to Prop. 187. Politics should not obscure a clear truth,” said former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros, who was Wendy’s boss in 1994.

I can't think of a better group of people to have fought together with on this campaign.

We got in this race -- not because it was going to be easy -- but because we love Los Angeles and we care deeply about the future direction of this city.

Whether you made calls, knocked on doors, gave money, or simply told your neighbors about our campaign, you should celebrate the fact that you created something far more important and longer lasting than a single campaign for a single election.

You should celebrate, because you drew attention to our failing public schools, and helped put innovative plans to fix them on the table.

And you showed the daughters, sisters, wives and mothers of Los Angeles that one day, we will have a woman as Mayor.

I may not have been able to break through the glass ceiling last night, but you sure helped me put a crack in it, and because of your work, the next woman candidate in my shoes will crash right through it.

This is the city where I was born and raised, where I went to school, where I built my career, and now my wonderful family. And throughout my life as an Angeleno, I've always believed in the power of bringing people together to get things done.

So, I'm not going anywhere. Now we must look to the future, because as President Bill Clinton noted, "Los Angeles is a great city with equally great challenges."

I am determined to continue fighting for all Angelenos, to cut waste and increase efficiency, and above all, to keep our streets and neighborhoods safe.

And I hope you will join me in doing all that you can to support our new mayor, Eric Garcetti, to be a part of the solution to these very challenges.

Congratulations to Mayor-Elect Eric Garcetti and his campaign. I sincerely wish him the very best, both on a personal level, and because his success is critical to the success of the greatest city in the world.

This election is over, but we still have a lot of work to do to lead Los Angeles forward -- and I can't wait to see what we do next.

Thank you so much.