Villaraigosa to Latino Voters: Reject Prop 32

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Latino community leaders pled Wednesday for the Latino community of California to reject Proposition 32. 

The Mayor joined a growing list of organizations, including the Teachers' Union, the California Democratic Party, and the Los Angeles Times, endorsing a negative stance on the proposition, which would ban corporations and unions from donating to state and local campaigns and portends to exclude "special interests" from controlling politics.

Villaraigosa, however, takes issue with the fact that the wording of the bill essentially targets unions, while still allowing unlimited donations from Political Action Committees (PAC's) which represent corporate interests.

"It doesn't create campaign finance transparency, or limit deep-pocketed corporate lobbyists from trying to buy your vote," said Villaraigosa, addressing the crowd in both English and Spanish. 

Also addressing the crowd were representatives from the United Farm Workers and the Coalition fot Humane Immigrant Rights.

The bill, which has been referred to as "a wolf in sheep's clothing" by Ron Lind, the president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5, will be on the ballot for the November election.

The last day to register to vote in California is October 22.