Councilman Reyes took a reading before throwing support to Obama
Cites president’s exposure to the Mexican American community
Ed Reyes entered politics with the idea that he could use his education to serve the neighborhood he grew up in. He is a first-generation Mexican American, raised in Lincoln Heights. Reyes received his master’s degree in urban planning from UCLA, becoming the first member of his family to attend college. He then used his background in urban planning to advance into city politics, and has served on the Los Angeles City Council since 2001.
Reyes currently represents the first council district, which includes his own neighborhood as well as Cypress Park, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Mt. Washington, Solano Canyon, Elysian Park, Echo Park, Westlake, Angelino Heights, Temple-Beaudry, Lafayette Park, Chinatown, Forgotten Edge, Montecito Heights, Pico-Union, Adams-Normandie, Mid Cities and MacArthur Park. He describes this area as the “original suburbs,” an area that experienced urban flight with the incoming amount of diversity. The district is currently home to a large majority of Latino and Asian Americans.
Not sure at first which candidate he would support in the 2008 Democratic primary, Reyes took a moment to get to know the candidates. After attending a meeting with then-Senator Barack Obama in downtown Los Angeles, and reading his autobiography, “Dreams of My Father,” Reyes threw his support behind the Chicago politician.
“He was very straightforward and very knowledgeable about the issues that we’re facing,” explains the councilmember.
He also cited Obama’s exposure to the Mexican American community in Chicago as a tool that gave him the experience Reyes believes is important for leading the country.
Reyes is currently involved in the president’s campaign through his support of the local North East Democratic Club, attending club meetings, and speaking at press conferences on the president’s behalf to gain more support in the upcoming election.
According to Reyes, one of the most important issues that impacts Latinos is jobs. He explains that there is a two-tier system, with undocumented workers in one tier, and citizens in the formal economy in the other; there is a disconnect between the two tiers.
“People [are] being left behind,” says Reyes.
Those in the first tier often work in harsh labor conditions that should not be allowed, but are ignored because they are undocumented. Being undocumented makes people a vulnerable target for abuse in the workplace, explains Reyes who sees the Dream Act as a step toward solving this two-tier system issue.
“The Dream Act gives us hopes that we’re going in the right direction. It begins to shed light on those who have stayed in the dark because they are afraid of being deported,” explained the Councilman.
In relation to immigration reform, Reyes says, “There is still a significant gap President Obama needs to close between the [two] parties. With the gap it’s hard to move forward with issues such as immigration.”
In tackling the issue of jobs, Reyes explains that what has to be understood is the context of what President Obama inherited upon stepping into the Oval Office.
“The economy was spiraling down. He was able to gain some footing and some stability . . . . He’s worked with our cities.”
Reyes mentions the Los Angeles River Project as a project the Obama administration is currently involved in. Reyes, as well as other officials in the first district are working with the Obama administration to fund the Urban River Corps Program, which would provide jobs and environmental skills training to young adults, while restoring the river’s ecosystem.
“He’s pulling everyone along,” says Reyes.
Other administrations have promoted a trickle-down theory that just does not work, says Reyes.
The councilmember also notes the social implications of the president’s re-election.
“What happens to many of our youth is that we get lost because we are not treated as Americans because of the way we look, but we’re not treated as individuals.”
Finally, Reyes explains that there is a need to strengthen the self-esteem of minorities.
This [Obama’s] re-election means that we can continue with our trend of praising diversity.”
COSTA MESA, Calif.—If the votes for macabre pumpkin-carved likenesses of President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney at the Orange County Market Place are any indication, the former Massachusetts governor will squeak by the incumbent in next week’s election.
Pumpkins of “Evil Mitt” and “Bone Chilling Obama,” created by Doug Goodreau, stood for an election of their own Sunday at the Orange County Market Place’s 15th annual Trick or Treat festival.
As the presidential campaign approaches the home stretch, it’s time for President Obama and challenger Mitt Romney to play the race card.
I’m serious.
We need a healthy discussion of race in America, and we aren’t getting it.
OK. The third and final presidential debate came and went Monday night. Score: Obama-2, Romney-1.
The president did not trounce the challenger in this last get-together, as he did in debate No. 2, but he scored at least three intellectual knockdowns in this last debate, mainly over foreign policy, and won convincingly, if not by a knockout. The challenger’s strategy seemed to be box, weave and clinch for dear life, as Mr. Romney surprisingly agreed with the president on almost every issue.
The media have bombarded the public with numerous theories of why President Barack Obama performed poorly during his first presidential debate with GOP candidate Mitt Romney. The following are some of the reasons that public officials, academics, the political elite, conspiracy theorists, and the media believe may have caused the president’s poor showing:
Somehow, the body snatchers came last Wednesday and took the fire (as in fired up, ready to go) out of President Barack Obama, leaving a rather listless shell of a man who never truly engaged the audience.
He looked down at his notes, fidgeted, and let his opponent, Mitt Romney, get away with multiple lies.
