DAVIS' DEAL WITH ZEDILLO TO GET RID OF PROPOSITION 187

KTLA TV reporter (voice over): "President Zedillo says he has a commitment from the governor."

Mexican President Zedillo: "I have confidence in the governor that he will do whatever he can so that these catastrophic effects that were foreseen for Proposition 187 several years ago will not come to pass."

KTLA TV, Channel 5, Los Angeles -- News Report, May 19, 1999
PROTEST VISIT BY MEXICAN PRESIDENT ZEDILLO
STATEMENT BY GLENN SPENCER
Other Information on Zedillo's Meddling

ASSEMBLYMEMBER GIL CEDILLO
46TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
For Immediate Release: May 19, 1999
Contact: Tony Ricasa
Phone:

CEDILLO JOINS PRESIDENT ZEDILLO AND GOVERNOR DAVIS FOR LOS ANGELES VISIT

CEDILLO INVITED TO ACCOMPANY MEXICO'S PRESIDENT AND CALIFORNIA'S GOVERNOR THROUGHOUT THE HISTORIC LOS ANGELES VISIT

(LOS ANGELES) - Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) will travel with President Ernesto Zedillo and Governor Gray Davis throughout the Mexican President's Los Angeles visit.

Assemblyman Cedillo, who traveled with Governor Davis on his recent trip to Mexico, is the only elected official offered this exclusive invitation.

"I am honored to be in the company of two great leaders who are not only fine statesmen, but also true Ambassadors of Goodwill," said Cedillo. "This trip will have a positive impact on the relations between our two countries and will set a positive tone for the next twenty to thirty years," Cedillo said.

Cedillo will greet President Zedillo when he arrives at the airport. This morning he will ride the train with President Zedillo and Governor Davis to Union Station, accompany them at a luncheon and participate in a televised town hall dialogue in the afternoon. Later this evening, Assemblyman Cedillo will attend a State dinner for President Zedillo.

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Capitol Office: P.O. Box 942849 -- Sacramento, CA --
District Office: 617 S. Olive Street, Suite 700 -- Los Angeles, CA 90014 --

President Ernesto Zedillo visited key cities in California during his "goodwill tour" of May 18-20. The visit, made in the wake of Governor Gray Davis's February trip to Mexico, was meant as a symbolic gesture toward improving the strained bilateral relationship between Mexico and California over immigration issues. The press made much of the fact that Mexico is California's second largest trading partner after Japan. During his speech at California's State Capitol (the first time a Mexican President has spoken there), Zedillo endorsed Davis's quest for court mediation of the controversial Proposition 187.

In a rare critical remark at the end of a generally upbeat visit, Zedillo told the Los Angeles Times that he would press for a more humanitarian U.S. border control policy to reduce the mounting toll of immigrant deaths. In an apparent response to the many demonstrations made during his visit demanding the Mexican government to stop its repressive campaign in Chiapas, Zedillo told the Times of his will to "resolve" the conflict. He did not specify how he intended to achieve that goal. On NAFTA, Zedillo affirmed it is "providing good jobs for Mexicans."

While Zedillo made it a point to address high-ranking officials, including Latino Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa and Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, he failed to reach out to the general Latino population. Of the more that 10 million Latinos living in California, 80 percent were born in Mexico or have Mexican ancestry. 2.2 million of these are Mexican citizens with legal residence in California. Traditionally, Mexican-Americans feel close to Mexican culture, but are critical of its politics, particularly of the ruling party (PRI) Zedillo belongs to. As LA Times editorial writer Sergio Muñoz puts it, Zedillo missed a great opportunity of scoring points with his estranged constituency by not meeting with the common citizenry.

"Zedillo Visit Stirs Diverse Reaction," by Patrick McDonnell, et. al., The Los Angeles Times, May 19, 1999.
"Zedillo Urges Humane U.S. Border Policy," by Mary Beth Sheridan and Chris Kraul, The Los Angeles Times, May 21, 1999.
"Zedillo Should Have Aimed Higher," by Sergio Muñoz, The Los Angeles Times, May 20, 1999.

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