Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is running for governor of California, told Latinos that it is time to assume leadership. "It's time to take our leadership position in this state. We are 40% of the population and 30% of the vote. “It's time to vote and be present,” he said in an interview with La Opinion. He stated that he was encouraged to enter the race for governor because the dream is fading and the state is stagnating. “The vast majority of people can't afford a house; now three couples live in one apartment. We have the highest gasoline prices in the United States, and the second highest utility rates, which have risen 60%. People can't endure the high cost of living. That's why I came back, and we need someone as governor who has proven they know how to solve problems, and I have.” The latest polls did not favor the former mayor. The Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics poll from March gave him a 5% approval rating. Does this worry the former mayor? “Up to this point, all the candidates are below 10%, Becerra (Xavier) and I around 7%; Stayer (Tom) around 10%, Swalwell (Eric) 12%, Katie Porter 14%. Let's keep in mind that a year and a half ago when she ran for Senate, Katie spent $30 million and managed to raise her profile.” Meanwhile, he said that Stayer has spent $100 million of his own money and is in 10th place in the polls; While Swalwell is ahead after running for president of the United States and being part of the team that sought to impeach President Trump, Villaraigosa, who is running for governor for the second time, says, “There are only seven points separating Katie Porter and me. That's nothing.” Villaraigosa is banking on her record and accomplishments to win the Californian vote. “Many candidates are campaigning making promises, but they're just words. “My mother taught me that you are not what you say, but what you do.” She considers it absurd that the Democratic Party leader is asking those trailing in the polls to drop out of the election three months before it takes place. “Instead of organizing the vote, “Educating the undecided and encouraging Latinos,“who are worried not with an election but with paying rent and buying food.” But above all, I have questioned how they will manage to win, given that 35% of the electorate is undecided, and the vast majority of them are Latino. “It's possible one day, but today is not the day, nor was it six weeks ago.” It has been suggested that if the candidates trailing in the polls don't win, two Republicans could win the primaries, and California would have a Republican governor “That's not going to happen. Not when there are so many undecided people, 35%, and 25% of voters are affiliated with the Republican Party.” “We have a chance to elect two Democrats, but I think it will be one Democrat and one Republican.” He has acknowledged that four of the Democratic candidates are polling in the single digits, but he is the candidate who raised the most money, $6.8 million, ahead of Swalwell, Porter, and Becerra. But then Stayer appeared, spending $100 million, and Swalwell opened his spending committee with $25 million. “Billionaires never win,” he said. What would his priorities be as governor? "The high cost of living—lowering the cost of housing, healthcare, gas, and utilities; second, this state cannot spend more than we have. The legislative analyst has indicated that for several years to come, we are going to have a deficit of $18 to $35 billion. The next governor has to say that we must live within our means." And my third priority is safety, which is the most basic thing.” I have commented that one of the reasons people are concerned about so many homeless people in the state is because they don't feel safe. “I'm the only candidate in favor of Proposition 36, which increases penalties for certain theft and drug offenses, when all the Democrats were against it, but people were fed up with so much theft.” Regarding homelessness, he said that after spending $24 billion to address the problem, the level in California has increased. “A legislative analyst did a study, and only two programs yielded results: the one that helped with rent when people were in danger of losing their apartments, and HomeKey, which converted hotels into temporary housing.” Those two programs worked; the others couldn't prove they worked.” So, he said, “we can't keep throwing money away on things that haven't worked.” “I'm not in favor of criminalization, I am in favor of compassion, but not of chaos, which means selling drugs and setting up camps in front of schools and parks in our neighborhoods, because they don't go with the rich.” And he reiterated that he was the only one who built more housing of any kind during a recession. How does he plan to protect the immigrant community? "Since I was 15, when I participated in the grape boycott and couldn't speak Spanish, I've defended and organized immigrants. I've done it my whole life." “It's our time to say enough is enough.”I have a plan to enforce California law.I'm going to launch a multi-agency effort, focused on health, to ensure that detention facilities comply with California law. We've lost five undocumented immigrants in those facilities; “they aren't given food, some don't have heat, and they don't receive medical attention.” He emphasized that on his first day as governor, he will issue an executive order to ensure that detention centers in California respect state law. “They will not be able to enter a business, school, hospital, or home without a court order; and third, when there are deaths, the state will investigate.” He stressed that the next governor must be accountable, and he has been in the past, and he has a plan for every problem. Is it time to have a Latino governor? “I have always said that I am American and proud of my Latin American heritage. In these times, who better to confront Trump than someone who feels it when they see workers arrested and deported, and children taken from their mothers' arms?” He emphasized that he is not running because he is Latino, and as governor he will represent everyone, but he has never forgotten where he comes from. "I will work to be governor of California until the very last day, not out of ego, but because many of the problems began during our term as Democrats. Half of the Latinos voted for Trump. That had never happened before, and it wasn't just Cubans. “Many people think things aren't going well, and that is the reason for my candidacy.” Los Angeles Mayor endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for California governor. Debate that excluded candidates of color canceled. Not out of ego, but because many of the problems began during our term as Democrats. That had never happened before, and it wasn't just Cubans. Debate that excluded candidates of color canceled. Not out of ego, but because many of the problems began during our terms as Democrats. Half of the Latinos voted for Trump. That had never happened before, and it wasn't just Cubans. "Many people think things aren't going well, and that's the reason for my candidacy." Los Angeles mayor endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for California governor. Debate that excluded candidates of color canceled.“When there are deaths, the state will investigate.” He stressed that the next governor must be accountable, and he has been in the past, and he has a plan for every problem. Is it time to have a Latino governor? “I have always said that I am American and proud of my Latin American heritage. In these times, who better to confront Trump than someone who feels it when they see workers arrested and deported, and children taken from their mothers' arms?” He emphasized that he is not running because he is Latino, and as governor he will represent everyone, but he has never forgotten where he comes from. “I will work to be governor of California until the very last day, not out of ego, but because many of the problems began during our term as Democrats. Half of the Latinos voted for Trump. That had never happened before, and it wasn't just Cubans. “Many people think things aren't going well, and that is the reason for my candidacy.” Los Angeles Mayor endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for California governor. Debate that excluded candidates of color canceled. Not out of ego, but because many of the problems began during our terms as Democrats. Half of the Latinos voted for Trump. That had never happened before, and it wasn't just Cubans. "Many people think things aren't going well, and that's the reason for my candidacy." Los Angeles mayor endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for California governor. Debate that excluded candidates of color canceled. Not out of ego, but because many of the problems began during our terms as Democrats. Half of the Latinos voted for Trump. That had never happened before, and it wasn't just Cubans. "Many people think things aren't going well, and that's the reason for my candidacy." Los Angeles mayor endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for California governor. Debate that excluded candidates of color canceled.“When there are deaths, the state will investigate.” He stressed that the next governor must be accountable, and he has been in the past, and he has a plan for every problem. Is it time to have a Latino governor? “I have always said that I am American and proud of my Latin American heritage. In these times, who better to confront Trump than someone who feels it when they see workers arrested and deported, and children taken from their mothers' arms?” He emphasized that he is not running because he is Latino, and as governor he will represent everyone, but he has never forgotten where he comes from. “I will work to be governor of California until the very last day, not out of ego, but because many of the problems began during our term as Democrats. Half of the Latinos voted for Trump. That had never happened before, and it wasn't just Cubans. “Many people think things aren't going well, and that is the reason for my candidacy.” Los Angeles Mayor endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for California governor. Debate that excluded candidates of color canceled. Not out of ego, but because many of the problems began during our terms as Democrats. Half of the Latinos voted for Trump. That had never happened before, and it wasn't just Cubans. "Many people think things aren't going well, and that's the reason for my candidacy." Los Angeles mayor endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for California governor. Debate that excluded candidates of color canceled. Not out of ego, but because many of the problems began during our terms as Democrats. Half of the Latinos voted for Trump. That had never happened before, and it wasn't just Cubans. "Many people think things aren't going well, and that's the reason for my candidacy." Los Angeles mayor endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for California governor. Debate that excluded candidates of color canceled.but because many of the problems began during our terms as Democrats. Half of the Latinos voted for Trump. That had never happened before, and it wasn't just Cubans. "Many people think things aren't going well, and that's the reason for my candidacy." Los Angeles mayor endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for California governor. Debate that excluded candidates of color canceled. Not out of ego, but because many of the problems began during our terms as Democrats. Half of the Latinos voted for Trump. That had never happened before, and it wasn't just Cubans. "Many people think things aren't going well, and that's the reason for my candidacy." Los Angeles mayor endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for California governor. Debate that excluded candidates of color canceled.but because many of the problems began during our terms as Democrats. Half of the Latinos voted for Trump. That had never happened before, and it wasn't just Cubans. "Many people think things aren't going well, and that's the reason for my candidacy." Los Angeles mayor endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for California governor. Debate that excluded candidates of color canceled. Not out of ego, but because many of the problems began during our terms as Democrats. Half of the Latinos voted for Trump. That had never happened before, and it wasn't just Cubans. "Many people think things aren't going well, and that's the reason for my candidacy." Los Angeles mayor endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for California governor. Debate that excluded candidates of color canceled.