L.A. Votes: Candidates spar over minimum wage in final debate

A new mailer sent to Latino voters drew sharp criticism from Wendy Greuel’s mayoral rival Monday for strongly suggesting that voting for her will result in an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Greuel’s opponent in the L.A. mayor’s race, Eric Garcetti, called the efforts a “cynical attempt to buy votes” and “give false hope to people who are struggling to make ends meet.” The mailers were sent out by an independent group sponsored by the L.A. County Federation of Labor.

Greuel supporters also broadcast a mariachi-style song over the weekend from a pickup truck equipped with loudspeakers. A sample of the lyrics: “If the blond comes to your door/Open the door and let her in/Wendy, la Wendy we’re gonna vote/$15 an hour we’ll make/Wendy, la Wendy we’re gonna dance/Eric Garcetti start crying.”

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At a debate Monday, Greuel demurred when asked whether she supported raising the minimum hourly wage to $15.

In the evening, Greuel said she has not seen the mailer and dismissed Garcetti’s comments as a distraction. “This is the week before the election, and sometimes my opponent will say anything,” she said. “What we need to do is start talking about the issues.”

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In other citywide races, a new poll shows that former lawmaker Mike Feuer and City Councilman Dennis Zine continue to hold leads in their races. Conducted by the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs at Cal State L.A., the survey showed Feuer led City Atty. Carmen Trutanich, who is seeking reelection, 35% to 24%. Attorney Ron Galperin trailed Zine, meanwhile, by 15 percentage points in the race for city controller, the poll showed.

Voters planning to cast ballots by mail in the May 21 election need to ensure that their applications are received at the city clerk’s office by 5 p.m. today, or can apply in person until May 20.

Comments, questions or tips on city elections? Tweet me at @LATSeema

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