PACOIMA : Elementary Students Meet Mayor Riordan

Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon and Mayor Richard Riordan visited Pacoima School on Monday, encouraging students to study hard and stay away from gangs.

“You are the future leaders,” Riordan told about 150 students, grades kindergarten through six, at a brief ceremony in the school’s auditorium. “Keep the city clean, stay away from drugs and you’ll have a great future.”

Riordan stopped by the school, at 11016 Norris Ave., as part of a tour of Alarcon’s district, which includes most of the northeast San Fernando Valley.

“We wanted the mayor to come to the middle of our district to see that we have hard-working kids,” Alarcon said.

The students, mostly Latino, prepared a sign for the mayor that read “Bienvenido Mr. Riordan,” and members of the school’s student council had a chance to meet their adult counterparts. Riordan spoke a few words of Spanish with the kids, then asked if any would teach him the language. Many raised their hands--but more did so when Riordan asked who would someday like to have his job.

One girl asked Riordan what he was doing to combat gangs. He said: “By working hard in school, knowing you have interests other than gangs, you will help to combat gangs.”

Riordan also said he has contacted gang leaders and started youth programs to provide alternatives to the gang lifestyle.