Assembly Speaker Gives Pep Talk to Students

Assembly Speaker Cruz Bustamante, citing himself as an example, encouraged a group of East Los Angeles high school students Thursday to stay focused on their goals and find creative ways to get ahead.

“If a kid who grew up in the dusty backwoods of rural Fresno County can do it, you can too,” said Bustamante in a morning address to a public forum group downtown. “It’s not where you start. It’s where you end up.”

After his breakfast talk, sponsored by Town Hall Los Angeles, Bustamante fielded questions about welfare reform, affirmative action and education spending from about 30 students.

“He didn’t just lecture us about what to do, but gave us suggestions we’ll really use,” said Bianca Robles, a senior at Alhambra High School. “I’m so proud he is the speaker. It gives me confidence all of us can do it.”

Bustamante’s address was peppered with references to the recent court decision striking down term limits. Because of that decision, Bustamante may be able to run for another term as speaker.

Despite his opposition to term limits, Bustamante said he believes that the voters will pass another initiative restricting legislative terms, and cautioned that new limits should be longer than the current six years in the Legislature.