Antonio Villaraigosa
51st Mayor of Los Angeles
Incumbent
Assumed office  July 1, 2005
Preceded by	James Hahn
Succeeded by	Incumbent
63rd Speaker of the California State Assembly
In office February 26, 1998 – April 13, 2000
Preceded by	Cruz Bustamante
Succeeded by	Robert Hertzberg
Born	January 23, 1953 (1953-01-23) (age 54) Boyle Heights, California
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Corina Villaraigosa (divorcing)
Profession	Politician

Antonio Ramon Villaraigosa (born Antonio (Tony) Ramon Villar, Jr. on January 23, 1953) is the mayor of Los Angeles, California. He is the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since Cristobal Aguilar in 1872. ^[1] Villaraigosa was elected mayor of Los Angeles in a run-off election on May 17, 2005, in which he defeated incumbent mayor James Hahn. Prior to his service as mayor, Villaraigosa was the California State Assemblyman for the 45th District, the Speaker of the California State Assembly, and the Los Angeles City Councilman representing the 14th District. Before being elected to public office, Villaraigosa had a long career as a labor organizer. In 2007, Villaraigosa's marital troubles and affair with a television reporter covering City Hall made national headlines. Mr. Villaraigosa also serves as one of four national co-chairmen^[2] of Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2008 Presidential campaign. 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Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Cruz Miguel Bustamante (born January 4, 1953) is an American politician. ... Robert Myles Hertzberg was born on November 19, 1954 in Los Angeles, California, was an attorney and businessman, and sat in the California State Assembly from 1996-2002. ... is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Boyle Heights is a district on the east side of Los Angeles, California. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: , State County Settled 1781 Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type Mayor-Council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  498. ... // The term Latino is a linguistic identity that refers to an individual that has significant ancestry from a nation-state where a Latin derived language is spoken or is the offical language of the government. ... This is a list of mayors of Los Angeles, California. ... Cristobal Aguilar (1815 – April 11, 1883) was a pioneer of Los Angeles, California politics in the early days of American rule. ... Year 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Runoff voting is a voting system used in single-seat elections. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... James Kenneth Jim Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. ... The California State Assembly chamber California State Assembly Chamber in the State Capitol The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. ... This is a list of Speakers of the California State Assembly. ... The Los Angeles City Council meets three times a week in city hall. ...

Early years and education

Born Antonio Ramon Villar in the City Terrace neighborhood of Los Angeles County's eastside, Villaraigosa had a difficult childhood. He attended both Catholic and public schools.^[3] He went to Harrison Street School for third and fourth grade during 1961 and 1962. He attended Cathedral High School (Los Angeles, California) but was expelled from the Roman Catholic institution after getting into a fight after a rivalry football game. He graduated from Roosevelt High School,^[3] and with the help of his English teacher Herman Katz, went on to attend East Los Angeles College.^[3] Villaraigosa eventually transferred to UCLA where he completed a bachelor's degree in history. At this time, he went by the name "Tony Villar", but began using "Antonio" in the 1980s.^[3] City Terrace is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California. ... Los Angeles County is a county in California and is the most populous county in the United States. ... Intersection of Eagle Rock Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Cathedral High School is a private Catholic all boys school in Los Angeles, California. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... East Los Angeles College is a community college, of the Los Angeles Community College District, located in the Los Angeles suburb of Monterey Park. ... The University of California, Los Angeles (generally known as UCLA) is a public university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. ... For other degrees, see Academic degree. ... History studies time in human terms. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ...

After UCLA, Villaraigosa attended the People's College of Law (PCL), a state bar, but not ABA accredited "community-run law school" in Los Angeles. Villaraigosa failed the California Bar Exam in each of four attempts, and thus remains unlicensed to practice law.^[4] After PCL, he became a field representative/organizer with the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), where he made inroads with individuals that would help him make his move into politics, such as James M. Wood and Miguel Contreras, both deceased former Executive Treasurers of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. Villaraigosa was also President of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and the American Federation of Government Employees. On May 6, 2006, he was awarded an honorary degree by Loyola Marymount University (LMU) and addressed the graduating Class of 2006 as Commencement Speaker. On May 12, 2006 he was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Southern California (USC) where he also addressed the graduating Class of 2006 as commencement speaker. The Peoples College of Law (PCL) is a private, non-profit law school located in Los Angeles, California. ... American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL-CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 54 national and international unions (including Canadian), together representing more than 10 million workers. ... The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a major American non-profit organization whose stated mission is to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.[1] It works through litigation, legislation, and community... Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic Jesuit university in Los Angeles, California, USA. The University is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and one of five Marymount institutions of higher education. ... The Trojan Shrine, better known as Tommy Trojan located in the center of University of Southern California campus. ...

Personal life

Villar married Corina Raigosa November 28, 1987^[5] resulting in the adoption of their fused last names as his family name. The couple has two teenage children, Natalia and Antonio Jr., currently a freshman at Princeton and a Loyola High School graduate.^[6][7] Corina is a teacher in the Montebello Unified School District.^[7] is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... In education, teachers are those who teach students or pupils, often a course of study or a practical skill. ... Montebello Unified School District is a school district based in Montebello, California, United States. ...

Villaraigosa has two adult daughters, Marisela Villar and Prisila Villar-Contreras from a previous relationship.^[7]

Marriage problems and affairs

On June 8, 2007, Villaraigosa announced he would be separating from his wife. On June 12, 2007, Corina Villaraigosa filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences. Villaraigosa acknowledged in a statement published July 3, 2007 that he is in a relationship with a Spanish-language television reporter, Mirthala Salinas.^{[8] [9][10]} He said, "I have had a relationship with Ms. Salinas over time. It has evolved, and today I have acknowledged that relationship." In his statement, he added "I don't believe that the details of my personal life are relevant to my job as mayor." He intends to keep his fused last name.^[7] In July 2007, some noted that Salinas' parent employer, NBC Universal, which is conducting a review of her reporting on the mayor in light of the news of the affair, is also currently campaigning with the city of Los Angeles for approval of a $3 billion, 20-year development plan for which they will need Villaraigosa's assistance. Some have called this a conflict of interest, but Villaraigosa said that he saw nothing wrong with the situation.^[11] Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the ending of a marriage before the death of either spouse. ... Irreconcilable differences are one possible grounds for a divorce in the United States; often they are used as justification for a no-fault divorce. ... Mirthala Salinas (born October 27, 1970) was an anchor and reporter for U.S. Spanish language television channel KVEA-TV in Los Angeles. ... NBC Universal is a media and entertainment conglomerate formed in May 2004 by the combination of General Electrics NBC with Vivendi Universal Entertainment, part of Vivendi Universal. ...

The mayor, who is widely considered to have designs on higher office, has been dogged by rumors of marital infidelity for years. In 1994, while Corina was undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer, Villaraigosa left town for a few days (with no notice) with a friend's wife after his victory in the state Assembly election, resulting in Corina filing for divorce the day after the election.^[7][3] The couple reconciled two years later.^[3] The New Yorker magazine reported in May that these actions infuriated colleagues who had helped portray him as a family man and lost him key supporters.^[7][3] Some wanted to recall him from office, but he defended his actions by saying, "It is a matter of the heart."^[3] This article is about the act of adultery. ... Thyroid cancer is malignant growth of the thyroid gland. ...

Early political career

In 1994, Villaraigosa was elected to the California State Assembly, and four years later, his colleagues in the legislature voted to make him the first Assembly Speaker from Los Angeles in 25 years. During the four years before he was named Speaker, he served several other positions in the Assembly leadership. He eventually became one of the leading progressive voices in the state. He ran for mayor of Los Angeles in the 2001 citywide contest but was defeated by eight percent by fellow Democrat James Hahn in a run-off election. In 2003, Villaraigosa defeated incumbent Councilman Nick Pacheco to win a seat on the Los Angeles City Council representing the 14th District. Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... The California State Assembly chamber California State Assembly Chamber in the State Capitol The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... In 2001, Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan was prevented from running for a third term because of term limits. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ... James Kenneth Jim Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Biography Nick Pacheco is an American attorney and a member of the Democratic Party. ... The Los Angeles City Council meets three times a week in city hall. ...

Antonio Villaraigosa speaking at an ACLU event.

Image File history File links Antonio_Villaraigosa. ... Image File history File links Antonio_Villaraigosa. ... The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, is a non_governmental organization devoted to defending civil rights and civil liberties in the United States. ...

Mayoralty

Election

In the Los Angeles mayoral election that took place on March 8, 2005, Villaraigosa placed first and continued on to the run-off election held on May 17, in which he won 58.7% of the vote to Hahn's 41.3%. He is the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since 1872, when Mayor Cristóbal Aguilar (mayor from 1866 to 1868 and again from 1870 until 1872) governed over Los Angeles at a time when its population was barely 6,000. The 2005 Los Angeles mayoral election took place on March 8, 2005, with a runoff election on May 17. ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... José Cristóbal Aguilar (1815 – April 11, 1883) was a pioneer of Los Angeles, California politics in the early days of American rule. ... 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Year 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

The Nation attributes his success in 2005, as opposed to his failure in 2001, to his adding a significant number of African Americans to his earlier coalition of "Latinos, labor and white lefties", noting 2005 endorsements by Representative Maxine Waters (a Hahn supporter in 2001), highly influential L.A. Resident and basketball star Magic Johnson, and City Council member (and former police chief) Bernard Parks. ^[12] He also won handily among West L.A.'s liberal Jewish population, and to a lesser degree, the west Valley's more conservative Jewish community. Indeed, there were only two demographic groups he did not win: white conservatives in the northwest Valley, and Asian-Americans, although the latter only by the narrowest of margins. The Nation logo The Nation is a weekly left-liberal periodical devoted to politics and culture. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... // The term Latino is a linguistic identity that refers to an individual that has significant ancestry from a nation-state where a Latin derived language is spoken or is the offical language of the government. ... “Leftism” redirects here. ... The House of Representatives is the larger of two houses that make up the U.S. Congress, the other being the United States Senate. ... Maxine Waters (born Maxine Moore Carr on August 15, 1938) has served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1991, representing the 35th District of California (map). ... “Earvin Johnson” redirects here. ... The Los Angeles City Council meets three times a week in city hall. ... Bernard Parks, currently a member of the Los Angeles City Council, is the former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. ...

On July 1st of 2005, Villaraigosa was sworn in as the 51st mayor of Los Angeles in an enormous ceremony involving an interfaith prayer service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, followed by a large procession to nearby City Hall. The ritual was planned by and the music conducted by John K. Flaherty. On the South Lawn of the facility, he was administered the oath of office by Stephen Reinhardt, judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in a ceremony attended by dignitaries such as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Governors Gray Davis, Pete Wilson, and Jerry Brown. Also attending were former Vice President Al Gore, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other cities, current and former state and local elected officials, candidates, as well as large numbers of the L.A. area counsular corps, including a large contingent of international elected officials. The ceremony was also attended by local celebrities like David Hasselhoff and Natalie Cole, who also performed the night before at his inaugural gala. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Stephen Roy Reinhardt (born March 27, 1931 in New York, New York) is a circuit judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, with chambers in Los Angeles, California. ... The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts: District of Alaska District of Arizona Central District of California Eastern District of California Northern District of California Southern District of California District of Hawaii... Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): ) (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-American bodybuilder, actor, and politician, currently serving as the 38th Governor of the U.S. state of California. ... Joseph Graham Davis Jr. ... For others named Pete Wilson, see Peter Wilson. ... For the whistleblower, see Gerald W. Brown. ... This article is about the former Vice President of the United States. ... This article is about the state. ... Michael Rubens Bloomberg (born 14 February 1942) is an American businessman, philanthropist, and the founder of Bloomberg L.P., currently serving as the Mayor of New York City. ... David Michael Hasselhoff (born July 17, 1952 in Baltimore, Maryland), nicknamed The Hoff, is an American actor who is best known for his lead roles on Knight Rider and Baywatch. ... Natalie Maria Cole (born February 6, 1950), known professionally as Natalie Cole, is an American singer and songwriter. ...

Ethics

Villaraigosa's first act as Mayor was requiring all city commissioners, his entire staff, and all city employees to sign an ethics pledge.

Executive Directives and Transportation

Villaraigosa has now signed nine executive directives regarding a number of issues, one of his most prominent was to ban all road construction during rush hour in traffic-plagued Los Angeles. This act was also one of the first acts he performed as the mayor. This plan was originally proposed during Villaraigosa's first run for mayor in 2001 by candidate Steve Soboroff. Steve Soboroff Steve Soboroff (born August 31, 1948) is a real estate developer and president of Playa Vista. ...

His other transportation related efforts have been to take charge of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where he previously served as Chairman of the Board, a contrast to Hahn who declined his turn to take the helm. At the end of his year long term, the chairmanship rotated to County Supervisor Gloria Molina. Villaraigosa currently serves as a Vice Chair of the Metro board. This article is about the present transit agency. ... Gloria Molina is a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, vice chairwoman of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and one of the vice-chairs of the Democratic National Committee. ...

As Chairman, he oversaw the final approval of the EIR for the proposed Exposition Line, the opening of the Orange Line busway through the San Fernando Valley, and the beginning of tunneling on the Eastside extension of the Metro Gold Line light rail. One of Villaraigosa's main transportation related goals is to extend the Purple Line subway down Wilshire Boulevard to Santa Monica, although no plans have yet been completed. In order to convince Congressman Henry Waxman to reverse the federal policy he created which banned tunneling under Wilshire Boulevard following an unrelated methane explosion, Waxman and Villaraigosa appointed a board to study the geologic risks. After the panel declared that any risks could be mitigated, Waxman sponsored legislation to repeal the ban, which passed in 2006. More recently, Metro has determined that it will cost 4.8 billion dollars to complete the subway, at 300 million dollars a mile, and would take approximately 20 years. The Metro Expo Line of the Los Angeles County Metro Rail is a light-rail line currently under construction in Los Angeles, which will run from Downtown Los Angeles to Culver City and eventually to Santa Monica. ... San Fernando Valley from its southwestern edge. ... Diagram of the Metro Gold Line. ... Diagram of the Metro Purple Line. ... Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile District, looking east toward Downtown Los Angeles Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood, looking east toward the Millionaires Mile Wilshire Boulevard is one of the principal east-west arterial roads in Los Angeles, California. ... Santa Monica Pier Santa Monica is a coastal city located in Los Angeles County, California USA, by the Pacific Ocean, south of Pacific Palisades and Brentwood, west of Westwood, Los Angeles, and north of Venice. ... Henry Arnold Waxman (born September 12, 1939 in Los Angeles, California) is an American politician. ...

On a more local level, Villaraigosa led Operation Pothole, whose goal was to fill 35,000 potholes in 14 weeks. He surpassed that goal, filling 80,173 potholes throughout the city. After the success of Operation Pothole, he announced an initiative, currently in operation, to fill 300,000 potholes throughout the city. He has also announced Gridlock Tiger Teams to ease traffic congestion on Wilshire Boulevard and in the San Fernando Valley.

The MTA will be raising all of its fare effective as of July 1, 2007 to address a growing budget deficit. Vilaraigosa proposed his own plan in terms of fare hikes, but the MTA Board rejected his proposal, calling it unsound.

Education and Gang Prevention

Villaraigosa debating the effects of Assembly Bill 1837 Núñez on LA Unified School District

Villaraigosa has made gaining control of the Los Angeles Unified School District one of his top priorities as Mayor. Villaraigosa said during his campaign that he wished to take control over the schools, as is the case in New York City and Chicago, but he later backed away from the plan.^[13] Image File history File linksMetadata Antonio_Villaraigosa_LAUSD_forum. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Antonio_Villaraigosa_LAUSD_forum. ... The Los Angeles Unified School District (the LAUSD) is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. ... The Los Angeles Unified School District (the LAUSD) is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs in Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country State Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ...

In the first weeks of his administration, he appointed a Council of Education Advisors to find recommendations for immediate steps that can be taken to improve public education in Los Angeles. Some of the recommendations created by that Council include mentoring, providing thorough health care, and creating safe passages to and from school.

In his first annual State of the City address, he announced his intention to assume full control of the Los Angeles Unified School District, through a bill passed by the State Legislature.^[14] The school board and teachers' union immediately protested^[13] and support among the community was lukewarm. Consequently, Villaraigosa reached a compromise with leaders of the teachers' unions and state legislators. In the compromise, a Council of Mayors would be created, consisting of the mayors of each of the 28 cities served by LAUSD.^[14] The votes of each mayor would be proportionate to the city's population, thus giving Villaraigosa over 80% of the vote, and most often, the final say of what happens, while requiring him to seek consensus from a few other cities.^[14] The council reviews the budget and would approve the Board of Education's choice for Superintendent. Also, the board's powers would be reduced while the superintendent would gain more authority in shaping instructional methods, the contracting processes, and would be in charge of the facilities division. Villaraigosa and the superintendent would be in charge of three of the lowest performing schools in the district and their feeder elementary and middle school campuses. His efforts to gain more control have been endorsed by Mayors Richard M. Daley and Michael Bloomberg, of Chicago and New York, respectively, who have each gained control of their city's respective school districts. This article or section should be merged with board of education A school board (or school committee) is an elected council that helps determine educational policy in a small regional area, such as a city, state, or province. ... A trade union or labor union is a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment. ... Richard Michael Daley (born April 24, 1942) is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party and current mayor of Chicago, Illinois. ... Michael Rubens Bloomberg (born 14 February 1942) is an American businessman, philanthropist, and the founder of Bloomberg L.P., currently serving as the Mayor of New York City. ...

The bill created to implement these desired changes, labeled AB 1381, was written by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and State Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, with strong support from State Legislators Dario Frommer and Don Perata. Villaraigosa led four town hall style forums in South, East, and West Los Angeles, as well as the San Fernando Valley, to sell his plan to parents and voters. The bill passed both houses overwhelmingly and was signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who said that "we want to help [Villaraigosa] in that move, because we all know that it is inexcusable that we have more than 30 percent of our students drop out of school..."^[15] The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. ... Fabian Núñez (Fabián Núñez, Fabian Nuñez and less commonly Fabian Nunez) (born December 27, 1966, Logan Heights, San Diego, California, United States) is a Democratic politician and the Speaker of the California State Assembly. ... Gloria J. Romero is an American politician. ... Dario Frommer (born October 22, 1963 in Long Beach, California) was a member of the California State Assembly from 2000 until 2006. ... Don Perata (born April 30, 1945) is a California Democratic politician, who is the current President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate. ... San Fernando Valley from its southwestern edge. ... Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (left) and Governor Gray Davis (right) with President George W. Bush in 2003 The Governor of California is the highest executive authority in the state government, whose responsibilities include making yearly State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that... Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): ) (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-American bodybuilder, actor, and politician, currently serving as the 38th Governor of the U.S. state of California. ...

The plan has continued to receive significant opposition among the Los Angeles Board of Education, primarily Board President Marlene Canter, the then-superintendent of LAUSD,Roy Romer, some in the California state legislature, and other city councils, whose cities are also a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The opposition believes that local school board members are more accountable to constituents than a mayor with other things on his agenda, and cities outside of Los Angeles in LAUSD will be under taxation without representation because they cannot vote for the Mayor of Los Angeles. Roy R. Romer (born October 31, 1928 in Garden City, Kansas, United States) was the 39th governor of Colorado and served as the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District from 2001 to 2006. ... No taxation without representation was a rallying cry for advocates of American independence from Great Britain in the eighteenth century. ...

The bill was ruled unconstitutional by the local Superior Court. In an appeal, it was knocked down once again by the State Court of Appeals. There was talk that the Mayor would appeal to the State Supreme Court but refused to do so. Wikisource has original text related to this article: The United States Constitution The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. ...

As a new approach to gaining control, he has helped to elect a majority of allies to the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. He has also released his blueprint for education reform, entitled "The School House".

Several challenges have risen during the Mayor's bid for more control. One was the request of City Controller Laura Chick to audit the operations of the school district, a proposal which has been endorsed by the mayor and the entire Los Angeles City Council, but is strongly objected to by the superintendent and the Board of Education. Another was Assemblyman Keith Richman's proposal to break up the LAUSD into smaller districts, a plan reminiscent of one proposed by former mayoral advisor Steve Soboroff during his run for mayor in 2000 and Bob Hertzberg in his campaign in 2005. Villaraigosa says he will look at this plan but ultimately wants to see mayoral control. Laura N. Chick (1952-) is the current Los Angeles City Controller. ... Dr. Keith S. Richman is a California, United States, Republican politician. ... The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. ... Steve Soboroff Steve Soboroff (born August 31, 1948) is a real estate developer and president of Playa Vista. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ...

Through all of these efforts, Villaraigosa has continued the work of his predecessors to increase Los Angeles' nationally respected after-school program for elementary schools, LA's Best, and for middle schools, LA's Bridges. LA's Bridges is focused on preventing at risk children from joining gangs and encouraging current gang members to drop out.

The focus of Mayor Villaraigosa's 2007 State of the City address was gang prevention, intervention, and suppression. In consultation with a report issued by the Advancement Project of Los Angeles and with the City Council's Ad Hoc Committee on Gangs and Youth Development, Villaraigosa released his plan on gangs. He has recently appointed a Deputy Mayor for Gang Prevention, a gang czar, to implement these reforms. The Advancement Project is an US nonprofit public charity founded in 2001. ...

Animal Services

During the election, Villaraigosa appeared before a coalition of animal rights activists and pledged if elected he would implement a no-kill policy for Animal Services and fire General Manager Guerdon Stuckey, an appointee of former Mayor Hahn. Stuckey earned the ire of animal rights activists for what they considered to be his lack of experience, a bungled city spay/neuter contract, refusal to cooperate with the Los Angeles Animal Commission and excessive euthanasia of animals held by Animal Services. Stuckey's supporters claimed that he had been reducing the number of animals killed in the city every year. After the animal community caused an onslaught of negative press about the mayor's failure to keep his promise, Villaraigosa fired Stuckey. Stuckey appealed the firing to the City Council and threatened a lawsuit. The council awarded Stuckey a $50,000 consulting fee with the agreement that there would be no lawsuit. Sympathy for Stuckey by some Councilmembers was partly in reaction to an at times violent campaign against Stuckey by some in the animal rights movement that included a smoke bomb and picketing. In addition, there was concern for racial discrimination because Stuckey is black. Villaraigosa then appointed Ed Boks to the General Manager position. [10]

Economic Policies

Development, Housing, and Homelessness

Villaraigosa believes that the city requires a strong and healthy economy to be beneficial in other areas, like housing. He has found compromises in several labor disputes, including a highly publicized hotel workers protest while he was still the mayor-elect. He has also supported the construction of LA Live, a multibillion dollar development by Staples Center, which will add a theatre, movie theatres, hotel, retail and restaurant space, open space, and broadcast facilities; the project has broken ground during his administration. In addition, the tax reforms created by Councilmembers Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti and former Mayor James Hahn have also taken effect during his administration. In terms of housing, Mayor Villaraigosa proposed placing an initiative on the ballot which will fund 1 billion dollars of affordable housing. In addition, he has infused an additional 50 million dollars into the Housing Trust Fund, created by former Mayor Hahn, which he has devoted exclusively to housing and programming for the homeless population. The homeless population has become a major issue during his administration and he has recently been appointed to chair a task force on poverty and opportunity for the United States Conference of Mayors. The Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment District, (also popularly called Times Square West, and L.A. Live) is a civic center currently under development and construction in Downtown Los Angeles, California. ... Staples Center is a multipurpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles, California adjacent to the LA Live development. ... Wendy Greuel Wendy Greuel is President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 2nd District. ... Eric Garcetti (born 1971) is the son of former Los Angeles county district attorney Gil Garcetti, and was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2001. ...

Film Production

In relation to the California film industry, Villaraigosa has expressed support for U.S. film industry workers. Villaraigosa has vowed to fight runaway production by introducing counter-incentives to keep U.S. film productions at home.^[16] Villaraigosa's proposals include eliminating fees for filming done on all city property and reducing business taxes for entertainment-related businesses. Another proposal includes a possible entertainment incentive zone to make it easier to locate film production in the city.^[17] The current version of this article or section advances a limited or personal interpretation of the subject matter. ...

Public Safety and Homeland Security

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa speaking at the Filipino American Library Spirit Awards Dinner and GALA. Photo by Frederick Nacino.

During Hahn's administration, public safety was the number one concern and Hahn presided over significant decreases in crime every year. His program included bringing in William Bratton as police chief, restoring community policing, and implementing a flexible work week schedule. Villaraigosa has pledged to continue all of these efforts and continues to see drops in all areas of crime. Villaraigosa is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition,^[18] an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston mayor Thomas Menino. Villaraigosa recently proposed a Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness initiative, which builds upon the work of Hahn with programs like Operation Archangel, adds certain units to the Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments, adds positions to each department, and reorganizes some of the current practices. Villaraigosa's latest development in the policy realm of homeland security is the creation of his Homeland Security Advisors, a group of approximately 40 leaders. Some of the high profile selections include former Mayor Richard Riordan and Police Chief William Bratton. The group will be co-chaired by his Deputy Mayor for Homeland Security and Public Safety Arif Alikhan and Los Angeles City Councilman Jack Weiss. Villaraigosa has proven that Los Angeles is ready for a natural disaster or terrorist attack based upon the city's responses to the terrorist bombings in London and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which hit the Gulf Coast, but wants to strengthen local readiness and response. In 2006, Villaraigosa proposed an increase of trash fees to hire about 1,000 LAPD officers over the next four years. The proposal was passed by the Los Angeles City Council. In his recently proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Villaraigosa proposed cutting the CERT (Community Emergency Response Training) program led by the Los Angeles Fire Department. In City Council budget hearings, the funds were identified to restore the program. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 399 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2332 × 3504 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 399 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2332 × 3504 pixel, file size: 2. ... James Kenneth Jim Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. ... William J. Bratton is currently the police chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. ... The Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition is a coalition of mayors from 225 different United States cities, with a stated goal of making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets. ... Michael Rubens Bloomberg (born 14 February 1942) is an American businessman, philanthropist, and the founder of Bloomberg L.P., currently serving as the Mayor of New York City. ... Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, Americas Walking City Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area    - City 232. ... Thomas Michael Menino (born December 27, 1942) is the current mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the citys first Italian-American mayor. ... Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. ... William J. Bratton is currently the police chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. ... For the NBC TV Movie starring Tom Skeritt, see Homeland Security (film). ... Jack Weiss, is a member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 5th district. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Gulf of Mexico is a major body of water bordered and nearly landlocked by North America. ... The Los Angeles Police Department (usually known as the LAPD) is the police department of the City of Los Angeles, California. ...

In a televised interview with ABC Channel 7, on August 12, 2007, Villaraigosa announced that the City will uphold the law of the State of California about the medicinal use of marijuana. Villaraigosa added that the State's Compassionate Use Act 1996 and/or Senate Bill 420, allowed for dispensaries and that the city would continue to monitor the dispensaries in place; that they do not break any laws. The LAPD on the other hand has taken the position that they would uphold federal law against marijuana whatever the purpose of it, as it is against federal law for anyone to use, possess, or cultivate marijuana because the government of the USA does not officially recognize cannabis 'marijuana' as a medicine nor having any medicinal benefits.

Energy and the Environment

Villaraigosa has urged the Department of Water and Power to make 20% of all energy, natural energy, by 2017. He has encouraged the continued conversion of the city's fleet of vehicles into clean natural energy vehicles. Most significantly, he has overseen the historic Clean Air Ports Action Plan between the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which will significantly improve air quality. Villaraigosa is a supporter of recreation and parks, and the concept of "green urbanism", making Los Angeles a pedestrian and environment friendly city. This can be evidenced by his hiring of Gail Goldberg as Los Angeles' new Planning Director. While Planning Director in San Diego, Goldberg worked on making San Diego a city of villages, each intricately linking pedestrian activity, public transportation, housing, and environmental practices. The mayor recently announced his initiative to plant one million new trees throughout the City of Los Angeles. Villaraigosa has recently released plans to curb the affects of global warming and climate change.

Water usage

On August 10, 2007, the Los Angeles Times published an expose on water usage by Villaraigosa at his private residences.[11] During the Summer of 2007, Villaraigosa challenged Los Angeles residents to slash their water use by 10% in the face of a historic drought. "Los Angeles needs to change course and conserve water to steer clear of this perfect storm," Villaraigosa said then. But DWP records obatined by the Los Angeles Times show that "Villaraigosa has been contributing to that storm," according to the Times. He and his family used 386,716 gallons of water at their Mount Washington home, far higher than the average of 209,000 gallons. Villaraigosa blamed his high water use on "gophers that chewed holes through a rubberized drip-irrigation system." This just IN !!!:paris hiltons new dog. ...

Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs

Mayor Villaraigosa has visited Sacramento and Washington, D.C. numerous times to lobby on behalf of his educational and transportation related initiatives. He has also sought millions of dollars in grants for public safety, homeland security, transportation, homelessness, and other causes.

In October 2006, he traveled to England for several days and Asia for a sixteen-day trade mission. In England, he visited London and Manchester, at the invitation of Prime Minister Tony Blair, and spoke about Los Angeles' efforts regarding global warming, homeland security and emergency preparedness, and its current bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. Prime Minister Blair had visited Mayor Villaraigosa a couple months prior to that in Los Angeles.

In Asia, he visited several cities in China, Japan, and South Korea. He promoted Los Angeles' airports, including LAX and regional airports, the Port of Los Angeles, and the city as a tourist destination. During his mission, his Office of Communications made daily announcements.

On May 1, he left for an official trip in Latin America, visiting with the President of El Salvador and other leaders. On that day, an incident of police brutality broke out at an immigrants rights rally in Los Angeles' MacArthur Park.

He has stated that he is interested in going to Israel, a trip that could possibly be planned for the future, and has developed a relationship with the mayor of the Israeli city of Sderot. Sederot (Hebrew: (help·info); unofficially also spelled Sderot) is a city in the Southern District of Israel in Israel. ...

Reputation

Antonio Villaraigosa at the 107th annual Golden Dragon Parade.

Villaraigosa has gained a reputation as a leader in the Democratic party, and some consider him a possible future candidate for higher office such as Governor of California, U.S. Senate, or even President of the United States if he achieves enough national recognition.^{[citation needed]} He has been featured on the cover of Newsweek with the accompanying headline, "Latino Power", and in Time as one of the country's 25 most influential Latinos. However, his marital issues in 2007 have changed his reputation, locally and nationally. Image File history File links Antonio_Villaraigosa_(Chinatown_parade). ... Image File history File links Antonio_Villaraigosa_(Chinatown_parade). ... Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (left) and Governor Gray Davis (right) with President George W. Bush in 2003 The Governor of California is the highest executive authority in the state government, whose responsibilities include making yearly State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that... The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... The Newsweek logo Newsweek is a weekly news magazine published in New York City and distributed throughout the United States and internationally. ... “TIME” redirects here. ...

Villaraigosa makes frequent trips to both Sacramento and Washington DC and makes appearances on national news programming and at events of prominence, such as the White House Correspondents Dinner. Mayor Villaraigosa was even photographed by the Washington Post along with many other politicians sleeping during President Bush's 2007 State of the Union speech. Villaraigosa also delivered the Democratic Party's Spanish-language response to President George W. Bush's 2006 State of the Union address from his mayoral residence, the Getty House. Villaraigosa is the first mayor since Tom Bradley who has opted to live in the Getty House; both Mayors Riordan and Hahn chose to stay in their own homes, Riordan in his mansion in Brentwood, and Hahn in his single-family house in San Pedro. “Sacramento” redirects here. ... ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and the 43rd and current President of the United States. ... Alternative meanings in State of the Union (disambiguation) The State of the Union Address is an annual event in which the President of the United States reports on the status of the country, normally to a joint session of the U.S. Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate). ... The Getty House is the official residence of the Mayor of Los Angeles, California. ... Thomas J. Tom Bradley (December 29, 1917 – September 29, 1998) was the mayor of Los Angeles, California from 1973 to 1993 (five terms) and only the second African American mayor of a major U.S. city. ... Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. ... James Kenneth Jim Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. ... This article is about the neighborhood in Los Angeles. ... San Pedro is connected to Los Angeles by a thin strip of land called the Harbor Gateway which roughly follows the 110 freeway. ...

Villaraigosa was a leader of MEChA at UCLA.^[19][20] Talk radio hosts John and Ken of KFI refer to him as Mayor Reconquista^[21] because of that and because of his support for immigration reform.^[22] Other KFI hosts like Bill Handel or John Ziegler^[23] refer to him as "Mayor Viva La Raza" because of his support for the Hispanic League La Raza ("the Race").^{[citation needed]} Radio host Kevin James and Los Angeles mayoral candidate Walter Moore often refer to Villaraigosa as "Mayor Photo-Op" or even "Mayor Photoraigosa" because of the high frequency in which he holds press conferences and attends photo-ops. In 2002 Villaraigosa said that, "I think there is a lot of momentum and support for an amnesty or regularization."^[24] For the fictional robot, see Mecha. ... Binomial name Ucla xenogrammus Holleman, 1993 The largemouth triplefin, Ucla xenogrammus, is a fish of the family Tripterygiidae and only member of the genus Ucla, found in the Pacific Ocean from Viet Nam, the Philippines, Palau and the Caroline Islands to Papua New Guinea, Australia (including Christmas Island), and the... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... KFI is an AM radio station that began operating on March 31, 1922 as one of the United States first high-powered, clear channel stations. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... William Wolf Handel (born 25 August 1951 in Brazil) is part lawyer, part radio personality. ... John Ziegler (born March 28, 1967) is the evening (7-10 PM) host of a radio talk show called The John Ziegler Show on KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles, California. ... La Raza is a Spanish-language term (literally meaning the race, but also connoting el pueblo or la gente, both of which mean the people), which refers generally to the people of Latin America who share the cultural and political legacies of Spanish colonialism, including the Spanish language and culture... Kevin James (b. ...

See also

• Los Angeles mayoral election, 2001

In 2001, Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan was prevented from running for a third term because of term limits. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Nation logo The Nation is a weekly left-liberal periodical devoted to politics and culture. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... KFI is an AM radio station that began operating on March 31, 1922 as one of the United States first high-powered, clear channel stations. ...

Further reading

• Bruck, Connie. "Fault Lines". The New Yorker, 21 May 2007, pp. 44-55.
• Reaching across LA's ethnic divide, David Willis, BBC News Los Angeles (May 17, 2005).

External links

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Antonio Villaraigosa

• Biography from the Office of the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles
• La Prensa: A political analysis of the 2001 election
• Photos on campaign website for Antonio Villaraigosa
• Antonio Villaraigosa Educational Campaign, conducted by Andrew Jones.
• CityMayors profile
• Schmal, John P. "The Four Latino Mayors of Los Angeles," HispanicVista, May 23, 2005
• Mayors Against Illegal Guns homepage
• Antonio Villaraigosa: A President Who Will Fight for All Americans
• LA Weekly: Antonio Villaraigosa Interview Transcript
• Antonio Villaraigosa: Alcalde de Los Angeles?
• Beyond Chron: Villaraigosa Provides Progressive Vision for Urban America
• "Familiar Ring to Mayor's Agenda by Jim Newton, Los Angeles Times

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