Which Way, L.A.?
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Legacy
After eight years in office, what does Antonio Villaraigosa regard as his main achievements? His failures? We talk with Villaraigosa and get some other assessments.
By Warren Olney • • 29m ListenAfter almost eight years in office, what does Antonio Villaraigosa regard as his main achievements? Where, in his own opinion, did he fail? What are the major challenges he predicts for whoever survives both today's primary and the runoff in May? We talk with Villaraigosa himself and get some other assessments. Also, in sprawling Los Angeles, neighbors are strangers and voting participation is shamefully low. Two law students from different parts of LA never met until they moved someplace else. We hear about their proposal to enhance civic involvement by empowering neighborhood councils. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, the Keystone XL Pipeline has the President caught in the middle.
Banner image: Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board President Antonio Villaraigosa (2nd L) with Metro Board Member Richard Katz; LA County Supervisor and Metro Board Member Zev Yaroslavsky; City Councilman and Metro Board Member Mark Ridley-Thomas; State Assemblyman Mike Feuer; Metro Board Member Pam O'Connor at the opening of the Expo Line Phase I, April 28-29, 2012. Photo: Metro Transportation Library and Archive
In this episode
2 storiesAs Los Angeles Votes for a New Mayor, We Talk to the Old One
For Antonio Villaraigosa, the days as Mayor of Los Angeles are dwindling down to a precious few. He'll be out of office on the first of July. Eight years ago, he became the first Latino to lead the city since 1872 and expectations were high for a man the national media were calling the "rock star" Mayor of LA.
Read the story21 minHow Neighborhood Councils Could Save Los Angeles
Today's election turnout undoubtedly will be very low, and that's a reminder that Los Angeles is a city so fragmented — complete with a mountain range down the middle — that self-government is a challenge. Two young men who grew up in different parts of Los Angeles didn't know each other until they went back east to college.
Read the story8 min
