Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is a Failure, Says LA Mag (Los Angeles: 2009, crime)

[LALady]

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is a Failure, Says LA Mag | NBC Los Angeles

Big picture of Villaraigosa on cover with 'Failure' in big font across the front.

[ocexpo]

He is a failure. He is letting illegal aliens ruin the city and doing nothing about it but raising taxes to compensate for the taxes they don't pay. He has no interest in cleaning up the streets of gangs and other trash; instead he prefers photo ops and "appearance" projects rather than projects that will fix the city.

[happ]

Gang activity is no worse than it has been under previous mayors [in-fact crime continues to lower each year & LA is far from being a crime-ridden city]. LA-Live & the Gold line extension are on Villaraigosa’s term. I haven’t read the article yet but generally agree with “Los Angeles” magazine. Any specific details?

[LALady]

Originally Posted by happ

Gang activity is no worse than it has been under previous mayors [in-fact crime continues to lower each year & LA is far from being a crime-ridden city]. LA-Live & the Gold line extension are on Villaraigosa’s term. I haven’t read the article yet but generally agree with “Los Angeles” magazine. Any specific details?

A few more details at another website: Los Angeles Mag: Antonio a 'failure' as mayor - LA Observed

The writer's complaining because he hasn't given us any great art, public works.

The writer wants him to promise to remain for his full term, rather than running for higher office. Says he's too political.

[happ]

The LA County Art Museum expanded during Villaraigosa's term. I'm not a huge fan of the mayor but Antonio hasn't been near the failure some make him out to be.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by happ

Gang activity is no worse than it has been under previous mayors [in-fact crime continues to lower each year & LA is far from being a crime-ridden city]. LA-Live & the Gold line extension are on Villaraigosa’s term. I haven’t read the article yet but generally agree with “Los Angeles” magazine. Any specific details?

Haven't read the article but I can tell you why. It's because he promised a new kind of politics and raised peoples' hopes but turned out to be the same old same old. Raised expectations lead to disappointments.

[happ]

Originally Posted by majoun

Haven't read the article but I can tell you why. It's because he promised a new kind of politics and raised peoples' hopes but turned out to be the same old same old. Raised expectations lead to disappointments.

I see. Politicians, in general, rarely live-up to their promises. It's interesting that even in LA where most races are between Democrats that it still gets ugly [like the city attorney race]. LA Times wrote today that Villaraigosa clout will be demonstrated if Weiss wins but Trutanich is also a Democrat & supported by the police chief. Who really cares?

[ebuch]

Originally Posted by happ

Gang activity is no worse than it has been under previous mayors [in-fact crime continues to lower each year & LA is far from being a crime-ridden city]. LA-Live & the Gold line extension are on Villaraigosa’s term. I haven’t read the article yet but generally agree with “Los Angeles” magazine. Any specific details?

He is actually very pro-police and is fighting very hard with city council right now about not having a hiring freeze. Crimes have been lower each year for the past 8 years because of them hiring more police.

[happ]

Originally Posted by ebuch

He is actually very pro-police and is fighting very hard with city council right now about not having a hiring freeze. Crimes have been lower each year for the past 8 years because of them hiring more police.

Yes, Villaraigosa is also angry over Schwarzenegger's threat to take more taxes from LA to help the state [thus cutting back police funding]. This whole fiscal crisis is becoming a huge mess

[NaplesRes]

Like any politician beholden to unions, he is a failure. You can't have fiscal responsibility when you are forced to cave into union demands.