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Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told Wolf Blitzer this afternoon that he will not run for Governor.
"The answer's no. I make that decision because like I've said many times, I love the city I was born and raised in, the city my grandpa came to 100 years ago," he told Blitzer.
"Cities are on the frontlines of the challenges facing us in terms of the economic crisis," he continued. "Here in the City of LA, 12.5% unemployment rate, 21,000 people have lost their home over the last 2 years, we're facing an unprecedented and historical budget deficit of $530 million dollars. I feel compelled to complete what I started out to do. I said to Los Angeles four years ago to dream with me. i said we would take on the many challenges that we face in the city: public school and public safety, the issue of the environment. I said that we would do everything we could to come together as a city. I can't leave this city in the middle of a crisis, that's as simple as that."
In a recent LA Times poll, Villaraigosa garnered 38% of those polled while former Governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown and San Francisco Mayor received 32% and 13%, respectively. Like in his March election, he received a 55% job approval in the poll.
"To turn America around, we've got to turn cities around," Villaraigosa said in closing to Blitzer.
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A budget deficit of $530 should be very easy to fix! If he just give up one tooth-whitening treatment per month, we'll be fine.
ha, thanks, febryle. corrected :)
"I love the city I was born and raised in" - Not to nitpick (but I will anyway) he was born in City Terrace which is not in the City of Los Angeles.
City Terrace IS Los Angeles. When did we consider east/northeast LA as non-LA territory?
City Terrace is part of unincorportaed LA County. It's not a part of the City of Los Angeles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Terrace,_California
Yeah but since it's also considered part of east LA, and since the teeny tiny area is basically surrounded by LA, I think we'll let it slide.
I can let it slide.
But if we gonna be techincal, East LA is *still* unincorporated LA County, and not part of the City of LA proper.
Don't ask me why we have these goofy jurisdictions and boundaries! But Antonio Villaraigosa is not the mayor of East LA or City Terrace, no matter what he thinks.
what's all the fuss about this guy anyway?
Newsom for Governor. The other mayor.
Cheers,
James
Umm, something tells me if his "potential governor candidate" poll numbers were up, he'd be singing a different tune.
I think you're right.
If the poll numbers were there, he'd be there.
I thought that last line read:
"To turn America around, we've got to turn cities around," Villaraigosa said, closing in to Blitzer.
And i lauged at the thought of tony slowly edging his face toward Wolf's as the show fades out, and as "Dream Weaver" fades in.