One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Mayor Villaraigosa Likens Himself to a Chihuahua
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
In describing the way he plans to do business for the remaining 18 months of his term to the Daily News, Mayor Villaraigosa recently likened himself to a chihuahua.
And no, he didn't mean that he nips at your heels or has a surprisingly ferocious bite, or even that he regularly gets carried around in a handbag. He seemed to be implying that he's more like that one chihuahua who chased robbers out of an Altadena smoke shop in July.
"I am dogged," Villaraigosa told the News. "When I say I'm dogged, I'm like a Chihuahua. I don't give up. I keep after it until I get something done."
Indeed. Looking ahead to 2012 and the first half of 2013, the mayor denied that he would be doing anything to get back into office, and said that he'll instead focus on the 30/10 plan, greening the city and tax reform.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
