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Meet Mayor Villaraigosa, Bicycle Advocate
When Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa broke his elbow in a bicycle accident in July, one of the first responses from his constituents was surprise--that he even rode a bike in the first place.
Now he's being hailed as a "new champion of cyclists' rights," according to an AP report published on cbs2.
Tomorrow the Mayor's Bike Summit begins; it has garnered criticism before it even began, which is perhaps why the City Hall's PR machine is pushing the idea of a very pro-cyclists' rights Villaraigosa.
Maybe the surprise that Villaraigosa was biking on Venice Boulevard in Mid-City wasn't completely unwarranted: "The ill-fated ride was his first on city streets since taking office."
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
