L.A. Needs a Full-Time MayorAnthony Asadullah Samadbyline‚ Jun. 29‚ 2009Ed. Note: With Gavin Newsom under growing criticism for neglecting San Francisco as he runs for Governor, this piece by a prominent Los Angeles activist about their Mayor's recent decision not to enter the race should interest Beyond Chron readers. It’s been a while since I’ve been on the same page at the same time with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. As one of the few black stakeholders who backed his losing bid in 2001, and returned to support him in 2005, only to have to bash him for engaging in token reciprocity with the black community the past few years, I wasn’t exactly enamored with the prospect of a Villaraigosa gubernatorial run and quite frankly was gearing up to oppose it. Why? Simply put, Villaraigosa hadn’t done enough as mayor to qualify for gubernatorial consideration. Being elected mayor twice of the state’s largest city doesn’t qualify. |