Antonio Villaraigosa in The Huffington Post
On Crime:
Reduced violent crime by 50%; increased size of LAPD
To mark his time as mayor, his staff put together a 60-page book, titled "Straight from the Heart of L.A." that details his accomplishments over the past eight years. Among the accomplishments:
- reducing violent crime by 50%
- reducing gang crime by 43%
- expanding the LAPD to 10,000 officers.
Source: Huffington Post on 2014 California Governor race
Jun 23, 2013
On Education:
Mayoral control of 22 poorly performing schools
Villaraigosa said he tried to take over the schools, winning passage of a state law that was later overturned by the courts. Villaraigosa changed his tactics from trying to take control to helping seat a new
Los Angeles Unified Board of Education that agreed with his views on educational reform. He also took direct control of 22 poorly performing schools, which he said have turned around.
Also, his added focus on graduating students helped the district reverse its drop out rate, he said. "In 2005, there were only
48 percent of kids graduating," Villaraigosa said. "Last year, it was 64 percent. Almost two-thirds of the students."
Source: Huffington Post on 2014 California Governor race
Jun 23, 2013
On Environment:
Added 669 acres of open space & 1,549 miles of bikeways
To mark his time as mayor, his staff put together a 60-page book, titled "Straight from the Heart of L.A." that details his accomplishments over the past eight years. Among the accomplishments:- 20% of energy coming from renewable sources
-
75% increase in recycling
- adding 669 acres of open space
- adding 1,549 miles of bikeways
- installing LED streetlights
- reducing port emissions.
Source: Huffington Post on 2014 California Governor race
Jun 23, 2013
On Gun Control:
Member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Mayors in 700 cities joined in support of President Barack Obama's call for Congress to adopt the most sweeping gun control measures in more than 20 years, including increased background checks and bans on assault weapons and large ammunition clips.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a member of the national Mayors Against Illegal Guns campaign, said: "We know, because we've been through this before, through the passage of time, resolution to change withers. This time, we cannot allow that to happen."
Villaraigosa said he supports the package presented by Obama, adding he will seek to have the city's three pension funds divest themselves of any money invested with arms or ammunition manufacturers. "I don't want to see the city make one quarter, not
one dime, from the manufacturers of these weapons of war," Villaraigosa said. The mayor said he was asking for a report on the extent of the investments and what would be involved in any divestment strategy.
Source: Huffington Post on 2014 California governor's race
Jan 17, 2013
On Gun Control:
Ban sales of assault weapons and Saturday night specials
When he was speaker of the state Assembly, Villaraigosa was the co-author of legislation banning the sales of assault weapons and Saturday night specials in the state. "California should join with
New York in again becoming a national leader on this issue," Villaraigosa said. The New York legislature this week adopted a series of tough measures designed to control gun sales.
Source: Huffington Post on 2014 California governor's race
Jan 17, 2013
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