“In the Villaraigosa administration, governing looks a lot like campaigning. The Mayor spends a great deal of time away from his office, appearing at half a dozen events most days, and holding multiple press conferences, in both English and Spanish. In times of crisis, his talent for connecting with people is a boon, but at other times it can appear contrived.”
The article goes on to note that Villaraigosa’s Latino background serves as a double-edged sword, especially regarding the immigration debate:
“Being Latino obviously accounts for a large part of his appeal and his political success, but the subject of immigration is one of the country’s most polarizing issues, and if he appears “too Latino” he risks losing support among all his constituent groups. When he spoke at the National Press Club, in January, he was annoyed that many questions concerned immigration. He now seems to avoid the subject when he can”.
The article also describes Villaraigosa’s history including how he entered into politics as well as his policies as he enters his third year as mayor. It is a must-read piece for those interested in someone who may become a major player in
Related- Immigration rally ends in violence earlier this month in
Links- New Yorker, The Latin Americanist, Wikipedia
Image- MSNBC (Antonio Villaraigosa after wining the race for
All I can say about the guy is that he was trying his hardest to get the latino community behind him.
ReplyDeleteI have always been skeptical, but he really seemed genuine when i met him.
That's before I moved to Seattle.
Villaraigosa certainly has the charm and affability to go far despite his problems.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I get the slightly uneasy feeling that he will be like Alex Penelas, the ex-Miami-Dade mayor who was touted as the next rising Latino politico. yet that never developed.