Villaraigosa understands Los Angeles’ issues, needs

Antonio Villaraigosa With runoffs in the hotly
contested mayoral race scheduled for Tuesday, the Daily Bruin would
like to encourage students to vote. This endorsement recaps the
previous position taken by the Editorial Board.

Candidate Jim Hahn has turned to smear campaigning in an effort
to garner voter support because he has no other method to
counteract Antonio Villaraigosa’s reputable experience with
state and local government ““ the experience that makes him
the better candidate.

Villaraigosa has a strong understanding of Los Angeles’
needs, including education, police reform and social programs for
low-income families and the homeless. For instance, rather than
breaking up LAUSD, Villaraigosa has proposed an 11-point plan to
reorganize and improve the school system.

Villaraigosa has also demonstrated concern for access to higher
education. Not only did he support the repeal SP-1 and 2, his
writing to the UC Regents and speaking with university officials on
behalf of students during the protests in March shows he cares for
their concerns.

Villaraigosa also cares about the corruption in the LAPD; he was
the first candidate to endorse a federal consent decree to reform
the department and has stated that he will remove Police Chief
Bernard Parks if change does not take place.

As city attorney for Los Angeles, Jim Hahn already had the
opportunity to make an aggressive effort to reform the LAPD,
especially after the Rampart Scandal, but didn’t. This makes
us skeptical that he will do so as mayor.

As mayor, Villaraigosa has stated that he will make a commitment
to provide affordable housing for low-income families and to work
with the Housing and Urban Development department to provide
services ““ such as substance abuse treatment programs ““
for the homeless.

His concern for everyone living in Los Angeles, whether it be
UCLA students or the homeless, makes Villaraigosa the best
candidate for mayor.