Antonio’s First Test

29 March 2006 |permalink | email article

As todayís front-page analysis by the Los Angeles Times’ Jim Newton points out, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosaís best moment in the wake of last Saturdayís massive pro-immigrant rally may have been to urge rebellious students to return to class.

But the telling photo of the mayor, speaking with the media, as school board member David Tokofsky whispers in his ear, is a strong metaphor of the difficulty he faces in fortifying his electoral base while not appearing to pander to ethnic politics.

Ace Smith, one of his political sidemen, calls him ìthe voice of reason.î I had a very different view after hearing him make a political statement to students at noon on Monday and then hours later urge them to go back to school. That hardly shows command presence by a charismatic and nationally ambitious politician entering his 10th month in office.

Aside from the fact that tens of thousands of downtown workers were inconvenienced for two days this week because Spring St. between Temple and First Street was shut down to deal with the student protest and the loss of millions in government aid, there is a larger issue here.

It is that Villaraigosa, who showed little interest in education politics during much of last yearís campaign, and was initially ambivalent after taking office, has now made taking control of Los Angeles schools a key centerpiece of his otherwise overcrowded political agenda.

His recent pilgrimage to see how New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg runs city schools attracted a gaggle of L.A. media. A great photo op on both coasts, it serves to raise expectations about local reform. But Villaraigosaís halting first reaction to the student walkout does not inspire confidence regardless of the spin.

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