Modern Home + Living

Often when we think of Los Angeles, we think of the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. However, working hard behind the scenes are many who envision the city as a far grander place for all. One of those is Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. 
In 2005, Villaraigosa became the 41st Mayor of Los Angeles; and was re-elected for a second term in 2009. In the history of L.A., he is only the 3rd Mexican American to hold this position since 1872. 

At birth, he was named Antonio Villar and was raised in East L.A. by a single mother of Mexican descent. His father, a Mexican immigrant, left the family by the time Villaraigosa was 5 years old. By the time he was 15 years old, Villaraigosa was already a budding activist; volunteering for his first grape boycott alongside civil rights and labor leader Cesar Chavez. He later went on to graduate from UCLA with a degree in history and also holds a law degree from People’s College of Law. 

Villaraigosa is grateful for the many opportunities that his career has offered him and as a way to give-back, he is determined to make Los Angeles the greenest city in America. He also hopes to see the “Subway to the Sea” come to fruition, a project that would extend the Purple Line subway down Wilshire Boulevard to Santa Monica. 

Q+A with Antonio Villaraigosa

MH+L: What is it about your work that inspires you?

V: I would say it’s the people that I get to meet, the people I serve. Los Angeles is a very eclectic city; we speak 200 languages and come from 140 countries; there are 37 different nationalities that have their largest populations here. I am inspired by the vast diversity.

MH+L: Regarding architectural icons, we would like to ask if you have iconic architectural favorites in the city?

V: There are many buildings and iconic places in L.A that I like, but when I fly back to L.A. and over the Hollywood Sign, I feel like “I’ve come home.”

MH+L: Do you have personal items in your office that are meaningful to you?

V: I have a picture of my daughter when I was elected Speaker of the California State Assembly the second time; a picture of my son with former Vice-President Al Gore at his home, and I have a picture with Nelson Mandela. The photos represent important moments in my public life but also remind me of my family which are the most important in my life.

MH+L: Are there any new upcoming projects that you’re working on?

V: We live in the congestion capital of the United States. A city that is known for it’s addiction of single passenger automobiles. Passing Measure R, the half-penny sales tax, will generate $40 billion to double the size of our rail system, something I’m very proud of. I went to a school that had a 75% drop-out rate. In L.A. city schools, the dropout rate is still hovering around 50%. We are working hard to change that. We also need to balance our budget; we are going to need to make some tough decisions right now so we can get on sound financial ground. Creating more jobs is also a top project. My hopes are for Los Angeles to continue as one of the world’s great cities, a leader in trade and tourism.

MH+L: Any message to the young minorities?

V: I think for young people, particularly young people who grow up on the other side of the tracks in areas of social and economic deprivation, it’s important that they realize that with an education, hard work and playing by the rules, they can reach for the stars and achieve their dreams. I’m so encouraged by people who started out in humble beginnings and have overcome economic hardships. In my opinion, that is the true story of America.