Mayor Gets Allies for His Agenda

Jose Huizar and Herb Wesson captured the empty seats on the City Council, but the evening’s big winner was Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who picked up two friendly votes he will probably need to push his ambitious and costly agenda through the council.

“It was,” said Villaraigosa, “a good night.”

“Obviously, I endorsed both early on, and I did because I truly believe they bring experience and leadership that we need right now on the council,” said the mayor. “I see them, obviously, as people I have a long-standing relationship with and look forward to working with.”

Wesson was a shoo-in because of light opposition in the 10th Council District. But Huizar had a potential race on his hands in the 14th District against former Councilman Nick Pacheco, and Villaraigosa wasn’t shy about throwing his support toward Huizar.

The reason: As part of his mayoral campaign, Villaraigosa made sweeping promises on a number of fronts. Since taking office, he has adopted a frenetic schedule to help build consensus toward his goals.

On the mayor’s short list are hiring more police, taking over the Los Angeles Unified School District, building a world-class transit system, re-greening the L.A. River and, more recently, trying to solve the city’s homeless problem.

Each of those in some way will require the council’s approval.

“I can’t emphasize enough the value of relationships,” council President Alex Padilla said. “It was definitely a good night for the mayor. He has two very experienced people -- if not friends -- who are on the council.”

Perhaps the biggest test for the new mayor will be when his office delivers his first budget in April. Although roughly 40% of the $6-billion budget is off-limits because it’s used for such items as bond repayments or pensions, there is still considerable wiggle room.

“There are some things that remain constant” in the budget, Villaraigosa said. “But we’re going to do different things, and not only in the budget. We have so many initiatives, we have the billion-dollar housing bond, and I’m a big advocate for public transportation.”

Los Angeles’ problem is revenue: The city isn’t creating enough of it to do everything on his list.

As a result, the mayor’s office is contemplating a garbage pick-up fee for homeowners to cover the $200-million cost.

The mayor’s office may also propose a half-cent sales tax increase to pay for more police officers.

In an era of term limits, when everyone is looking for their next job in elected office, no council member wants to vote for a tax or fee increase.

Or do they?

“A civilized society has a responsibility to take care of people who can’t take care of themselves, and it also has a responsibility to make sure its citizens are safe,” Wesson said. “If it takes some kind of fee or tax, then I’m open to that.”

Huizar took a more cautious stance. On Wednesday, he said, “There is no proposal on the table. Until I see one, I won’t make up my mind whether I support one or not.”

But Huizar also reiterated several times that his priority was to get more police on the streets of his district and across the city.

There are other advantages the mayor will enjoy with the new councilmen.

In Wesson, the council picks up a former Assembly speaker who dealt with the always-thorny state budget.

Wesson also understands infrastructure and will not get in the way of the Exposition light rail line, an important piece of the city’s transit plan. Construction of the line, set to run from downtown to Culver City, is expected to begin next year.

Wesson, in a nod to the past, announced the hiring of Deron Williams, the former aide to longtime Councilman Nate Holden.

Williams lost his 2003 council bid to Martin Ludlow, after it was revealed that he served jail time for possessing cocaine in 1988.

Huizar has four-plus years of experience on the school board. The mayor, who has said he wants to take over the system, now has someone on the council who shares his view that there is something amiss in the way the district is run.

Both new councilmen will also hold considerable sway over who becomes the next council president.

Padilla is running for state Senate and might leave the council next year. A new president could help Villaraigosa by installing mayoral allies on key committees and ensuring that important votes are scheduled at advantageous times.

There is already buzz about who that president might be.

One of the first questions asked of Wesson at his news conference Wednesday was whether he was interested in the job.

With Padilla standing beside him, Wesson deftly sidestepped.

“One council president at a time,” he said, smiling.