En la mañana de este viernes 17 de mayo, el alcalde de Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa se dirigió a los egresados de la clase de reclutas en el Departamento de Policía de Los Angeles (LAPD) en el último discurso correspondiente a su administración.

We Angelenos like to call our city the City of Angels. But when I was growing up in the 1950s and 60s, it was more like Smog City.

Back then, the air quality in the LA basin would get so bad we would have the west coast version of snow...

During my visit to the beautiful PyeongChang for the Special Olympics Winter Games, I realized what a big job we have ahead of us as the host city for 2015 World Summer Games. The people of Korea went all-out to stage a fantastic event, and we're looking forward...

Several weeks ago the state legislature took a smart step for California's economy and our state's workers; it passed an extension of the California Film and Television Tax Credit through 2015. This extension -- worth $100 million annually -- is an indispensable economic development tool. After all, film and TV...

With our abundant sunshine and signature palm trees, Los Angeles has always stood out for its beautiful climate. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for our city's business climate. With high taxes and copious red tape, Los Angeles has long been burdened by too many deterrents to job creation and...

Safety doesn't happen by accident. And it is no accident that the Los Angeles of today is the safest it's been since the Eisenhower administration. The dedicated and brave men and women who protect our city every day have a lot to be proud of, and we thank them for...

Queridos Maestros

Hay un proverbio Japonés que dice "Mas vale un día con un gran maestro, que mil días de estudio diligente". De hecho, en el día en que sus estudiantes se gradúen de la secundaria, ellos ya habrán pasado alrededor de 10,000 horas en la escuela y habrán sido...

Dear Teachers,

There is a Japanese proverb that says, "Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher." By the time your students graduate from high school, they will have spent about 10,000 hours at school being instructed by more than 30 teachers. That's...

La experiencia Americana es una experiencia inmigrante. Durante nuestra historia, inmigrantes de distintos rincones del mundo han venido a los Estados Unidos en busca de libertad y oportunidades. Cada nueva generación inmigrante ha contribuido de manera única a nuestra grandeza nacional. Desde la construcción de las grandes ciudades del siglo...

This morning, we celebrated the opening of the Expo Line Phase I. The line, whose construction and operation supports nearly 14,000 jobs, will initially run the 7.6 miles from the downtown 7th and Metro station to the La Cienega station. It will extend to Culver City this summer and by...

The American experience is an immigrant experience. Throughout our history, immigrants from every corner of the earth have come to America in search of freedom and opportunity. Each new immigrant generation has made unique contributions to our national greatness - from building the great cities of the 19th century to...

I recently returned from a trade mission to China, Japan, and South Korea. Of the many conversations I had with business leaders and government officials, one thing was clear: Los Angeles is the premier destination for goods entering the United States from the Pacific Rim.

But the...

Last week, Senate Republicans filibustered the Rebuild America Jobs Act. I fully supported this bill and continue to support President Obama's efforts to create jobs and rebuild America's infrastructure. Luckily for those who want to put America back to work, there is a bipartisan proposal that has the potential of...

For too long, L.A. businesses have been stolen from us by other cities and states. The result has been a calamitous decline in both jobs and tax revenues in our city, causing huge strains on our budget and endangering our ability to provide basic city services. For example, since 1986,...

To experience an act of violence at the hands of someone you love and trust is truly traumatic. The physical marks may only be temporary, but the emotional scars stay with you forever. Unfortunately, I know that private pain all too well.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness...

Warren Fletcher, President of United Teachers Los Angeles, also contributed to this piece.

As we work to overcome the biggest recession since World War II, we must not lose sight of this basic fact: we will not sustain the recovery and ensure our future prosperity without an educated...

Today I engaged in a thoughtful discussion with USC Professor Manuel Pastor and local business leaders in Los Angeles regarding one of the most pressing questions facing Californians: the need for investment in jobs now and in educating our future workforce.

Throughout its history, California has boasted an entrepreneurial and...

I'm proud to be the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles in over 130 years. As one of the most diverse cities in the world, LA is proud of its rich, multicultural heritage. In fact, of the original 44 pobladores that first settled our region, two-thirds were of mixed African,...

The first thing homebuyers often ask their realtor is, "What are the schools like?" That's because a successful school indicates more than just a solid education for the children it serves -- it also means a strong community and a safe neighborhood. Even if you aren't a parent yourself, a...

By now you've probably heard about the I-405 closure this weekend. But what you may not have heard above the clamor of a supposed carmageddon, is that the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvement Project is part of our plan to deliver what every Angeleno deserves: a 21st-century transportation system.

We...