What Villaraigosa’s Los Angeles Can Teach de Blasio’s New York

Peter Dreier, assuming a common thread in the progressive tradition between New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, examines the Los Angeles’ recent political record for lessons that can inform the details of the nascent de Blasio Administration.

Many of the ten points outlined by Dreier in the article will apply in planning and development controversies that will inevitably arise for the de Blasio administration, such as “develop a thick skin” and “Each major issue requires a campaign.” Dreier also targets also several recommendations that will require a holistic, even regional, planning focus, such as “Insist that big NYC-based foundations advance a new urban/suburban egalitarianism” and “Use your national platform to build coalitions with other urban mayors around a federal metropolitan agenda.”