CA: LA mayor wants to put troubled July and talk of affair behind him (Easy enough! Resign.)

AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 8/3/07 | Michael R. Blood - ap

[NormsRevenge]

In a town that thrives on scandal, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa hasn't disappointed. But he struggled Friday to turn a page after facing weeks of questions about his shattered marriage and the girlfriend who covered him as a TV newscaster.

"It's time to move on and move on we will," Villaraigosa told reporters who peppered him with questions about the affair and his dented reputation.

A day earlier his girlfriend, Telemundo anchor Mirthala Salinas, was slapped with a two-month unpaid suspension for having a relationship with someone she reported on - the mayor. In June, she announced on air the mayor would separate from his wife Corina, even though Salinas was the other woman. "Our news policy standards with respect to conflict of interest were clearly violated," Telemundo network president Don Browne said in a statement Thursday.

At an unrelated news conference at the city's port, the famously chatty mayor refused to discuss the decision, even though he had aggressively defended Salinas in recent weeks and predicted she would be vindicated.

"I regret that the decisions that I have made in my personal life have been a distraction to the city of Los Angeles, and I'm deeply sorry that I've let so many people down," Villaraigosa said after being asked if he felt responsible for the turmoil at Telemundo, which also disciplined several executives.

With Telemundo's decision, "it's my hope we can all move forward," the mayor said.

The first-term Democrat has been struggling to make a show of normalcy at City Hall as his troubled personal life played out on front pages and TV newscasts.

At issue now is whether a city known for its freewheeling lifestyles and reckless celebrities will shrug it off or hold him accountable if he seeks re-election in 2009.

He acknowledged as much.

When asked how many chances a sinner should get with the public, he looked down at the lecturn, smiled awkwardly and said "the voters in this city will judge me on the work that I do."

"Nobody has ever questioned my work ethic, my commitment to this town," he said at another point. "I intend to do my job."

Going forward, the mayor must contend with divorce proceedings while reordering his personal life and running the nation's second-largest city, which is beset with gang, traffic and other problems.

His wife and their two children have moved to the family's home in the Mount Washington section; Villaraigosa is living in the mayor's official residence, the Getty House, near downtown.

"It will present continuing complications for him to execute his duties as mayor," said longtime Democratic strategist Garry South. "Anyone who is telling you it doesn't matter, it will be old news ... doesn't know what they are talking about."

"When a very visible public official gets himself into personal trouble, it's not his option to declare it over and finished. That is a matter for the media to decide, and ultimately the public. You can't wave it away," South added.

Salinas was placed on leave July 5 while her employer investigated whether her romantic relationship with Villaraigosa breached journalistic ethics. The long-rumored affair was acknowledged by Villaraigosa on July 3 after a newspaper story revealed details of the relationship.

Corina Villaraigosa filed for divorce June 12, a day after the mayor told reporters in a City Hall news conference that he took the blame for his failed marriage.

At the news conference, the mayor attempted to direct attention toward an announcement about trucks that use cleaner-burning fuel. "That's the real news here," he said.

After Friday's event ended, a line of port police blocked reporters from pursuing the mayor. There was a tense standoff as journalists pushed forward; one reporter crashed into a ship container after appearing to collide with an officer.

She was not injured.

A statement from the port said reporters were attempting to enter a restricted area. "We regret that this incident occurred," the statement said.

[itsamelman]

When he's not bangin' 'em, he's bangin' 'em into shipping containers.

**************************************************************

 

What happened this morning?

 

 

 

Earlier today, a television reporter was shoved against a cargo container by one of the Mayor's bodyguards. Watch this video clip for full context and vote on the appropriate headline below.

Pick the headline

• Mayoral Bodyguard Blocks Bloodthirsty Press Mob
• Television Reporter Manhandled by Unruly Officer

Created on August 3, 2007

View Results

Labels: mayor antonio villaraigosa, media

 

 

 

  http://mayorsam.blogspot.com/

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks!

Here’s a thread on the LA Times report

—

Cop shielding Villaraigosa gets rough with reporter

LA Times ^ | 8/3/07 | David Zahniser and Duke Helfand, Times Staff Writers

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1875999/posts

—

also a clip leading up to the ‘crackback block’

http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=3921

[Lancey Howard]

It’s Los Angeles. Even if Villaraigosa resigned he’d just be replaced by another corrupt scumbag.

[ken21]

the mayor may implode before his term is up.

[CheyennePress]

The lovely couple. And no, if you're going to cheat on your wife, it really doesn't matter how hot the girl is. So none of the, "At least he did better than Bill" lines. It's pathetic, and she's equally guilty.

[Paladin2]

Judging by the photo, she’s not guilty.

[NormsRevenge]

She has been suspended for 2 months without pay. (lucky she wasn’t outright fired and may yet be as things play out)

As to the Mayor, I hope his wife takes him to the cleaners in divorce proceedings.

[NormsRevenge]

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, left, takes questions with Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster during a news conference at the port of Los Angeles in the San Pedro section of Los Angeles, Friday, Aug. 3, 2007. Villaraigosa was to talk about clean-fuel trucks but instead was peppered with questions about the suspension of his girlfriend Telemundo newscaster Mirthala Salinas. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

[NormsRevenge]

Azteca America reporter Allicia Unger Kaza, center, is surrounded by the media after she was allegedly pushed by a police officer at a news conference with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster. Villaraigosa was to talk about clean-fuel trucks but instead was peppered with questions about the suspension of his girlfriend Telemundo newscaster Mirthala Salinas. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

[rbosque]

The media here in LA have bent over backwards for this liberal scum. Imagine if he were a Republican?

[AngelesCrestHighway]

“It’s time to move on and move on we will,” ...Smooth move Ex-lax....

[goldstategop]

Like with Bill Clinton, having an affair won't hurt him with the Left. Its a career resume enhancer.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Smogger]

hehehe.. The LA press has turned on him. He is screwed. Things will only get juicier as the divorce proceedings continue.