Mayor Villaraigosa and the Neighborhood Councils.

Mayor Villaraigosa and the Neighborhood Councils

It is no secret that the new mayor has not - at least until now - been a supporter of the neighborhood council movement. It is also not a secret that most of the leaders of the NC's who have worked on city wide issues supported either Hertzberg or Hahn. Nor is it a secret that many of those most dedicated to making the neighborhood council system work are hoping that new Mayor will be a failure and that some few are planning on being the not so loyal opposition.

I, however, fully disagree with that.

Anyone who has any interest in making this city work needs to support the new Mayor in any way we can. It is in our own self-interest to help him become the most successful mayor can be.

That is not to say that we will - or should - support him on issues where we disagree with him, but it does mean that we need to work with him to make his term in office a success. And when it comes time for us to disagree with him on an issue, it is up to us to try and find a middle ground, a compromise that both sides will be able to support.

And I am confident that once AV sees that the NC's will meet him more than half way, he will welcome us at city hall just as the Mayor Hahn did and that we will be able to continue to work together for the betterment of the city.