From the Eastern Group Publications, "Mayor's Townhall taken over by teachers"

This picture is worth some "pesos of laughs" at the expense of "Mayor Gordovillar".

We here at Mayor Sam were alerted to this in a previous comment, early in the week.

Interesting Red Spot didn't post what a joke last night's budget town hall was with gang banger mayor. It wasn't about the city budget but all about LAUSD. Teachers and students crammed the place yelling and carrying signs. It was the most out of control meeting ever. You couldn't hear him talk cause of the yelling "don't lay off teachers" Only one station channel 9 showed up. The gang banger has lost his luster. It was so hostile there is now word about walk outs and riots.

May 05, 2009 6:58 AM

These excerpts from the Eastern Group Publications

The town hall started off friendly enough with the mayor making sure that translation services were being offered, praising Councilmember Jose Huizar for his support and work, and acknowledging the teachers’ and their supporters presence—who made up about a third of the audience.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa held back-to-back town hall meetings in Highland Park, right, and Boyle Heights, left, on Monday that drew different responses from residents. In Highland Park he was greeted by a receptive audience, but in Boyle Heights, he was besieged by pink-slipped teachers and their supporters.

Referencing his plan to save city jobs by asking employees to work one hour without pay, go without pay raises and to contribute more to their pensions, Villaraigosa also said he believes there is a way to avoid teacher layoffs. But “I’d have to be a snake salesman to look you in the eye and tell you that we can do all of that with a snap of my fingers,” Villaraigosa said. “It’s going to mean everyone participating.”

Teachers and supporters appeared to be prepared for a showdown, however, with about a third of the audience standing throughout the meeting and several people and children holding up signs that read: “Actions Speak Louder than Words,” “Don’t Increase Class Size,” “93 percent of Teachers at Roosevelt don’t have confidence in the Mayor’s Partnership,” to cite a few.

The mayor said he agreed with teachers and their supporters that the goal of federal stimulus dollars is to save jobs, and that he too does not want teacher lay offs or class size increases. But it was clear the teachers weren’t going to be swayed from why they were there: to press their agenda that no teachers be laid off.

Villaraigosa attempted to remind the audience of his track record supporting labor unions and his efforts to prevent teacher layoffs by LAUSD, but he also implied that the teachers’ union, UTLA, needs to be more flexible.

“The fact of the matter is there is no way to resolve this budget, even with the school district, without some sacrifice all the way. The numbers are too big. Particularly right now, it looks like the people of California are not going to pass the initiatives on May 19…if we don’t pass those initiatives, the budget deficit in LA Unified is not going to get that much better,” said Villaraigosa, who was shouted down as he tried to speak.

......just another sign of a looming "lame duck era" emerging at City Hall.

****Bonus Villar Coverage****

Bratton and Villar (with Jack in the back) talk up crime and more cops. LA Weekly

Mayor Villar pulls rug from unions. LA Weekly