Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles
How is Los Angeles faring under the Obama administration?
This is the first president who comes from a big city. From the beginning, his administration has made the challenges facing big cities across America a top priority. We’re working hand-in-hand to get money on the ground as quickly as possible. The last administration was missing in action when it came to the needs of cities.
How are funds helping Los Angeles?
Today we received approximately $300m from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. We’ve begun spending the $42m we received for workforce development. And we’ve also been awarded $450m in recovery zone bonds – low-cost finance for both public and private projects in economically distressed areas.
What are your hopes and concerns for the city in the coming months?
Our hope is that the administration will expand this federal partnership, which will ensure both the rebuilding of our cities’ infrastructure needs and the future economic competitiveness of the nation. Our biggest concern here in LA is not other cities, but that we continue to focus on the needs of cities. The difference between cities and states is that both may build highways. In the case of states, often highways connect the ducks to the geese. In the case of cities, they move the people and goods that drive the economy of the nation.
How is the tax amnesty programme helping Los Angeles?
We thought we were going to get about $10m, and we were able to generate about $18.6m. That’s going to help us with the unprecedented budget deficit we face, of more than half a billion dollars.
Dave Bing, mayor of Detroit
How is Detroit faring under the current administration?
The Obama administration has been receptive, and supportive of my agenda. It has shown a tremendous commitment to Detroit’s future, through stimulus investments to bring jobs and improve public safety.
How has the Auto Task Force affected Detroit’s manufacturing sector?
The auto industry, like our city, is in a state of transition. I think the task force has brought some attention to the scope of the problem beyond just the Big Three [GM, Ford and Chrysler]. At the same time, we are looking to growth industries to diversify Detroit’s economy.
What are your hopes and concerns for Detroit in the coming months?
I want to get the city back on solid financial ground in the short term. Long term we need to increase the opportunities for job growth and improve public safety. One of the challenges we face is changing the culture: we have to abandon the idea that Detroit can be the same city as it was when we had nearly two million people. We have to be leaner and more efficient. Change is coming and that does not have to be a bad thing.
Is there a danger that Detroit will go bankrupt?
Bankruptcy is not on the agenda. Any suggestion otherwise would be premature. That said, we are in a financial crisis and we have to be willing to make the tough decisions necessary.
What measures are you taking to curb the city’s $250m deficit?
We are in negotiations with our unions to reduce labour costs and we are aggressively pursuing monies owed to the city. All my non-union employees, including appointees, have taken a 10 per cent reduction in salary.
You said you would collect a salary of $1 this year. What will you spend it on?
A copy of the New Statesman.
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