
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a candidate for California governor, delivers his remarks at a primary-night watch party Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The United States is beset by crises—from the pandemic to climate change, and from policing to our toxic politics. And no American place has more experience with crisis than California, and no American politicians have dealt with more disasters than its politicians. What can we reasonably expect from our leaders when crisis strikes? What lessons do previous crises—giant recessions, earthquakes, wildfires, blackouts, the 1992 riots—hold for today’s public officials? And how much change and improved crisis management can we really expect if we elect a new president and a new administration next month?
Antonio Villaraigosa, who served as speaker of the state Assembly from 1998 to 2000 and as mayor of Los Angeles during the Great Recession, visits Zócalo for a blunt back-and-forth on why leaders falter in crises, and how they might succeed.
The Takeaway
Antonio Villaraigosa Sees Opportunity in Crisis
L.A.’s 41st Mayor Has Advice for Elected Officials Right Now, Some of It Hard-Won
“In every crisis there’s an opportunity,” Antonio Villaraigosa said yesterday. The 41st mayor of Los Angeles was responding to a question asked by moderator Saul Gonzalez, KQED correspondent and co-host …