Villaraigosa Critiques California Democrats on Homelessness and Affordability
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat campaigning for California governor, stated on Saturday that the California Democratic Party shouldn’t place all the blame for the state’s issues, like homelessness and affordability, on President Donald Trump.
While he labeled Trump as a “threat to democracy,” Villaraigosa emphasized that Democrats must face the challenges that have emerged under their governance. “You can’t put everything on Donald Trump,” he noted during an appearance on MS NOW’s “The Weekend: Prime Time.” He pointed out that California suffers from the highest rate of homelessness, gas prices, utility costs, and housing prices in the nation, arguing that “all of that happened under Democratic policies.”
Having served as mayor from 2005 to 2013, Villaraigosa’s campaign revolves around addressing the rising cost of living for Californians. He described himself as “the stink bomb in the elevator” when it comes to tackling these critical issues, suggesting that his bid for governorship is vital for the state’s future.
He also expressed confidence that California’s top-two primary system would lead to a Democratic-vs-Republican general election, rather than two Republicans competing for the position. “The Senate race was a Democrat and a Republican. The last governor’s race was a Democrat and a Republican, and it will be the same this time,” Villaraigosa remarked. Experts, according to him, indicate that two Democrats are more likely to emerge victorious than two Republicans.
Villaraigosa connected his reasons for running back to his experiences during the civil rights movement, linking it with his criticisms of both Trump and the state’s Democratic Party. He said, “Look, I came out of the civil rights movement. I’m here today because the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act opened up the country to me.” He reiterated his stance that Trump poses a direct threat to democracy.
The former mayor expressed concerns that Democrats are potentially alienating pivotal voters in California. He urged the party to introspect, stating, “When you’re losing centrists, you have to look in the mirror and say, ‘What do we need to do to make the changes necessary to regain credibility as a party?’” He raised alarms about California’s heavy reliance on affluent taxpayers, warning that increasing taxes could push both residents and revenue out of the state.
Villaraigosa said, “This state is overly reliant on billionaires and wealthy people. We’re a very progressive state, we have a progressive tax system, so if all the states seceded, we wouldn’t have a balanced budget.”
