By Ron Thaniel
January 31, 2011

"What happen in Tucson was not just a devastating event in Tucson, it touched the American psyche," said Conference of Mayors Vice President Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa at the 79th Winter Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors on January 20.

"This is a very divisive time in American history," said Villaraigosa. "A time when the screamers, the shouters, and the haters, seem to be front and center on the national stage."

Villaraigosa said that when he was first elected in 1994 to the California State Assembly, "A lot of us prided ourselves on statesmanship and civility, and getting up and engaging in a battle of ideas, but doing it in a way that was respectful." He said the debate was in a way that "honored our adversaries, not in a way that demonized them, or characterized them as unpatriotic."

"I would submit to you right now that mayors are focused on getting things done with practical solutions," said Villaraigosa. "Mayors are moving away from partisanship to bringing people together to solve problems that we face." Speaking to the immigration debate within the Conference of Mayors, Villaraigosa said, "Just last year on an issue that would have created diverseness anywhere else, we were able to debate, discuss, and advocate our views in a way that was respectful, honest, and in a way that attempted to figure out and find common ground and solutions."

"Mayors have an opportunity to move the debate to the center," said Villaraigosa. "A center that moves us forward, and acknowledges that issues are not black and white, they are a lot grayer than that."

"I wanted to share these few thoughts because last week's event to me really said so much about that hate," said Villaraigosa.

"I think mayors have an important role as the country is so evenly divided," said Villaraigosa. "There is an opportunity for us to get behind policies that seek middle ground."

As we go back to our cities Villaraigosa said, "I hope that we continue this conversation in our town halls about civility and statesmanship, about collaboration, cooperation, and compromise, about the idea that these solutions are not left or right."

"There has to be a common ground and a moral middle," said Villaraigosa. "I think if we engage those neighborhoods and community town halls, then maybe what happen in Arizona will be a conversation that will lead to a higher ground, to a common agenda, to a moving away from vitriol, to the kind of harmony that comes when you work together and you respect one another."

"Let's begin the conversation of civility and compromise and moving America forward," said Villaraigosa.