LA's new Latino mayor sworn in

LOS ANGELES - Antonio Villaraigosa was sworn in today as the first Latino mayor of modern Los Angeles, pledging to represent all its people and turn the City of Dreams into a city of purpose.

In a speech strong on inspiration and a party atmosphere that captured the ethnic diversity of America's second-largest and most diverse city, Villaraigosa urged Angelenos to put aside race, religion and gender.

"Today we come together. One city, Angelenos all. ... We come here to transcend our differences, to meet our collective challenges and to define our mutual dreams," he said. "Let's make Los Angeles a city of purpose. .... Let's dare to dream together."

Villaraigosa, 52, a high school dropout son of Mexican immigrants, became one of Americas' highest-profile Latino leaders after his resounding victory in May.

The charismatic Democrat was on the cover of Newsweek magazine and attracted international headlines as the man who embodied the political coming of age of America's fastest growing ethnic minority.

His inauguration guest list reflected his star status, including California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican.

The five hours of inauguration ceremonies kicked off with a prayer service led by Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians featuring music from a female Mariachi band that reflected the cross-cultural support that led to Villaraigosa's election victory.

Several hundred people later joined a downtown street party, complete with music and free Mexican, Italian, Japanese and Chinese food.

For all the headlines triggered by Villaraigosa's election as the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since 1872 - when the city was a frontier town emerging from its Mexican roots - both his campaign and his inauguration speech played down race while setting high expectations.

"Our city not only represents America's greatest hopes, we also face many of its most daunting challenges," said Villaraigosa, contrasting the city's wealth and movie industry glamour with its status as home to largest homeless population in United States.

Villaraigosa said he would make crime, gang violence, traffic and education his priorities, saying he would fight for more police officers, reforms in failing schools and work to extend public transport in a city where the car has traditionally been king.

Los Angeles had 515 murders in 2003 and 518 in 2004, when US violent crime overall actually fell. And just 39 per cent of Latino students and 47 per cent of African-American students graduate from high school in four years in Los Angeles.

"We are deficient. We need someone to help us restabilize and grow," said Tammy Lee, an African-American activist enjoying Friday's street party. "I think he's cute. He's going to bring us back bucks from Washington, He has the charisma to do it."

- REUTERS