Still waiting for tourism funds

Nearly two years after Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa vowed to find $1.8 million in city funds to bring more tourists to the San Fernando Valley, the region has yet to see a single penny for the effort. Daily News.

Widely hailed as a way to bolster an ailing economy, the money would have been the first to be used to specifically highlight Valley sites and accommodations. The mayor's pledge came after years of efforts by Valley advocates to get dedicated funding for tourism.

"Promoting the Valley as a tourist destination makes good economic sense," Villaraigosa said in making the announcement in November 2006. "Tourism boosts our economy and creates jobs. I will work ... to find the resources needed."