Mayor: High hopes and hard times

Three years ago amid the pomp and circumstance of his gala inauguration, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa exhorted residents to "Come dream with me" as he vowed his election would mark the dawning of a bright, new day for Los Angeles.Daily News.

With an energetic and inspirational vigor, he outlined sweeping visions for a "subway to the sea," a cleaner and safer city, education reform and a raft of other new plans to fix a broad range of issues.

And for the first two years, he seemed to do no wrong.