Cities to state: See ya in court

The mayors of Los Angeles and five other large California cities threatened Thursday to join forces in a legal action if the Legislature approves a budget that would use Daily News.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the five other mayors - all struggling with their own budget problems - said they will not allow the state to raid their coffers. Los Angeles stands to lose about $270 million under the tentative pact reached early this week by lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"I represent 4 million people in this state," Villaraigosa told reporters. "With these other mayors, we represent the majority of the state. We have to speak out to protect our residents from this budget."