Los Angeles port and city officials gathered for a press conference Monday at the intersection of Harry Bridges Blvd. and Neptune Ave. in Wilmington to break ground on a street-widening project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Rep. Jane Harman, left, talks to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa along with Councilwoman Janice Hahn. (Robert Casillas/Staff Photographer)
Whether it was intentional or not, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa snubbed Councilwoman Janice Hahn this morning at a public event in Wilmington.
During a news conference to promote $22 million worth of improvements to a 1.3-mile stretch of Harry Bridges Boulevard, Villaraigosa praised Rep. Jane Harman -- and endorsed her re-election bid -- but didn't mention a word about Hahn's run for lieutenant
governor.
Villaraigosa thanked Harman for her efforts to get federal funds to complete the roadwork, then urged the community to support the Democratic congresswoman in the June primary.
"For a woman who's currently up for re-election, let me say to Angelenos that it is important that we send Jane Harman back to the House," Villaraigosa said, with Harman standing to his right.
"She's going to advocate," he said. "We got a lot of money, but we need to get a lot more because this port is just so important, not just to Wilmington, not just to the city of Los Angeles, not even just to the state. It's important to every part of the United States
of America."
With Hahn standing to his left, Villaraigosa praised her role as a City Council member representing the Harbor Area, but he made no mention of his colleague's campaign for California lieutenant governor.
While she hasn't received the backing of the mayor, there is some consolation for Hahn. So far, she's gained the endorsement of City Controller Wendy Greuel and eight of her City Council colleagues: Eric Garcetti, Paul Koretz, Tom LaBonge, Bernard Parks, Jan Perry,
Bill Rosendahl, Herb Wesson and Dennis Zine.
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