Another staff shuffle: Villaraigosa names City Hall veteran to be deputy chief of staff

Matt Szabo, senior press secretary to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, was elevated today to deputy chief of staff for the mayor and will act as his point man in crises.

Villaraigosa’s office said Szabo would be one of the mayor’s chief strategists and would report to the Rev. Jeff Carr, who was recently named chief of staff. One of Szabo’s first tasks will be to work with city leaders and labor unions to tackle the city’s worsening financial picture.
 
City budget analysts are expected to release a report this afternoon laying out options to address a $400-million shortfall this year. Based on new figures, the mayor and some members of the City Council are voicing doubts about the costs of a proposed early retirement program for 2,400 city workers, which was supposed to help bridge the budget gap.
    
In a statement, Villaraigosa said Szabo “always performed best when crisis called for tough, decisive action. As these challenging times require tough, decisive leadership, Matt will serve as a voice of my administration throughout the corridors of City Hall,” the mayor said.

Szabo previously worked as a spokesman for former City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo, and as a legislative and communications director for then-Councilwoman Wendy Greuel. His first post at City Hall was as a City Council liaison and state government affairs manager for Mayor Richard J. Riordan.

-- Maeve Reston at L.A. City Hall

Comments

[phantom71]

Sounds like more of the same...just more insulation. you can almost feel the Mayor preparing for his good-bye speech as in "...we did the best we could..."; "..."if we only had more time..."; "...we've laid the groundwork for a brighter tomorrow..." It seems, now that we're into the Mayor's 5th year, nothing realy gets accomplished. Oh, you spin a good story but there's not this overall sense of achievement. there's no pattern of multi-program accomplishemnt. Like, what does Los Angeles stand for? are we thriving or just surviving? You should just choose 1 theme- education. Check this out. While everyone at City Hall is hot potato'ing education, i.e. school control, charter schools, outside management of schools...check this out: http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=254&Itemid=120

[Anon]

I notice that the mayor, who constantly boasts about the city's rich diversity, lacks this wonderful trait among his new top staff - they happen to be all white males. Moreover, this new crew does not bring a history of policy experience to the table - they're mostly "communications" people. This suggests that there will be more of the same . . . lots of pronouncements and very little substance. In other words, the communications component will drive policy. It's doubtful that anything can happen now that the mayor has lost so many high quality people who originally joined the administration with high hopes of accomplishing big things.

[Gilbert]

The Mayor now has 17 Deputy Mayors all getting salaries over $125,000 -$173,000. He just hired another one two weeks ago. Where's the shared sacrifice from him" Our city is on the verge of bankruptcy and he's done nothing, he's a complete FAILURE. Matt Szabo was a disaster during the Laker Day Parade when the Mayor was on vacation again. Szabo has no clue how to work with people, he's an arrogant uneducated little boy. He's an example of the Peter Principle along with Jeff Carr and Jimmy Blackman. All unqualified for their positions and all incompetent.

[Aubrey]

To the person who posted about the Mayor hiring "all white males". I am so sick of hearing stuff like that. You're a racist and you don't even think you are. I was in Washington D.C. listening to the President speak last week at the opulent Round Robin Bar at the historic Willard hotel when all I could hear every time they cut to a shot of Republicans was a stupid girl in her early twenties screaming "Oh my God. Look at them. They're all white males". So what. What does that mean? I am sick of hearing about race in every single situation and its one of the reasons I tend to shy away from Democrats (although I did vote for Obama). You guys have no idea of the damage you're doing to yourselves. Just because we don't complain to your smug little faces when you repeat your stupid mantra about "white males", doesn't mean we don't strike back in other ways.

[Anon]

In the most diverse city in the United States, I expect to see it reflected in the Mayor's top advisers. This city is rich with complex issues and requires different perspectives to successfully tackle those issues. You obviously don't hold a value for different perspectives and ideas and that's fine. The problem with "all white males" is the same as if it would be an all [fill in the color of your choice] representatives or all female representatives - THEY'RE NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE POPULATION. So frankly, I don't care that you don't like what "we" have to say nor am I intimidated by your other ways of striking. The power base is changing to a more equitable one whether you like it or not. :-)

[Aubrey]

Hello Anon-

What I take exception to is the implicit racism when people of your category (I assume left wing) throw that phrase out with such abandon. I've had it with the double standard. Minorities and women seem to feel they can say ANYTHING they want without the slightest bit of hesitation when it applies to white men. Meanwhile, the rest of us "white males" are walking on egg shells because of hypersensitivity in today's modern American culture. I had female friends tell me they only vote for female or minority candidates...especially for those running for judge positions where they know nothing of the candidates. Very fair isn't it? These are women who describe themselves as feminists and it further proves my theory that feminists are not really about true equality. Not in the least. As a result, I will only vote for males in those positions.

I'm all for a more equitable power base, but not at the expense of "white men" who you apparently despise. I had friends who were not even given applications to become LAPD or LAFD because they were white because of Affirm. Action (I.E. Legalized Discrimination) in the late 80's. Tell me how that's fair to them.

For this and a myriad of other reasons too lengthy to mention, I and many others are sick of that constant refrain you and your ilk so cavalierly through about and I just don't think you realize how much damage you're doing to your cause.

Lastly. To the person who posted about Matt being arrogant. Matt. If you come across this, it's true. You've gotten a little bit better in recent years but you really need to work on that. It alienates a lot of people.