New York's, San Francisco's Mayors Address the Media Ten Times More Than L.A.'s

Three Cities;
Three Mayors;
Two Frequent Communicators;
One 'Shy' Guy

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has been known as being very visible, but suddenly the guy who has been dubbed by some 'Mayor Photoraigosa' hasn't much to say.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and San Francisco's Gavin Newsom have issued at least one press release for every regular business day of June this year, yet the mayor of America's second-largest city, Los Angeles, Ca. has only--get this--found not one issue of enough import to formally address the press with a news release. That's not to say there have been no statements or comments from the mayor in June, but nothing official--not even a press conference.

At the same time, Mayors Newsom and Bloomberg have been churning out news about issues facing their cities' residents. On one day in June alone, Newsom's office issued press releases in which the mayor chimed in on New Hampshire's legalization of gay marriage, commented on Princess Cruises' marking of its 40th anniversary by setting sail from San Francisco, made a fuss over the city's Sunday Streets program--and, announced the addition of KaiserPermanente to the menu of coverage choices in the City by the Bay's universal healthcare system.

For his part, Mayor Bloomberg issued no fewer than five press releases on a single June day, and like Newsom, has had something to say every day this month. Among the issues addressed: World Trade Center talks, restarting stalled construction projects in the city, National Peurto Rican Day Parade; mitigation of Canadian Geese (remember the Hudson, but don't hurt the geese --ed.); and helping New Yorkers in foreclosure.

To be fair to Antonio Villaraigosa, the other two big city mayors are facing election campaigns, and so need as much exposure as they can get. Newsom wants to be the next governor of California, and Bloomberg wants to remain Mayor Bloomberg.

Also, Chicago's and Dallas' mayors each have released only slightly more press releases than L.A.'s mayor. But it does seem that we should at least have more going on than Dallas, and really, even Chicago.