State of Gold I Said No to the Billionaire Tax | Antonio Villaraigosa
Guest:
Antonio Villaraigosa, Former Mayor of Los Angeles
Guest Bio:
Antonio Villaraigosa is the former Mayor of Los Angeles and former Speaker of the California State Assembly. A longtime public servant, and now Democratic candidate for Governor, Villaraigosa has built his career around education reform, economic growth, and restoring opportunity in California.
Show Summary
The California Dream once meant opportunity, homeownership, and a better future for the next generation. Today, many Californians feel that dream slipping further out of reach.
In this episode of State of Gold, Jon Slavet sits down with Antonio Villaraigosa to discuss the state’s political climate and what it will take to restore opportunity in California. The former Los Angeles Mayor shares his perspective on the Governor’s race, the challenges facing moderate voices in a polarized political environment, and why he believes California needs leaders focused on results rather than ideology.
Villaraigosa also outlines his priorities for fixing California’s struggling education system, addressing housing affordability, cutting red tape that stifles business growth, and restoring the promise of the California Dream for the next generation.
Chapters
01:02 – Should Candidates Drop Out of the Governor’s Race?
03:45 – The Political Center vs. The Extremes
07:21 – The California Dream and Why It’s Slipping Away
09:27 – Housing Costs and Economic Opportunity
11:52 – Public Sector Pensions and Fiscal Responsibility
17:10 – Fixing California’s Education System
21:51 – Why Transparency and Accountability Matter
23:13 – Spending, Deficits, and the State Budget
24:28 – Why Villaraigosa Opposes the Billionaire Tax
28:54 – Cutting Red Tape to Grow the Economy
31:35 – Climate Goals vs. Infrastructure Reality
34:34 – Rapid Fire: Fixing California’s Schools
35:06 – Leaders He Admires in California History
35:38 – Restoring the California Dream
Connect with Antonio Villaraigosa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AntonioVillaraigosa
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antonioforcalifornia
- Twitter: https://x.com/AVillaraigosa
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Antonioforcalifornia
- Campaign Site: https://www.antonio2026.com/
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Connect with State of Gold