Villaraigosa backs Arizona boycott by L.A.

At a news conference today, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa came out in favor of the city of Los Angeles boycotting Arizona over that state's new law putting cops into the business of enforcing immigration laws. The boycott was proposed by City Council members Ed Reyes and Janice Hahn. Five of their colleagues have signed on. "If you look like me, you should be concerned about traveling to the state of Arizona,” said Councilman Jose Huizar, a native of Zacatecas. Controller Wendy Greuel has identified at least $7.2 million in city contracts with Arizona firms, not counting US Airways and some complicated water and power arrangements. "The last time people boycotted AZ--over MLK day--the Superbowl moved from Tempe to Pasadena. It's a tactic that works," Villaraigosa said on Twitter this afternoon.

Related: Reyes spoke on the City Hall budget crisis today at Emma Schafer's Current Affairs Forum, but Mark Lacter wasn't impressed.