Mayor Villaraigosa talked about issues facing cities like Los Angeles and ways the federal government could assist them. Among the issues he talked about were reducing poverty, homelessness, gridlock, improving homeland security, and public safety. The mayor is in Washington, D.C. for the Mayors' Conference where he will chair the Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity in America. He also was designated the previous day to deliver the Democratic Party’s response to the State of the Union Address in Spanish. The guest responded to telephone calls and electronic mail.