L.A. mayor wants to take over schools

SACRAMENTO, April 20 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has a thorny row to hoe with his plan to take over the city's public school system, reports say.

He faces considerable resistance from Republicans in the California Legislature and powerful teachers unions and other municipalities, the Los Angeles Times says.

And, while Democratic lawmakers appear a bit wary about the proposal, Villaraigosa's got the governor's backing. Arnold Schwarzenegger calls it "exactly the kind of thing that ought to be done."

The measure, which includes a "council of mayors," faces a variety of political and legal obstacles. A similar proposal last year died in the state Senate.

Villaraigosa's proposal received a sympathetic reception from some powerful legislators this week. Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-Los Angeles), a close ally, said the mayor deserved credit for tackling "a humongous problem."