Villaraigosa's Lease Up for Washington D.C. Digs
Categories: politics
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa often talks about flying to Washington D.C. so he can grab some of those federal dollars for the city of Los Angeles -- it's one of the main excuses he gives to reporters for regularly traveling out of town.
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| L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa |
But probably few taxpayers know that he actually leases an office only a few blocks away from the White House at 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Indeed.
And now Villaraigosa, who is still grappling with a budget shortfall of over $400 million, wants to sign a new, three-year lease. It will come under consideration at Tuesday's L.A. City Council meeting.
Here's the lowdown on that space, and what it costs John and Mary Q. Public.
According to a September 24, 2009, report by the city's Department of General Services, the mayor's office has been leasing space at 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue from the National League of Cities since 1991 -- Tom Bradley was still in office at that point. (Click here to see the DGS report.)
The current rate for the 2,314-square-foot office is $3.06 per square foot for the monthly rent of $7,081, or $84,972 annually. That deal will expire on December 31, 2009.
The new lease for that same space will be $3.34 per square foot or $7,729 per month and $92,748 annually.
Villaraigosa also wants to rent up to four parking spaces costing $275 each for a monthly total of $1,100, or $13,200 annually.
So the mayor's looking to spend $105,948, per year, of the taxpayers' money to maintain shop in the nation's capital. Over three years, that's $317,844.
We thought you'd like to know where your money is going.
Contact Patrick Range McDonald at pmcdonald@laweekly.com and follow at http://twitter.com/PRMcDonald.
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