Interview: Council District 13's Eric Garcetti on Gangs, Mayoral Race

We caught up with Eric Garcetti Monday at the Central Library where he was attending the official reopening of the library for Monday hours.

Of course, the success of Measure L in bringing Monday hours back to city libraries was on his mind. 

We also talked about gang violence in the LAPD's Northeast and Rampart divisions and his political aspirations.

Garcetti said he remains concerned about the gangs that still control certain part of Echo Park and Silver Lake, though he did emphasize that progress had been made in the last decade.

He said that it was important to “shut these gangs down,” and hoped it would be a priority for both “the Rampart and Northeast divisions.”

Garcetti also mentioned that local law enforcement is working with other federal including the DEA on the issue and that there could be "results soon."

When asked about whether he would run for mayor in 2013 when he terms out, he said he “would be deciding in the next few months” and that it “would be very clear” when he was making that decision.

He also alluded to his appearance Monday on TNT’s The Closer, where he would reprise his role as Mayor.

You can click on the attached video to find out more of what Eric Garcetti told us.

And check back for Part Two of the interview where we discuss business issues and the Echo Park Lake restoration.

Garcetti is in his third and final term representing Council District 13,  which includes parts of Echo Park and Silver Lake.