LA Mayor Villaraigosa pitches Obama administration for more anti-gang money

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Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addresses the second annual National Summit on Preventing Youth Violence April 2, 2012 in Washington, DC. The summit was to discuss about the crisis of youth and gang violence in the U.S.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is asking the Obama administration for more federal dollars to help pay for the city’s anti-gang programs.

Villaraigosa spent this morning in Washington, meeting with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Villaraigosa says he's partnered with fellow mayors to make the case.

He says cities like L.A., New York and Chicago that "drive the national crime rate need to work together to make a pitch here in Washington with both sides of the aisle that these are investments that bear dividends down the road."

L.A. received more than $26 million in state and federal funds over the past four years for programs in neighborhoods like Pacoima, Baldwin Village and Boyle Heights.