Veteran Villaraigosa aide is stepping down

One of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s most veteran advisors is stepping down, marking another exit from his administration that has been dramatically reshaped over the last year.

Deputy Chief of Staff Jimmy Blackman, who oversees the mayor’s schedule and his interactions with neighborhood councils, other politicians and other government agencies, notified Villaraigosa that his last day would be Aug. 13.

Since August 2009, Villaraigosa has hired investment banker Austin Beutner to be his “jobs czar,” a post that has authority over roughly a dozen city agencies. He also elevated “gang czar” Jeff Carr to be his chief of staff, created the post of chief deputy mayor for Jay Carson and named spokesman Matt Szabo as a second deputy chief of staff, with more involvement in the city budget.

Blackman, 38, said Friday he has not lined up another job at this point and looked forward to spending more time with his daughter.

“I will always remain loyal to Mayor Villaraigosa,” Blackman wrote in prepared statement to The Times, “and proud of our accomplishments over the years.”

As someone who dealt with the mayor’s schedule, Blackman also was one of the officials who helped arrange Villaraigosa’s appearances at special events, such Dodgers and Lakers games. Those appearances are now the subject of an investigation by the Ethics Commission and an inquiry by Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley into whether free entry to games and concerts should have been disclosed as gifts.

Villaraigosa said he performed official duties at those events and did not have to consider the free tickets as gifts under state law. Asked about the controversy, Blackman said in an e-mail: “I am not a part of any inquiry into this issue, nobody has asked to speak with me about it, and it has absolutely nothing to do with my departure.”

Blackman, who lives in Northridge, was one of the four people who originally made up Villaraigosa’s E-Team, or executive team. The other three — Chief of Staff Robin Kramer, Deputy Chief of Staff Marcus Allen and Senior Counsel Thomas Saenz — have already left.

Blackman worked for Villaraigosa for 12 of the last 13 years, including during the mayor’s stints in the state Assembly and on the Los Angeles City Council.

david.zahniser@latimes.com