Karen Bass, a longtime congresswoman and former vice presidential finalist, has decided to take on one of the toughest jobs in government – the mayor of Los Angeles. While the city has always had a reputation for being a challenging place to govern, the rise of homelessness in recent years has made the job even more difficult. However, instead of being deterred by the challenge, Bass was motivated by her frustration with the city’s inability to deal with the issue.
Los Angeles has one of the largest homeless populations in the United States, with nearly 42,000 people without shelter. Of the 230,000 unsheltered homeless people in the country, 1 in 5 are in Los Angeles County. Despite efforts by previous mayors, the issue has only continued to worsen. Bass, who got her start as an activist and community organizer in the city over three decades ago, sees tackling homelessness as her main motivation for becoming mayor.
Since taking office, Bass has wasted no time in launching an outreach program that has moved around 1,000 homeless people into temporary housing. She has also declared a state of emergency, giving her office more decision-making authority than what is typically shared with the city council. However, her biggest test will come later this year when the county’s Covid-era moratorium on evictions expires. Thousands of residents could be at risk of losing their homes, which could exacerbate the homelessness crisis in the city.
Despite the challenges, Bass believes that she can make a difference. She has a long history of advocating for social justice and has already demonstrated her commitment to addressing the homelessness issue. While the job of mayor of Los Angeles may have derailed many promising political careers in the past, Bass is determined to succeed in making a positive impact on the city and its residents.
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