In her first act as L.A. Mayor on Monday, Karen Bass declared an emergency on homelessness. The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to ratify that declaration the following day. The vote was 13-0 — an important show of consensus in a city where discord and infighting have taken center stage.
The emergency declaration will ease the city’s ability to use city-owned land for shelter and speed up the approval process for affordable housing. Bass said she intends to build “a city where people are housed, and tents are gone. A city where people are comfortable walking and shopping in all neighborhoods at all hours.”
As L.A. grapples with its crushing housing and homelessness crisis, political drama plagues City Hall. Just last Friday, Councilmember Kevin de León was involved in a physical altercation with activist Jason Reedy (video here). The ugly brawl took place in front of children, with de León wearing a Santa hat. Both men have filed battery reports against one another.
De León’s every move is monitored by activists these days. He has refused to heed calls for his resignation since appearing on a racist leaked audio tape that forced the resignation of former council president Nury Martinez.
The leaked tape was just the latest in a long line of L.A. scandals. Three current or former council members have also been indicted or pleaded guilty to charges of corruption.
Bass will have her work cut out for her. Watch her swearing-in here.
Image Credit: LA Mayor