The Los Angeles Mayor Monday declared a state of emergency after rising homelessness and said she wanted “radical changes” to address this thorny issue for America’s second-largest city. Tens of thousands of people sleep on the streets of Los Angeles, their tents scattered across the city, surprising tourists who come to visit one of the most prosperous urban areas in the world. A demographic that is also more affected by mental health or addiction problems.
More than 40,000 people affected
Karen Bass, the city’s first woman mayor elected in November, took office on Sunday and declared a state of emergency the next day. “I will not tolerate a homeless crisis that affects over 40,000 people and affects all of us,” she said. “My mission is to take Los Angeles in a new direction with a rapid and strategic approach to solving one of our city’s toughest challenges.” “Recourse to the state of emergency allows us to speed things up,” assured Karen Bass, announcing a “radical change” in the way it operates.
In the coming days, the councilwoman has announced that she will sign a series of decrees that will address this issue, for example by providing temporary housing through the rental of apartments and hotel rooms. Formerly elected to the House of Representatives, Karen Bass has been very involved in community life in Los Angeles, the city where she is from. She was elected mayor over wealthy real estate developer Rick Caruso after a campaign dominated by the issue of homelessness, which has become pervasive in local public debate.
Some of the most expensive rents in the country, the high cost of living and taxes well above the national average further complicate the situation. Los Angeles is gearing up to host the Olympics in 2028, and many observers believe the community will be all the more motivated to remove the many tents that are sometimes pitched yards from luxury shops or stately mansions.