New LA mayor Bass declares homeless emergency as term begins

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD and CHRISTOPHER WEBER
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has taken office making good on a pledge to declare an immediate state of emergency to grapple with the city’s out-of-control homeless crisis. Bass said the declaration announced Monday will allow swifter action to get thousands of unhoused people off the Los Angeles streets. Bass is the first woman and the second Black person to hold the job of mayor in the second-largest U.S. city. A former congresswoman and California legislative leader, Bass takes charge over a city that’s also facing rising crime rates and racism and corruption scandals. More than 40,000 homeless people live in encampments throughout Los Angeles.