The mayor of Los Angeles declared a state of emergency on Monday after homelessness soared, saying he wants a “radical change” 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 throughout the city amaze tourists who come to visit one of the richest urban areas on the planet.
A population that is also more affected by mental health or addiction problems.
Karen Bass, the city’s first woman elected mayor in November, took office Sunday and declared a state of emergency the next day.
“I will not tolerate a homelessness crisis that affects over 40,000 people and affects all of us,” he said.
“My mission is to steer Los Angeles in a new direction with a quick and strategic approach to solving one of the toughest challenges facing our city.”
“Recourse to the state of emergency allows us to speed things up”, assured Karen Bass, announcing a “radical change” in operating methods.
A series of decrees to come
In the coming days, the city councilor has indicated that he will sign a series of decrees addressing this problem, such as providing temporary housing through the rental of apartments and hotel rooms.
Previously elected to the House of Representatives, Karen Bass has been heavily involved in community life in her hometown of Los Angeles.
She was elected mayor against wealthy real estate developer Rick Caruso, after a campaign dominated by the issue of homelessness, which has become ubiquitous in the local public debate.
Some of the country’s most expensive rents, high costs of living and taxes well above the national average further complicate the situation.
As Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Olympic Games, many observers believe the municipality will be all the more motivated to remove the multiple tents, sometimes set up just meters from luxury shops or stately mansions.
Original article published on BFMTV.com
