Democrat Bass takes charge as LA mayor amid homeless crisis

Karen Ruth Bass, a former physician assistant who shattered glass ceilings with her rise to a leership post in California legislature and later a prominent spot in Congress, took a ceremonial oath of office Sunday as mayor of Los Angeles.

A progressive Democrat, Bass becomes first woman and second Black person to hold city's top job and will formally assume her duties Monday amid multiple crises in nation's second most populous city.

She was sworn in ceremonially by Vice President Kamala Harris, a longtime friend and former California attorney general. formal oath was ministered privately by city clerk.

Bass will be tasked with easing rising crime rates, restoring trust in a City Hall shaken by racism and corruption scandals and dressing issue of over 40,000 people living in trash-strewn encampments or rusty RVs that have spre into virtually every neighborhood.

Striking a tone of unity, Bass said many, disparate arms of government must come toger to confront homelessness.

To move in a new direction “we must have a single strategy” that brings toger government, private sector and or stakeholders,” Bass said, speaking in a downtown ater near City Hall.

She said if people link arms rar than point fingers, lives will be saved. She called that “my mission” as mayor.

She also urged residents to become involved in city government, echoing John F. Kennedy's presidential inaugural dress in which he said, "Ask t what your country can do for you –- ask what you can do for your country.”

“I call on people of our city to t just dream of L.A. we want, but to participate in making dream come true,” Bass said.

Bass — who was on President-elect Joe Biden’s short list for vice president — claimed post last month after overcoming more than $100 million in spending by rival Rick Caruso, a billionaire developer and Republican-turned-Democrat who campaigned as a centrist and promised a strong emphasis on public safety.

Caruso would have represented a turn to political right for heavily Democratic city. Bass swayed voters by arguing she would be a coalition builder to help heal a troubled city of nearly 4 million.

“We are going to build a new Los Angeles,” Bass h promised at an election night rally.

A marquee outside ater featured a photo of a beaming Bass with slogan “A new day for Los Angeles.” backdrop for st, topped by U.S flags, was an oversized shot of steps and columns of City Hall.

In a surprise appearance, Stevie Wonder got crowd dancing, playing “Living for City.” He and Bass shared a hug.

Bass, 69, ran as consensus pick of Democratic establishment and was endorsed by Biden, former President Barack Obama and former first ly and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Despite her close ties with Democratic political community, she has described herself as a change nt who plans to declare a state of emergency on her first day in office to deal with homelessness. She has signaled she will seek to marshal “all of resources, all of skills, kwledge, talent of city” to get homeless people into housing.

Details on emergency order have yet to emerge, though she has said she intends to get over 17,000 homeless people into housing in her first year through a mix of interim and permanent facilities.

She also will contend with entrenched urban problems that include a housing short, crumbling streets and some of nation's worst traffic.

“ mayor’s first priority and likely main one for some time to come is homelessness,” said Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at California State University, Los Angeles.

“ voters don’t expect a miracle but will be looking for a clear and credible path toward measurable and visible improvement,” Sonenshein said. “It’s an opportunity for an energetic reset on a crisis that has seemed stuck, and also a chance to restore confidence in local government in Los Angeles.”

She replaces beleaguered Democrat Eric Garcetti, who ends two bumpy terms with his mination to become U.S. ambassor to India stalled in Senate, apparently over sexual misconduct allegations against a former top Garcetti viser.

Bass takes office as City Council contends with a racism scandal that led to resignation of its former president and a powerful labor leer, while one councilman snared in scandal has resisted calls to resign. Meanwhile, three current or former council members have been indicted or have pleed guilty to corruption charges.

Bass me history in state Assembly by becoming first Black woman to serve as speaker of any state legislature. She also served as chair of Congressional Black Caucus in 2019 and 2020.