Homelessness State Of Emergency Declaration In L.A. Confirmed By City Council As Mayor Promises An “Urgent & Strategic Approach”
deadline.comIn a statement fact obvious to every resident, the Los Angeles City Council voted to ratify a state of emergency on homelessness today, confirming newly-elected Mayor Karen Bass’ first official act.
The council voted 13-0, with embattled Councilman Kevin de León casting a vote even though he was not in the chamber. Bass signed the declaration as a method to unlock tools and powers to “make sure we are using every resource possible” to address homelessness, claiming that it marked a “sea change” and “monumental shift” in the city’s approach. “Using the emergency order is our ability to fast-track things,” said the mayor.
She added, “My mandate is to move Los Angeles in a new direction with an urgent and strategic approach to solving one of our city’s toughest challenges and creating a brighter future for every Angeleno.” The declaration — which is scheduled to last six months — allows Bass to take more aggressive executive actions to confront the crisis, though the City Council will have to sign off on it every 30 days. “The setting of a specific time frame allows for actions to be taken to make permanent, necessary structural changes,” the declaration reads.
Whether to continue the state of emergency will be evaluated by several indicators of progress, including the number of encampments and housing placements, and how much more flexibility city departments are allowed through the declaration.
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