Will Democrats ever make a genuine effort to end the pervasive and exploding levels of homelessness in big cities throughout the United States?
Some may have been duped into believing so last week after a group of sanitation crews, outreach workers, and other government employees were sent to downtown Los Angeles last week to clear various homeless encampments around City Hall in anticipation of the inauguration of mayor-elect Karen Bass.
Unfortunately for Los Angeles, these plans soon fell through. After weather forecasters predicted a large storm for Sunday, the incoming LA mayor’s ceremony was instead held indoors at the Microsoft Theater.
Efforts to clean these encampments dwindled quickly. City workers abandoned the project and much of the filth soon reappeared, according to RedState.
Homeless encampment near LA City Hall cleared ahead of Bass inauguration https://t.co/Z489TThQiF
— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) December 9, 2022
The outlet pointed out that a similar scenario occurred before last year’s Super Bowl at LA’s SoFI Stadium, alleging that the city suddenly cleaned up previously ignored tent cities upon realizing that the media would have cameras all over.
Bass and other attendees of her inauguration were notably covering their mouths with masks during the event:
Today’s inauguration of @MayorOfLA @KarenBassLA looks more like a funeral for freedom than it does a celebration for a new leader. At least we don’t have to guess what her post-election position will be on mask mandates @LACity parks & schools! @UprisingLa pic.twitter.com/UglATnNM3L
— Houman David Hemmati, MD, PhD (@houmanhemmati) December 11, 2022
Many have questioned whether anything will be done about the Los Angeles homeless crisis once its new leader assumes office. RedState expressed skepticism at the idea, sharing a video of California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) discussing a 10-year plan to end homelessness… over ten years ago.
“…if we’re gonna solve the problem of those that are out on the streets that we define as homeless we better solve the housing problem if we are going to have an impact,” the now-California governor said back in 2012.
Bass promised massive changes for the city during her inauguration speech and additionally declared that homelessness would be recognized as a crisis:
“Los Angeles has called me to serve at an inflection point in our history,” Bass said, explaining that the country just went through a pandemic, inflation and the cost of living is rising, and 40,000 people are sleeping in the streets. “No matter what, we never give up. We have never given up and that’s our LA magic.”
