• the Democratic former congresswoman fought a billionaire developer’s largely self-funded campaign.
• A city-wide state of emergency has been discussed at City Hall at least since 2015, and Bass promised on Sunday to go at it head-on.
• she became the city’s first female mayor on Sunday and the second Black American to hold the position.

In order to become the first woman to hold the position, the Democratic former congresswoman fought a billionaire developer’s largely self-funded campaign.

As she took the helm of Los Angeles on Sunday night, Karen Bass welcomed unity at a time when American cities have been ripped apart by exorbitant housing costs, divisive debates over law enforcement and crime, and the expanding gap between the haves and have-nots.

Stevie Wonder and Las Cafeteras, a Chicano band from East Los Angeles that mixes Afro-Mexican rhythms, roots music, and migrant narratives, performed at Bass’ inauguration as the city’s 43rd mayor on Sunday night. Bass is a former Los Angeles representative in the House.

In a city that has been rocked by racist comments made by a few City Council members and captured on a covert tape that was made public in October, Bass is entrusted with mending cracks in the social contract. All but Kevin De León have resigned, and the police are currently looking into a physical altercation he had with an activist on Thursday after being asked to leave his seat.

The city’s homelessness epidemic, which serves as both a breeding ground for street crime and a result of soaring housing costs, has an impact on practically every aspect of life in Los Angeles, even when it only serves as a background.

A city-wide state of emergency has been discussed at City Hall at least since 2015, and Bass promised on Sunday to go at it head-on.

Squalor encampments can be found from the U.S.-Mexico border north to Sacramento as well as in every other major city throughout America. The issue is wider than L.A. and is fueled by out-of-reach housing costs created in part by flipping and speculating and by absentee real estate investors.

Bass, meanwhile, has already narrowed his search to new housing.

We are aware of our goal, Bass stated. Housing must be constructed in every neighbourhood.

After Tom Bradley’s 20-year term as mayor in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, she became the city’s first female mayor on Sunday and the second Black American to hold the position.

In a November runoff to succeed departing Democrat Eric Garcetti, she defeated developer Rick Caruso, known for his prosperous shopping malls, notably the wildly popular Grove, and his exquisite suits. In a city that leans overwhelmingly Democratic and favours labour, Caruso used to be a Republican. On the run, he spent $100 million of his own money.

Bass, 69, discussed a common vision on Sunday.

In a video message following her inauguration, she declared: “We will save lives in our city if we come together and concentrate on solutions rather than jurisdiction and on linking arms rather than pointing fingers.

She answered, “That’s my job as your mayor.

Garcetti, a white guy of Mexican, Italian, and Jewish origin, made an effort to appease the city’s influential interest groups, including those representing L.A.’s absurdly large ethnic enclaves, homeowners associations, and Hollywood.

Bass is bringing hope for a new day and encouraging L.A.’s guardians to temporarily put their disagreements aside.

In a statement, Mark Gonzalez, the head of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, said, “We have never seen a day like today as Los Angeles joined together to celebrate the swearing in of Mayor Karen Bass.

During the ceremony and celebration on Sunday, Amanda Gorman, the first National Youth Poet Laureate of the nation, described the occasion.

“Women are where there is will,” she stated. And there is always a way where there are women.

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