New Elected Leadership

by Maria S. Salinas

The political landscape in Los Angeles changed following the November election. Voters provided a new mandate for the next generation of public policy leaders in the Los Angeles region, Sacramento and Washington D.C. Several newly elected officials were sworn in just before the end of the year and throughout the month of January.

Newly elected leadership will bring new insights and perspectives in shaping the policies that will govern our communities. As they settle into their offices, they will bring their platforms to life in a manner which is vastly different than when they were campaigning. Now is the time to get to know our elected representatives.

We have the unique chance to work with leaders from across the political spectrum to open new opportunities for our communities and businesses. In the first few weeks of the new year, we have already seen several issues tackled, especially in addressing homelessness. In the City of Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass declared a state of emergency on homelessness. The Mayor introduced the “Inside Safe” program to address the encampments on our streets and the L.A. City Council voted to approve $50 million for the program. The County Board of Supervisors declared its own state of emergency on homelessness, and just last week, the City of Los Angeles expanded tenant protections, as the eviction moratorium ends this month.

This week, city and county officials took part in the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s annual 2023 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count. The count will help determine the allocation of federal funding to address homelessness. Issues like homelessness are top of mind for residents and businesses alike, and coordination among cities and counties will be key as we move toward a solution.

We look forward to continuing our work with newly elected officials. Many have transition teams with community and business leaders helping shape their administrations. There are many opportunities for constituents to play a role. It’s up to each one of us to get engaged.