LA mayoral race is a Karen Bass affair

If there is a person who embodies the pulse of Los Angeles, it’s U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass. Bass grew up in the city. She attended school in the city.  She made her mark as an advocate for the voiceless in the city.

“Today is a time to ensure history is not forgotten and progress is protected,” Bass said via Twitter.

The pathway that Bass has taken from attending Hamilton High School to attending school at both Cal State Dominguez and the University of Southern California, speaks to her connection to the city.

And let’s not forget about all those years she worked as a nurse before she went out and founded the Community Coalition, a nonprofit that addresses some of the ills that face South Los Angeles.

That’s before she decided to run and was elected as a member of the House of Representatives.

That’s one impressive resume. Now she wants to do more. More would be running an election campaign to become the next mayor of Los Angeles. Bass made her official debut for her mayoral campaign at a press conference on Saturday, Oct. 16 at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

With the announcement, Bass created more than a little buzz surrounding her next political move.

“Los Angeles, you have called me home and I am ready to serve,” Bass said in a Twitter splash.

“Thank you to the hundreds of folks who showed up today. Let’s do this.”

If there is one word that best describes Bass is that she is a transformer, which is exactly what the city of Los Angeles needs right now. The homeless plight in the city has become a disaster, a national embarrassment with Tent City becoming an all-inclusive activity just a stone throw away from City Hall.

This campaign is about doing all that we can for future generations of Angelenos.

We can do this, LA — together. pic.twitter.com/v4KJW8UAR3

— Karen Bass (@KarenBassLA) October 17, 2021

“I was born and raised in L.A. Throughout my life, I’ve stepped forward at times of crisis and this time is no different,” Bass said in a Twitter post. “There are no simple answers to what we are facing, but we have the resources. Now we need the leadership to bring our city together.”

Housing, social-economic divide, battling climate change and addressing social justice issues such as police reform await the next mayor of Los Angeles. Bass, a product of the University of Southern California’s School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program and the USC Masters Program in Social Work, feels she is the right person at the right time to lead Los Angeles into a new and bright future.

“Our city is facing a humanitarian emergency in homelessness,” Bass said in another Twitter post. “I’ve spent my entire life bringing groups of people together in coalitions to solve complex problems and produce concrete change — especially in times of crisis. That’s why I’m running for mayor.”

Considering that Los Angeles and the nation are still in the realms of the Covid-19 pandemic, her background in the medical field as a physician assistant is a plus for Bass. She believes in science. She has confidence in those charged with saving people’s lives.

“I used to work in one of the largest emergency rooms in the country,” remarked Bass. “As our city recovers from this pandemic, I understand the importance of trusting our doctors and working with our public health officials. That’s what I’ll do as your next mayor.”      

Bass (D-37) has served six terms in office as a member of Congress. The next mayor of Los Angeles will be determined in 2022. Bass feels this is the right time to come back home to her roots.

“Los Angeles you have called me home and I am ready to serve,” said Bass. “Thank you to the hundreds of folks who showed up today. Let’s do this.”  

Featured Image Caption: U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass officially announces her bid to run for mayor of Los Angeles during a rally at Los Angeles Trade Technical College on Oct. 16, 2021. Photo courtesy of Haywood Galbreath/MPJINews