Elsewhere in Los Angeles, Karen Bass made history Sunday as she was sworn in as the city’s first woman mayor, and just second Black mayor. She was sworn in by another historic Californian, Vice President Kamala Harris. Mayor Bass is declaring a state of emergency starting today to address the crisis facing thousands of unhoused people.

Mayor Karen Bass: “If we just focus on bringing people inside and comprehensively addressing their needs and moving them to permanent housing with a way to pay their bills, we will save lives, and we will save our city. And this is my mission as your mayor.”

But housing activists warn the move will only lead to the displacement and further marginalization of unhoused people. Ahead of Bass’s swearing-in ceremony, people were forced to vacate an encampment for the unhoused across from Los Angeles City Hall. Due to heavy rains, the ceremony was ultimately relocated to another, indoor site.