This year's race for mayor of Los Angeles featured two opposing points of view and, most importantly, two opposing approaches to what LA ought to do in the future.
Compared to previous elections, it received national attention, and the city's anxiety was palpable as Election Day approached.Angelenos saw a flood of political advertisements on television, social media, and every other platform imaginable.
They were dominated by Rick Caruso, a wealthy real estate developer who spent $100 million of his own money to try to buy his way into City Hall. Yes, $100 million to run for mayor of Los Angeles.Also, he fizzled.On Wednesday, Congresswoman Karen Bass was chosen as the winner.
Those funds might have been put toward important issues like homelessness.Instead, voters kept hearing Caruso promise to expand the police force and take a tougher stance on crime.This got back disagreeable recollections to numerous LA.As a native Californian who was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, I am well-versed in the significance of local elections and the effects that politics of law and order have on Black and Brown communities.
Discriminatory laws and divisive politics have marginalized people of color for decades.I was alive during the crack-cocaine epidemic that decimated South Los Angeles neighborhoods.
I witnessed how the war on drugs and the rhetoric of the Reagan and Bush administrations legitimized the militarization of the LAPD and the mass incarceration of Black and Latino youth during the 1980s and 1990s.The platform of Caruso was wisely rejected by voters, who chose Bass, a coalition-builder who has represented Southern California in Congress and the state legislature for her entire career.She has been an architect of multiracial unity in South Los Angeles at the grassroots level and has organized the community for years to advocate for civil rights.
She worked with the neighborhoods to empower residents to challenge the status quo and ensure that overlooked communities were given the resources and respect they deserved after founding the Black and brown South LA organization Community Coalition.The infamous audio recording that was leaked and revealed how city council members and labor leaders conspired for power only served to exacerbate the politics of race relations in Los Angeles.They made a sly attempt to oppose the Black and Brown communities.However, these recordings energized and united the communities rather than dividing the city.These so-called leaders' perspectives do not reflect the values of Angelenos and actually increased efforts to foster racial and ethnic solidarity.On the campaign trail,
voters sought real commitments to serve the needs of our most marginalized populations, capitalizing on the moment.With more focus on Los Angeles politics, building coalitions took center stage.Measure A was put on the ballot by county supervisors to give the Sheriff's Office the accountability it needs, and the majority of voters approved it.A proposed tax on expensive property sales to support the construction of affordable housing is also leading in the effort to address the ongoing and growing problem of homelessness.
A fundamental aspect of the history of Los Angeles is the cultivation of unity.Multiracial coalitions are the only way the city can advance; just look at the coalitions established by former mayors Tom Bradley and Antonio Villaraigosa.They were able to successfully organize and garner support from members of every race and ethnicity.
The result of the current year's political decision will reignite individuals' development in Los Angeles.This election was both a referendum on division and a mandate of the people, with Bass becoming mayor-elect and significant ballot measures on the verge of passing.
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