Black Mayors Visit Innovative Temporary Housing Complex in LA

By Solomon O. Smith | California Black Media Kevin Murray, former California state senator and the president and CEO of the Weingart Center Association points out the fencing security at the Hilda L. Solis Care First Village. Mayors from across the country, including the youngest mayor in America Jaylen Smith (pinstripe suit and red tie) of Earle, Arkansas. Los Angeles, Ca., Photo by Solomon O. Smith (CBM) – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass hosted Black mayors visiting from different parts of the country this past weekend. While in L.A., Bass, who declared homelessness her top priority after she was sworn in as mayor, took her guests on a tour of the Hilda L. Solis Care First Village. The development features an innovative design, using modular units, and offers wraparound mental health care and social services. For the mayors, the village provided a model of an affordable, effective and nimble solution to addressing the intersecting mental health and homelessness crises gripping cities around the country, and disproportionately impacting Black communities. “Welcome to our African American mayors from around the country. We are very, very happy to welcome you,” Bass said to her guests. Staff and business leaders were among the guests...