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Councilman Holden sworn in, pledges focus on potholes, schools, homelessness and economic development
Summary
Councilman Holden was sworn into the Los Angeles City Council for the 10th District and used his inaugural remarks to prioritize basic city services, education, and homelessness — citing a report of 'at least 30,000 homeless people in downtown Los Angeles' and calling for federal assistance and a civilian conservation program.
Michael Kerry, the city clerk, administered the oath of office to Councilman Holden, who was sworn as a member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 10th District.
In brief remarks after the oath, Councilman Holden thanked voters, faith leaders and campaign staff and outlined priorities for his four-year term. He emphasized routine city services — paving streets, filling potholes and trimming trees — as immediate quality-of-life priorities for his district.
He also said he would support the newly elected school board to "guarantee that the best opportunity is provided for our children to have the best education," and highlighted homelessness as a pressing city and national problem. "It has been reported to me that we have at least 30,000 homeless people in downtown Los Angeles," he said, adding that many have mental health needs and urging that the President and Congress "come to our aid and support us so that we can better support them." He proposed reviving a civilian conservation program like the CCC as a nationwide preventive program to help youth.
On economic development, Holden said the city had more than "a half a billion dollars of development on the drawing board" and signaled he would be involved in overseeing completion of those projects.
The remarks were largely an inaugural address of gratitude and priorities; no formal policy was adopted at the meeting. The council continued into regular business after the oath and remarks.
Provenance: oath and remarks begin at SEG 021 and the concluding lines of his remarks appear through SEG 156.
