LOS ANGELES – Mayor Karen Bass today issued the following statement:
“It is abhorrent that an American elected official is using human beings as pawns in his cheap political games.
“This evening, more than 40 people were sent by the Governor of Texas to our City of Los Angeles.
“Shortly after I took office, I directed City Departments to begin planning in the event Los Angeles was on the receiving end of a despicable stunt that Republican Governors have grown so fond of.
“This did not catch us off guard, nor will it intimidate us. Now, it’s time to execute our plan. Our emergency management, police, fire and other departments were able to find out about the incoming arrival while the bus was on its way and were already mobilized along with nonprofit partners before the bus arrived.
“Los Angeles is not a city motivated by hate or fear and we absolutely will not be swayed or moved by petty politicians playing with human lives. We are a city that seeks to treat all people with dignity and compassion and we will continue to work closely with non-profit organizations, including the L.A. Welcomes Collective, as well as with our County, State and Federal partners.
“For everything that we do, we will continue to lock arms and we will continue to lead. And we will always put people’s health and wellbeing over politics.