Newly Elected:  Two Women of Vision for LA

Our 2022 Elections are now done, now through and through, 

So now shall we focus on what the winners will do?

We're in a city, county, and state bluer than blue, 

But our problems remain dire, with issues come due.

To Mayor Bass--congrats--but no envious position for you,

Crime and homelessness, and trust Downtown from few.

To Councilmember Park--congrats--your votes did accrue,

But after years of Westside tone-deafness, come through you must do.

This election was no lovefest, but rather a coup,

Ugly at times, for issues more than Downtown could chew.

Because a middle ground exists, we all know to be true,

Between cruelty and lawfulness, for us to go to.

Bending the law, the rules, at times we must do,

But sooner or later, adults must rise and come through.

Homes affordable, and safe sidewalks, so long overdue,

But shall we end forever the law, and chaos ensue?

Are vagrancy laws, and public health, things we eschew 

As rights but not responsibilities, because the latter we "outgrew"?  

We have places for the homeless--that much is true,

So a demand for sidewalks cleared at last a thing we can do?

Workforce, student, and senior housing must be on cue,

And developers keep pushing bad projects that they run through.

Appointees, committees, and a Planning Politburo are things not new,

And lost housing for the middle class is for long a reality true.

I care not if you're women, and neither should you,

But this I know, as you make your debut.

Women want their protection, and families to rescue,

On trains, on sidewalks, in parks, to endue.  

One had police support, but the other not much too,

You know where you stand, and must work with your crew.

Prove your doubters wrong, and courage cling to,

Turn frowns into smiles...you know what to do!

We wanted change, and logic, and law to debut,

Is that really so much, so hard, so really darned new?

Help the homeless, the poor, they make up the glue,

Of a City where the strong and the wealthy too often "outgrew".

So now we await, what ideas you have new,

But common sense, not old, exists for you two.

Your predecessors are soon gone, and the voters say "phew!"

But shall they soon say that it's the same for you two, too?

Good luck, and Godspeed, we look up to you,

To restore sanity, and hope, for us to construe. 

Show us where, and what, and when, and how to,

And bring us a City, that's better and again brand-new! 

(Kenneth S. Alpern, M.D, is a dermatologist who has served in clinics in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties, and is a proud husband to a wonderful wife and father to two cherished children. He was termed out of the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC) twice after two stints as a Board member for 9, years and is also a Board member of the Westside Village Homeowners Association. He previously co-chaired the MVCC Outreach, Planning, and Transportation/Infrastructure Committees for 10 years. He was previously co-chair of the CD11 Transportation Advisory Committee, the grassroots Friends of the Green Line (which focused on a Green Line/LAX connection), and the nonprofit Transit Coalition His latest project is his fictional online book entitled The Unforgotten Tales of Middle-Earth and can be reached at [email protected]. The views expressed in this article are solely those of Dr. Alpern.)