LA Mayor Eric Garcetti Endorses Joe Biden for President

In early January, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced his endorsement for former Vice President Joe Biden for the Democratic Presidential nomination.

“We need Joe Biden to bring our nation and world together during these most divided and dangerous times,” Garcetti said in a letter, the Los Angeles Times reported. “I know that from Day One, he will heal our nation, repair our relationships abroad and get things done — and will be a true partner in solving the national homelessness crisis.”

This endorsement came after Garcetti seriously considered making his own run for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2020, but announced last year his decision not to.

“Democrats are blessed to have such an extraordinary field of candidates,” Garcetti said in a statement, “but I will never forget what Joe Biden has done for my city and our nation.”

Biden supported Los Angeles in 2014 when Garcetti and the city decided to raise the minimum wage. “While California’s state minimum wage is $13.00 per hour, Los Angeles has set its own, higher minimum wage rates that apply to employees of different classes of company who work Los Angeles,” the county says.

Many wondered if this statement was Garcetti reaching out for help with the homeless epidemic in Los Angeles. Ten travel trailers were delivered to South Los Angeles at a site that will house homeless families with children, California Globe recently reported. There are more than 60,000 drug-addicted mentally ill people living on LA’s city streets, in public parks, along rivers and parkways and in tent cities.

Garcetti’s ties with Biden go back to 2008, when he served as California co-chair of the Obama/Biden campaign.

Garcetti, elected in 2013, was highly criticized for spending the first few years as Mayor outside of California on national issues, demonstrating his national chops.

California’s Primary is March 3, 2020.