[dropcap size=big]N[/dropcap]ot going to lie: When I watched the inauguration, I felt a weird swelling in my chest. Is this hope?
Biden was inaugurated today, coming at the heels of a presidency that allowed 400,000 Americans to die of COVID-19 and created draconian policies like family separation and the “Muslim ban” on travel (it’s important to note that the horrors of US immigration system began long before Trump).
Biden entered the oval office with a lot of promises for his first 100 days including getting 100 million vaccines in American arms, restrictions on evictions and foreclosures, a long overdue $1.9 trillion dollar COVID-19 relief package, sending a bill to congress to give 11 million undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship, and more.
As folks prepare to hold Joe Biden accountable to his promises on the campaign trail, it’s important to remember what local politicians have said all pandemic long. From Mayor Garcetti partially blaming his own COVID-19 response on President Trump, to councilmembers calling for federal assistance to address the pandemic and the housing crisis that was exacerbated by it.