A Public Love Letter to Mayor Karen Bass - Thank You for Choosing Compassion
Dear Mayor Karen Bass,
I want to take a moment to say something that we do not say often enough to the people who carry the weight of public leadership:
Thank you.
Thank you for seeing people—not merely policies.
Thank you for recognizing that behind a citation is a human being, behind a street-vending cart is someone's livelihood, and behind a vulnerable immigrant family is a story, a dream, and a desire to build a better life.
Your recent directive to stop the issuance of criminal citations to street vendors and your efforts to dismiss citations that were mistakenly issued spoke loudly to me.
It told me that compassion still has a seat at the table.
And sometimes, in leadership, that matters more than having the loudest voice in the room.
A Heart That Notices the Vulnerable
When I read about your decision, I thought about the woman described in Proverbs 31.
Scripture says:
“She opens her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.”
— Proverbs 31:20
That verse makes me think about what true strength actually looks like.
It is not always standing behind a podium.
Sometimes strength looks like noticing who is being overlooked.
Sometimes it looks like stopping long enough to ask, “Is this really right?”
Sometimes it means having the courage to correct something when vulnerable people may be harmed by it.
That kind of compassion requires more than authority.
It requires a heart.
And Mayor Bass, I want to publicly thank you for demonstrating that kind of heart.
Compassion Is Not Weakness
Jesus taught:
“Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.”
— Matthew 5:7
Mercy is often misunderstood.
Some people think compassion means weakness.
I disagree.
Compassion can require tremendous courage.
It takes courage to look at a situation and recognize that enforcing a rule without considering the people affected by it can create an injustice of its own.
It takes courage to say, “Something went wrong, and we need to make it right.”
That is why your decision resonated with me.
You did not simply speak about compassion.
You acted on it.
You Reminded Me of Proverbs 31
Proverbs 31 says:
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.”
— Proverbs 31:26
What a beautiful description:
Wisdom and kindness together.
Not wisdom without compassion.
Not kindness without discernment.
But both.
That is the kind of leadership I hope to see more of in our communities.
When people are vulnerable, they need leaders who can hold both justice and mercy in the same hands.
And when mistakes happen, they need leaders who are willing to acknowledge them and help repair the damage.
Thank You for Seeing the Vendor
A street vendor may look to some people like nothing more than someone selling food or merchandise on a sidewalk.
But I see something deeper.
I see someone working.
I see someone providing for a family.
I see someone pursuing a dream.
I see someone saying, “I am going to do what I can with what I have.”
And I am reminded of Proverbs 14:31:
“He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.”
Every person deserves to be treated with dignity.
Every working person deserves to be seen as a human being before being seen as a violation, citation, statistic, or political issue.
Your response reminded me that leadership can make room for that dignity.
Jesus Saw People Differently
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly stopped for people others overlooked.
He noticed the hurting.
He welcomed the outsider.
He listened to people who were pushed aside.
He showed compassion to those who needed mercy.
Matthew 9:36 says:
“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them.”
That phrase stays with me:
He saw them.
Before Jesus did anything, He saw them.
I believe compassionate leadership begins there too.
See the person.
Hear the story.
Understand the circumstances.
Then act wisely.
Mayor Bass, thank you for reminding us that government can still see the person behind the policy.
A Word of Encouragement
Leadership is not easy.
Especially in a city as complicated, diverse, beautiful, wounded, ambitious, and wonderfully chaotic as Los Angeles.
You will not please everyone.
You will be criticized by people who think you are doing too much and criticized by others who think you are not doing enough.
Welcome to leadership.
Apparently, the job description includes making approximately 4 million people have opinions about your decisions. 😄
But I hope you continue to lead with courage, wisdom, humility, and compassion.
Proverbs 31:25 says:
“Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.”
May strength clothe you when the pressure becomes heavy.
May wisdom guide you when the choices become complicated.
May compassion keep your heart tender when public life tries to make everything about politics.
And may you always remember the people whose voices are easiest to overlook.
Thank You, Mayor Bass
So this is my public love letter—not a political endorsement, not a campaign speech, and not an attempt to pretend that any leader is perfect.
It is simply an expression of gratitude.
Thank you for choosing compassion.
Thank you for recognizing the potential harm caused by criminal citations against vulnerable street vendors.
Thank you for working toward correcting those mistakes.
Thank you for reminding people that leadership can include mercy.
And thank you for giving us a living example of something Proverbs 31 celebrates:
A woman who uses her strength to help others.
Jesus said:
“Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.”
— Matthew 7:12
That is a simple command with enormous power.
Treat people with dignity.
Lead with compassion.
Correct what needs correcting.
Protect those who are vulnerable.
And when you have the authority to make someone's burden lighter, use it.
Mayor Karen Bass, may you continue to walk in wisdom, lead with courage, and keep that compassionate heart.
And may Los Angeles become a city where justice and mercy are not enemies—but partners.
With gratitude, respect, and love,
Thank you for seeing people.
Thank you for choosing compassion.
And thank you for reminding us that kindness still matters.
