President Biden considering LA Mayor Eric Garcetti as ambassador to India, report says

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - President Joe Biden is reportedly considering Mayor Eric Garcetti for an ambassadorship, possibly to India.

According to the news site Axios, which cited people close to the matter, Garcetti is one of the multiple people being considered for the post.

"Today's Axios story is speculative,'' Garcetti's communications director, Alex Comisar, told City News Service. "We aren't going to engage in speculation. We're 100% focused on ending the COVID pandemic and passing a justice budget for the city."

Garcetti served as co-chair of Biden's campaign and said in December that he turned down an unspecified position in the administration to remain L.A.'s mayor.

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The appointment as India's ambassador would come as the nation of 1.36 billion people deals with a spike in COVID-19 cases, with more than 20 million people testing positive for the virus and an official death toll over 220,000, which is believed to be a significant underestimate.

COVID-19 HEADLINES

• US to restrict travel from India starting May 4 over COVID-19 surge
• Los Angeles County moves into California's least restrictive yellow tier

It would also come as Los Angeles is in the midst of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and is dealing with a court order by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter mandating that the city and county offer shelter to all indigent persons on Skid Row within six months.

The city and county last week filed an emergency request to place a hold on the order, arguing that it violates the constitutional separation of powers by usurping the role of local
government.

Axios reported that Biden was presented with a list of potential ambassadors in March, and a final decision on the appointment has not yet been made.