US President Joe Biden has chosen Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as his candidate ambassador to India, the White House announced on Friday, July 9. Garcetti, who became mayor in 2013, has led the city through many ups and downs, including development, a worsening homelessness crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

White House praises Garcetti

The White House statement hailed Garcetti’s role as mayor “the busiest container port in the Western Hemisphere, the largest municipal utility in the country and one of the busiest airports in the world” , as well as his role in Los Angeles’ bid for the 2028 Olympics. Garcetti is the son of former Dist Atty Gil Garcetti. The mayor of Los Angeles also shares a great bond with Joe Biden. He also worked as a smart officer in the US Navy Reserves for 12 years.

Garcetti took to the microblogging platform and shared about the different roles he has played in life, he said I had dedicated my life to service – as an activist, teacher, naval officer , civil servant, and if confirmed then, as ambassador ”, he declared. “Part of that commitment means that when your nation calls, you answer that call.”

Garcetti, in a series of tweets, said he would show the same energy, commitment and love for this city in his new job.

The former mayor has visited India several times, most recently as a council member. In college, he spent a year studying Hindi and Urdu – two of dozens of languages ​​spoken in the country – and during at least one visit stayed at the Ambassador’s residence.

Notably, his appointment as Indian ambassador paves the way for the city council to consider who could take on his role and complete the remainder of his term. Meanwhile, a large number of people in Los Angelos are unhappy with Garcetti’s early departure. In addition to choosing Gracitte as Ambassador to India, Joe Biden has chosen Denise Campbell Bauer as Ambassador to France and the Principality of Monaco. The US president has chosen Peter D Haas as ambassador to Bangladesh, while Bernadette Meehan is his choice for the envoy to Chile.