Elgin Nelson
During her second State of the City address, Mayor Bass looks to strike a balance between optimism and realism while addressing the myriad challenges facing Los Angeles.
Mayor Karen Bass presented her State of the City address this week, calling on the business and philanthropic sectors to increase their involvement in financing the construction of affordable housing for thousands of unhoused Angelenos.
Highlighting her administration’s efforts on homelessness, including the declaration of a state of emergency and the Inside Safe initiative, the mayor emphasized that collaboration between her administration and the county successfully housed individuals across 47 different neighborhoods.
However, despite these efforts, a record 46,000 people remain unhoused in the city alone, prompting Bass to seek greater private sector involvement through the introduction of a new capital campaign, LA4LA.
“We are asking the most fortunate Angelenos to participate in this effort with personal, private sector and philanthropic funds, to help us acquire more properties, lower the cost of capital and speed up housing,” Bass said. “This is the mission of our new capital campaign ‘LA4LA.'”
Introduced last year, the Inside Safe program, according to Bass, is gradually improving conditions. Nevertheless, the significant cost of providing nightly motel rooms for the unhoused underscores the multifaceted nature of the homelessness crisis.
The mayor also delivered her address against the backdrop of a projected $476 million budget deficit, which she plans to address primarily by eliminating vacant positions within city departments. Bass emphasized the substantial ongoing costs associated with homelessness, even as her programs face criticism for their perceived lack of permanent housing solutions and high expenditure.
Despite mounting safety concerns regarding L.A. Metro transportation, particularly following several violent incidents, including fatal shootings and stabbings, Mayor Bass expressed confidence in the city’s positive trajectory. Emphasizing the city’s investment of billions of dollars in transit enhancements, including the construction of new tracks, Bass highlighted Los Angeles’ rising prominence as the country’s second-ranked transit city, driven by Metro’s evolving approach to safety, cleanliness, and customer service.
Additionally, in her speech, Bass announced the establishment of a new “climate cabinet” tasked with developing comprehensive climate change plans across key city departments, with the goal of positioning Los Angeles as a 100% clean energy city by 2035, underscoring the city’s commitment to environmental leadership.
“We have a long way to go, Los Angeles,” Bass said. “But let me say right here at the beginning, the state of our city is stronger today because we have made change and disrupted the status quo.”
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