Charting a New Course: Mayor Bass' Vision for Los Angeles

Mayor Bass’ State of the City Speech as Prepared:

Thank you everyone for being here today… Thank you Madam City Attorney, thank you Mr. City Controller…. And thank you Madam Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Lindsey Horvath for that kind introduction…

It is exciting to think about just how far the relationship between the County and the City has come in just one short year…

We’ve put aside the finger pointing… and instead we’ve gotten to work – because that’s what the people of Los Angeles deserve.

President Krekorian – thank you for welcoming us into these Chambers.

For decades, you have served with distinction and with a deep dedication.

You took the helm in a challenging time in our city and navigated the Council back to order and calm that has allowed the work of the City to move forward.

While this is your last State of the City speech as a member of the council, we know that your legacy in this chamber will continue long after you have left it.

On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, its residents, and from me, personally – thank you Mr. President.

We have a long way to go, Los Angeles…

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…

Over the last year, we have done big things together –

Thousands more unhoused Angelenos came inside and homicides and violent crime came down last year…

We weathered Tropical Storm Hilary — and we rebuilt the 10 Freeway in 10 days….

And most importantly, we are turning away from the status quo – we are looking forward and making change – we have changed how Los Angeles works so the City works better for you, the people of Los Angeles and we are just getting started!

Last month, our city delegation was in Paris to see the lead up to their 2024 summer games – because in just four short years, we will host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games – millions of people from more than 200 countries, speaking hundreds of languages, will come for one of the largest gatherings in the world – it will be like hosting seven Super Bowls a day, for seventeen days straight….

And let’s not forget, the World Cup is coming to Inglewood and L.A. in 2 years – in 2026… 

But the time will fly by quickly, and the question for Angelenos is, “Will we be ready?”

I know the answer is yes.

We all know that the Games are a massive endeavor – transportation, security, business, housing, sustainability and so much more.

But we must zoom out and realize that the Olympics are about opportunity…. and that opportunity begins now…

The Games will mean more than 5 million visitors pumping billions of dollars into our economy – staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants, visiting our museums, and exploring our neighborhoods.

And my administration will create a focused initiative to make sure the Games will mean hundreds of small businesses winning contracts and hiring Angelenos.

But the lasting, 21st Century impact of these games are the billions of media impressions, streaming minutes, and clicks… And those will cause billions of new and lasting opinions about L.A. — opinions that will either reflect a land of opportunity and beauty where people should invest and visit  — or a city that at best is just getting by on its past glory.

So what is the city we will showcase to the world?

It’s the new Los Angeles we are building, together.

I want the world to see all levels of government joining forces, locking arms and actually working together.

Sadly, over the years L.A. has become known for dysfunction within City Hall, and dysfunction between the City and the County.

But we are turning the page – City, County, State, and Federal – instead of casting blame, we are working together to actually solve problems – we are working for the people.

We want the world to see that Los Angeles is now the number two transit city in the country – because riders are seeing that we are changing Metro's approach to safety, cleanliness and customer service.

We are increasing service and leading the nation in building out our network …

This past year Metro accomplished what commuters have dreamed of for years – a regional connector in the heart of our city that links every corner of our region, and bursting with promise of what’s possible as we expand public transportation in L.A. …

In South L.A., East L.A., in the Valley, and in Mid-Wilshire, we see Angelenos working hard and earning good wages while creating infrastructure that will last generations – infrastructure that will help Angelenos close the gap between an affordable neighborhood and a good job, getting to work on time, and breathing cleaner air….

Our Metro work is eliminating pollution and addressing climate change….We are doing the same at LAX, with the coming transit connection there, and by eliminating plastics.

And we are seeing a greener and cleaner America’s Port – the Port of Los Angeles, where just last month I was joined by the EPA Administrator to announce new federal investments in zero-emissions equipment and infrastructure and other initiatives to address climate change and public health…

I am proud to continue Los Angeles’ global leadership on climate change…

And to advance our work, I am announcing the creation of a new climate cabinet, new climate plans at key city departments, stakeholder engagement, and action on climate justice to make sure our city continues to lead — and that includes making Los Angeles a 100% clean energy city by 2035!

Last year, I told you Los Angeles was open for business — this year, we can say that businesses are coming back.

In December I joined Councilwoman Park in her district to announce that the Banc of California – the third largest bank in the state – is moving its headquarters to the Westside from Orange County… Along with jobs and investment – they brought a $1 million check to support our program to help small and medium-sized businesses win government contracts…

For too long, City Hall has not effectively supported businesses and jobs. My Administration is making sure City Hall is a partner in economic success…

That’s why when the Al Fresco outdoor dining program was facing elimination, we acted to make it permanent – it’s a new, streamlined model for how the city should facilitate business growth.

And we’re continuing to see the benefits of my Executive Directive to make businesses boom:

Doubling permit help for business owners

Accelerating our restaurant and small business express program

A new walk-in counter in Van Nuys for street vendors; and

Same-day sanitation inspection times…….

Council has been a key partner in this progress and we will continue to act for businesses, especially in Downtown, on exciting new initiatives like the potential modernization of the Convention Center – to attract tourists and business travelers; to fill our restaurants, arenas and museums; and to support jobs in Downtown and beyond for decades to come.

My top priority, of course, is the health, well-being, safety and lives of the 4 million Angelenos who live in our city – and of course that includes our first responders who keep us safe…

Just this morning we were tragically reminded of the sacred debt we owe to our first responders.

Earlier, I met with the family of Jacob Fuerte -- the fire recruit who passed away… His father is an active-duty firefighter...

My heart goes out to the family during this difficult time, and I've ordered City flags to be flown at half-staff in Jacob's honor… and I thank all first responders, especially today....

We see the skill and innovation of our fire department every day – whether it’s breaking new ground with our response vehicles, or their incredible response to historic storms and the 10 Freeway inferno… And I know that whatever comes our way, they’ll be ready…

Supporting our sworn personnel is deeply important to me. And the status quo simply cannot protect Angelenos…. So we are acting to change it…

Amidst a national and local police hiring and retention crisis, together with the Council, we forged a new contract specifically designed to reduce the downward trend in officers….

As a result, we’re attracting record numbers of applicants to the police academy – and my budget for next year maintains our LAPD staffing goals…

We are sending a signal to our current officers and our community partners that we support them – that public safety is a priority for this administration.

And part of supporting them and the communities we all serve is to expand our approach to public safety in Los Angeles – with our Mayor’s Office of Community Safety, that focuses on preventing crime and interrupting the cycle of violence…

To accomplish this, we have strengthened our community violence intervention programs and Summer Night Lights… And we’ve expanded the CIRCLE mental health response program to more neighborhoods throughout the city… And we must recognize the many factors that go into community safety – for example, street lights – Councilman De Leon is leading an effort to stop copper wire theft… Councilwoman Padilla has a solution – installing solar street lights in her district…

We have focused on change and strategic investments – and as a result, violent crime and homicides were down in 2023….

But these cycles can reverse – so the search for the next LAPD chief is critical. And this isn’t a closed-door conversation… I’ve been meeting with rank and file officers, business organizations, community leaders and community members to ask them directly what they want to see in the next chief….

My number one job is to keep Angelenos safe – and that’s what we will do, and we will do it together.

A key to public safety and public health is how we approach the tragedy of 46,000 unhoused Angelenos.

I refuse to hide the fact that it’s 46,000 people…

We will not hide people – instead, we will house people.

For too long, Angelenos have been failed by quick fixes and unhoused people just being shuffled around. Angelenos deserve real solutions, and that means a Sea Change in the way L.A. approaches homelessness.

This means committing to the goal of preventing and ending homelessness — not hiding —  not managing — but ending homelessness — with a new strategy and a new system that urgently lifts people from the street, and that surrounds them with the support and housing they need to never go back.

We disrupted the status quo on Day One of my administration by declaring a State of Emergency – because the crisis on our streets is nothing less than a disaster – and I want to thank City Attorney Hydee Feldstein-Soto for her work navigating our new path forward…

And when a disaster strikes, the initial phase is to rescue people – and Inside Safe has been rescuing Angelenos from the streets and offering immediate stability and shelter.

Inside Safe is our proactive rejection of a status quo that left unhoused Angelenos to wait – and die – outside, in encampments until permanent housing was built.

We have joined forces, working with every Councilmember, our county partners and our partners at Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority led by Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum to house Angelenos in 47 different neighborhoods —

As a result, the sidewalk around Larchmont School on Selma is open again for families to walk to school  — and the sidewalk no longer serves as someone’s home, because of our work with Councilman Soto-Martinez…

We worked with Councilwoman Hutt and Councilwoman Yaroslavsky to house people sleeping in RFK park in Koreatown and Poinsettia Park in Fairfax….

We’ve moved Angelenos living around grocery stores in South Los Angeles into interim housing with the help of Council President Pro Tem Harris-Dawson and there are no longer 55 people living around the Chatsworth Metro Stop thanks to work done with Councilman Lee ...

We’re moving Angelenos inside who were living under the 210 Freeway in Shadow Hills and above the 110 Freeway in South Central thanks to our work with Councilwoman Rodriguez and Councilman Price …

We’re saving lives… Think of the toll on parents, siblings and friends of the unhoused – each night dreading that phone call from the hospital or the morgue.

We all know that inside is always healthier and safer than outside… Let me ask – if you are now living inside because of Inside Safe, if you are one of the providers taking care of the people inside, if your neighborhood or business has improved because of Inside Safe, please stand...

Now the rescue phase of an emergency is always expensive – there is no way around it – motel rooms rented by the night are expensive…

But it is far, far more expensive to leave people unhoused on our streets.

Beyond the human toll, we all pay the cost of the thousands and thousands of fire, paramedic and police calls…

The cost of each overdose, of each emergency room visit, of each night in county jail – each of which is a human tragedy.

The cost to shops and restaurants whose customers stay away out of fear.

The cost when tourists don’t come to visit.

The cost when offices and their employees leave downtown.

I just will not accept this – and our city cannot afford to accept this. That is why we are disrupting, challenging and rebuilding the system.

Inside Safe and our overall approach is evolving and will continue to evolve.

After the rescue phase, comes the recovery phase – lessons learned during the rescue phase are applied, and we can think and plan for the longer term….

The emergency doesn’t end, it just enters a different phase…

Right now, we are working to move past nightly room rentals including by master leasing and purchasing motels and hotels, and already built permanent housing…

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…

This is the mission of our new capital campaign: LA4LA.

We have brought the public sector together – and now we must prevail on the humanity and generosity of the private sector …

LA4LA can be a Sea Change for Los Angeles – an unprecedented partnership to confront this emergency… an example of disrupting the status quo to build a new system to save lives…

We are also improving delivery of the services people need to permanently stay off the streets – addressing mental health, addiction and chronic disease…

That is why we ushered in another big change by appointing a medical doctor and public health practitioner as the City’s first-ever Deputy Mayor for Homelessness and Community Health. 

Another big change? We are standing up the city’s capacity to address RVs and not just tents. For years, there was simply no city system – towing, storage, and safe parking – to address this part of the crisis. So the crisis grew and grew.

This is a prime example of the status quo we are leaving behind.

Much more must be done – just last week, we worked with Councilman McOsker to execute an operation in Wilmington that brought 30 Angelenos inside and got RVs off the street…  Before that, we partnered with Councilwoman Raman to address more than 50 RVs along Forest Lawn Drive.

Getting Angelenos off the street into interim housing is a critical step in our new strategy.. From there, we need permanent housing – and my Executive Directive 1 has cut the city process from 6 months to 35 days.

This has resulted in more than 16,000 additional, new affordable housing units in the pipeline.

We must also prevent people from falling into homelessness in the first place! I will not ignore this critical element.

No city in America has a comprehensive strategy to prevent homelessness. Through the Mayor’s Fund For Los Angeles, we have not only provided emergency assistance for over 32,000 Angelenos at risk of losing their homes, but along with the new tenant protections enacted by Council, we are creating a prevention model for Los Angeles, and beyond.

All together, our efforts made it so we brought in a record number of Angelenos inside last year – thousands more than the year before and we will continue our urgency…

It’s no secret, we are entering a tough budget year.

It’s not just us – other cities are confronting rising costs and lower revenues, and Sacramento is anticipating major cuts.

Here in Los Angeles, I will soon propose my budget for the next fiscal year.

It breaks away from the budgeting of the past – starting by eliminating long standing vacant positions.

For years, the city has funded thousands of vacant positions. Last year, I called on Angelenos to come work for the city — Thank you for answering the call!!

In this last year, we have welcomed more than 3,500 new workers to public service in the City Family and we’ve seen the difference – 100,000 more 311 calls were answered….

And we cannot forget our animals – We’ve brought in a new leader of the department, we’ve nearly doubled the number of volunteers, we’re extending hours into the evening, and earlier today, I was proud to sign Councilmember Hernandez’s moratorium on dog breeding permits in Los Angeles. Thank you Councilwoman for your leadership…

Now – vacant positions do not fill potholes, sweep streets or staff parks. And too many of these vacant positions have been there for years and years because of flawed budgeting that does not reflect how departments should actually operate.

So this year, we will eliminate these ghost positions, while we preserve core services — and we will continue to strategically hire based on real life ….

We can make real change with good and smart policy… But carrying thousands of vacant positions on the books simply because they were there the year before? I want to end that.

Looking ahead, we will use the elimination of these vacancies to set the stage for future budgets to be based on actual service delivery… 

To determine this, I am directing my office to conduct a comprehensive analysis of all City departments. We will begin preparing for next year’s budget immediately after this year’s budget is signed – so we take advantage of these tough times to determine how departments can function in a more efficient and effective manner…. And I know that under the steadfast leadership of the Budget Chair Bob Blumenfield, we can get this done.

This will result in better services for Angelenos – in the good years, and in the tough years that we expect to experience in the near future.

My goal is to change the way L.A. budgets so that it is honest, transparent, and squarely focused on doing a better job for Angelenos.

We all know that over the years Los Angeles has become less and less affordable for working people. City workers are no different, and Controller Mejia found that 2/3 of them live outside of L.A. — simply because many of them cannot afford to live here. I know that the people behind me and everyone in these Chambers — supports all working people regardless of their occupation… 

We want to attract and retain committed, driven, skilled and career-oriented employees…. And I am aware of City Workers who help us bring homeless people inside who themselves are on the verge of ending up on the streets.

If we want to house people, if we want to keep our city safe, if we want to fix our streets, we must pay our workers fairly…

This is the path forward…. Putting skilled and long-term city workers over empty desks…

And using this year as a reset for our budget – so that our budgets moving forward rest on a foundation of reality.

Locking arms doesn’t mean we’ll always agree…

But how we handle those differences and conflicts is key.

Are we focused on outcomes?

Are we focused on the people’s business?

Are we addressing our differences in person or are we resorting to Twitter Wars? I know we are better than that.

Look at the dysfunction in Washington.

Look at City Hall in the past.

Our work is about leaving that old way in the dust.

No more running away from our problems.

No more papering over our problems – we are focused on solving problems and making progress.

Now on a personal note….

Three weeks ago, I welcomed my third grandchild – his name is Oliver .... As a matter of fact, would my whole family stand…

And while I’ve spoken tonight about the 4 million Angelenos I work for every day, a huge part of my heart is with him and my other grandchildren right now.

And I know City Hall can do big, bold things for L.A… For today, and for the future that my grandchildren will inherit.

Thousands more people moved inside… We’ve lowered crime.

Think about it – we weathered a tropical storm and an earthquake on the same day!

I will never accept that we have to settle for the way things have always been…

And if we keep challenging the status quo – through the budget and across the board – we will make sure Los Angeles is a City that puts the people’s business first…. that puts results first… and that builds a new Los Angeles we can all be proud of…

Thank you, thank you, Los Angeles.