Mayor Karen Bass has urged the Los Angeles City Council to restore $2 million in funding to clean and secure over 100 priority nuisance properties across the city. The funding, initially proposed in her FY26-27 budget to address vacant and blighted lots, was removed by the City Council during budget considerations.
In a letter to Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson and other members, Mayor Bass highlighted that these sites, identified by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), often pose serious public safety risks to communities. She also requested LADBS to report on other properties littered with trash, debris, and dilapidated structures.
Mayor Bass acknowledged the long-standing challenge of enforcing against negligent private property owners. Her office is collaborating with LADBS to strengthen enforcement tools, building on recent legislation led by Councilmember Monica Rodriguez that shortened the nuisance-abatement process and increased penalties. Bass emphasized the need for the Council's help to change city policy and allocate resources for rapid cleanup, stating, "This is about public safety. This is about improving our neighborhoods. This is about delivering for Angelenos."