Mayor Karen Bass traveled to Sacramento yesterday to advocate for critical state funding to support Los Angeles's progress in housing, homelessness reduction, and wildfire recovery, while also discussing preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Meeting with Governor Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, and Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón, Mayor Bass highlighted L.A.'s recent success in reducing street homelessness for two consecutive years, a first for the city, with an almost 18 percent decrease. She warned that declining state investment, down from a peak of $6.9 billion in 2022-23 to $1.5 billion in 2025-26, threatens to reverse this progress.
“For so many years, homelessness only went up in Los Angeles, and housing was dramatically underbuilt. Now, we have reversed these longstanding trends, and we are seeking to continue our strong partnership with the state to accelerate our progress,” Mayor Bass said. She specifically urged the restoration of Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP) funding to $1 billion and an amendment to the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026 to acquire interim housing.
For wildfire recovery, Mayor Bass pushed for mortgage relief for impacted homeowners, legislation to crack down on insurers, state funding to close the gap between insurance proceeds and rebuilding costs, and enhanced regulations for post-wildfire testing and remediation. This advocacy follows previous efforts, including a meeting with President Donald J Trump in Washington, D.C., to secure federal support. The Mayor also sought funding for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, addressing needs such as traffic improvements, infrastructure projects, energy upgrades, public safety, and mobility access.