As Mayor Karen Bass is nearing her second anniversary in office, she is reflecting on the strides her administration has made to transform Los Angeles while addressing the needs of all its residents. From tackling homelessness to improving public safety, creating jobs, and modernizing infrastructure ahead of global events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Mayor is steering the city toward a brighter future.
“We are working to improve city services as we continue urgent preparations to host world events,” Mayor Bass said during a press conference in Koreatown. “By focusing on and improving processes, the City delivered more services to Angelenos this year than the last two years.”
Mayor Bass emphasized her administration’s efforts to reduce homelessness through her Inside Safe initiative, which has already resulted in a 10% reduction in street homelessness. The initiative represents a significant shift in addressing the crisis, moving people off the streets and cutting red tape to build housing more efficiently.
“Our response is breaking with the old ways of doing things,” said Bass. “We’re seeing results—tens of thousands more services were delivered this year than in 2023 and 2022, including more graffiti removal and bulky item disposal.”
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Under Mayor Bass’s leadership, Los Angeles has seen a decline in homicides and a surge in LAPD applicants. Her Office of Community Safety is also charting new ground by focusing on innovative, community-centered safety measures.
“We’ve taken urgent action to make the streets safer for children and families getting to and from school by deploying a record number of crossing guards, installing more than 250 speed bumps, and establishing 450 school slow zones,” Bass noted.
Mayor Bass highlighted her work to support local businesses and boost economic activity in Black neighborhoods. “When tourists go to Venice Beach, we also want them to experience the culture of our neighborhoods—Koreatown, the beauty of San Pedro’s waterfront, and the Crenshaw District,” said Bass.
In addition, her administration has focused on creating jobs and improving public transportation, with Metro ridership increasing every month since she took office. “Metro crossed more than one million daily riders this year,” she said. “This shows we’re building a transit infrastructure for the future of Los Angeles.”
Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics, Mayor Bass signed Executive Directive 9 to streamline infrastructure projects and ensure the city is ready for the global spotlight.
“Today, we recognize progress made and the urgent work before us,” said Vahid Khorsand, a member of the Board of Public Works. “The mayor has given us the green light, and we are up to the task of delivering world-class services for a world-class city.”
Mayor Bass also underscored the importance of inclusivity in her administration’s work. “We want to make sure that when the world comes to L.A., they see a clean city but also experience all of L.A.’s diversity and neighborhoods,” she said.
Her efforts include expanding access to green spaces and addressing environmental justice, with over 200 solar streetlights installed in neighborhoods like the San Fernando Valley to enhance safety.
While Mayor Bass continues her work to transform Los Angeles, she is focused on making the city more livable, equitable, and inclusive. “We are making Los Angeles more livable, and that urgent action will continue into the new year,” she said.
With her administration’s progress, Mayor Bass is not just preparing Los Angeles for global events but ensuring that local communities, including Black Angelenos, see the benefits of a city moving in a new direction.
