Mayor Karen Bass and a delegation of six City Council members are scheduled for a meeting in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday with national leaders, marking the second day of their advocacy for additional resources for the city. This comes after Bass expressed optimism about their progress on the first day, stating, “I think we definitely moved several of the decision-makers.”
The delegation consists of Council President Paul Krekorian and council members Bob Blumenfield, Eunisses Hernandez, Heather Hutt, Traci Park, and Hugo Soto-Martinez. They will be meeting with White House officials and members of California’s congressional delegation before returning to L.A. on Thursday.
Bass spoke positively about their visit, stating, “It was an excellent trip. I think it was very important that we were here because we were able to make the case for L.A.” She also emphasized the need for resources, mentioning the upcoming World Cup in 2026 and the Olympics in 2028, and the city’s preparations for these major events.
The success of the meetings will be determined by the follow-up actions, whether new initiatives are implemented or existing ones are supported and enhanced. The discussions will focus on various issues such as housing the unhoused, improving public safety, supporting veterans, enhancing transportation, and accessing federal funding.
Bass, who chairs the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ National Task Force on Homelessness, emphasized the urgency of addressing Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis. With approximately 46,000 unhoused individuals in the city and 70,000 in the county, she highlighted the scale of the problem and the need for clear understanding among decision-makers.
During their trip, the delegation met with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to seek expedited Federal Emergency Management Assistance reimbursements for COVID-related expenses and assistance with migrant buses from Texas. Bass mentioned that Homeland Security owes Los Angeles a significant amount of money and they will be appealing for its release. Additionally, they discussed the influx of bus loads of migrants and the availability of federal funds to support the city in handling this situation.
Councilwoman Hernandez expressed the importance of the trip in advocating for a better Los Angeles and securing more resources for her represented communities. She mentioned conversations about infrastructure enhancements, transportation improvements, and engagement with the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
Meetings with White House officials will also involve discussions with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Labor, the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, Homeland Security, and the Department of Transportation. The delegation plans to address issues such as rental assistance requirements, expanding veteran eligibility for housing vouchers, and funding for affordable housing development.
Councilmember Park expects to discuss new housing on the V.A. West Los Angeles Campus, with a focus on V.A. benefits and their impact on preventing homelessness among veterans. She highlighted the opportunity to engage with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg regarding the Port of L.A. and LAX, as well as collaboration for the upcoming Olympic Games.
As a result of the trip, the City Council has canceled its scheduled meetings for Tuesday and Wednesday, resuming on Friday.
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