Updates from Public Works + Mayor's Budget Release

Good afternoon,

Later than usual to include information on Mayor Bass' budget proposal. 

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Mayor Bass Releases City Budget

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass released her proposed budget today to continue her work to move Los Angeles forward. The budget lays out investments to continue urgently housing Angelenos and work to make Los Angeles safer and more livable for all. This year's process has uncovered a clear need for a reset of the City’s budgeting process – one that is honest, transparent and squarely focused on serving Angelenos.

https://cao.lacity.gov/budget/index.htm

Read the budget summary released today HERE. 

This budget will continue to hire for critical positions including sanitation, street services, police officers, firefighters and others, while eliminating vacancies that in many cases have been on the books for years, thereby prioritizing actual service delivery over empty desks.

This budget is fiscally prudent in that it replenishes the City’s cash reserves with new revenue and ensures the City remains prepared to weather uncertainties in the year ahead. 

Key budget highlights include: 

• HOMELESSNESS – In 2023, thousands more Angelenos came inside than the year before. This budget continues to respond to the homeless emergency and funds efforts to reduce homelessness. We must continue to break new ground with new strategies and deliver more services and housing to bring more people inside from tents, cars and RVs. We must continue our new efforts to prevent Angelenos from losing their homes and ending up on the streets. This budget allocates a total of $950 million to continue responding to the homeless emergency and funds efforts to reduce homelessness. This is a decrease from the previous year’s allocation but in no way indicates a decrease in urgency. The funding is lower in part because of the winding down of Proposition HHH, a voter approved bond measure that has been fully allocated to projects. Mayor Bass made clear during the press conference today that services are being delivered in partnership with the County and that an MOU is currently being delivered, further reducing the projected costs associated with confronting the crisis this year. The emergency and urgency continues. Two key goals that are supported by this budget proposal are lowering the cost of housing and developing a stronger model for delivering the services necessary to make sure Angelenos move from the streets and never return. 
• SAFETY – With a record number of applicants applying to the police academy following a new contract for those who protect us every day, this budget focuses on recruitment and retention of police officers. It also maintains our staffing goals for the department, allowing full police academy classes. We are continuing our expanded approach to supporting the safety of our communities by focusing on preventing crime and interrupting the cycles of violence. The budget maintains the current level of investments which have strengthened gang prevention and community violence intervention programs. The budget also funds the hiring of firefighters. The vast majority of calls LAFD responds to are medical in nature. The budget continues the Emergency Appointment Paramedic Program to hire paramedics to respond to these urgent calls. The wellbeing of our firefighters and first responders is paramount. Funding is provided to support equity and inclusions in staffing to promote an inclusive workplace. 
• CITY SERVICES – A world class city deserves world class services. This will not happen without investing in livable wages for city workers. In addition to first responders, there will also be a significant investment in other members of the City family and hiring for critical positions will continue. This ensures that quality critical services – from sanitation, pothole repairs to park maintenance to community beautification and traffic safety – are delivered to Angelenos in every corner of the City. Vacant positions do not fill potholes, sweep streets or staff parks – and too many of these positions have been there for years because of flawed budgeting that does not reflect how departments should actually operate. That being said, the proposed budget still includes more than 5,000 vacant positions that remain on the books. To further improve the delivery of services, this budget will invest in modernization of the MyLA311 system to better meet the needs of Angelenos. By investing in system enhancements, departments will be better able to respond to calls for service, and residents will be better informed about when services will be delivered.
• CLIMATE – We are working toward more sustainable and resilient city operations and infrastructure to protect the environment and build a greener Los Angeles. The budget continues to prioritize investments toward fighting climate change, including transportation electrification, water recycling and treatment, and organics recycling. The Mayor has announced a new climate cabinet, new climate plans at key City departments, stakeholder engagement, and action on climate justice. Together, we are advancing our work to make Los Angeles a 100% clean energy city by 2035.
• CREATING OPPORTUNITY – The budget continues investments to create more opportunities for young people, families and vulnerable Angelenos with an eye toward helping Angelenos tap into the economic opportunities that the upcoming world events like the 2028 Games will bring to the region. We are working toward making it easier for Los Angeles businesses to open, thrive and expand. Departments will be continuing their work to improve customer service thereby saving time and cutting down costs for small business owners through implementation of Executive Directive 4.
• RESPONSIBLE AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT – Mayor Bass understands the importance of responsible budgeting and protective reserves having navigated California through the most difficult economic decline since the Great Depression. Last year, the Mayor and City Council made preparations for unexpected impacts and this year’s budget proposal prepares the City for unexpected economic impacts as well. This budget is fiscally prudent in that it replenishes the City’s cash reserves with new revenue and ensures the City remains prepared to weather uncertainties in the year ahead. The City Charter requires a 2.75% emergency reserve and the City Financial Policy dictates a 2.25% contingency reserve, combining for a 5% cumulative reserve. Despite this difficult forecast, and after closing deficits in the 23-24 fiscal year brought on by less-than-expected revenues and unexpected costs, this budget maintains a 7.91% cumulative reserve of General Fund receipts and preserves the Budget Stabilization Fund. The budget also invests in increased ethical governance.

Read more HERE

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Denim Day, Wednesday April 24

Denim Day is a campaign on a Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. 

Denim Day asks community members, elected officials, businesses and students to make a social statement with their fashion statement by wearing jeans on this day as a visible means of protest against the misconceptions that surround sexual violence.

Learn more about Denim Day HERE

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AccessingLA: Preparing Businesses for the Future

The 9th Annual AccessingLA: TeamWith event is aimed at providing small business owners who offer Personal and Professional Services to learn about Los Angeles area opportunities and receive valuable information about how to grow their businesses. 

This event is part of the City's Asian American Pacific Island Heritage Month celebration and National Public Works Week. 

The day will consist of informational presentations and panel discussions, an exhibit hall with information booths from a variety of public and private agencies, and Koi Pond* - an opportunity for business owners to pitch their business to a panel of experts. The business owner with the highest score will be featured our our AccessingLA website for the next year!

May 20, 2024, 9am

Read More HERE

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Beautification Conference

Join the Office of Community Beautification for an opportunity to network and collaborate with other Angelenos on topics focused around beautifying the City. More than 250 attendees and 30 exhibitors will gather to discuss current beautification efforts, share resources available to LA residents, and exchange valuable information through informative panels.

Sign up HERE

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ICYMI: Inside Safe in Vermont Vista 

Mayor Bass announced an Inside Safe operation at the Vermont Vista encampment in South Los Angeles. More than 40 people experiencing homelessness were brought inside and several recreational vehicles (RVs) were addressed. This encampment has been in existence for four years at the median strip on South Vermont Avenue between West 92nd Street and West Colden Avenue.

Council President Pro Tempore Marqueece Harris-Dawson expressed his dedication to the Inside Safe Initiative, “We are seeing our unhoused neighbors, veterans, have access to housing, and services. The leadership and partnerships developed by our Mayor have disrupted the status quo and will continue to do so with compassion."

Learn more HERE

Learn more about Inside Safe HERE

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Update on Executive Directive 4:

Breaking Down Barriers to Small Business Creation, Development and Growth

“Through Executive Directive 4, the City is taking action to reduce the barriers to attracting and retaining small businesses. We’re looking at processes, timelines and fees associated with doing business in Los Angeles and identifying immediate opportunities to turn City Hall into an advocate for small businesses,”~ Mayor Karen Bass. 

Read the update HERE

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Metro Sepulveda Corridor Project Update

Metro has a plan to make it easier to get around. The natural barrier created by the Santa Monica Mountains makes traveling between the Valley and the Westside complex and challenging – and will require innovation and multiple solutions. Metro is working to evaluate alternatives for a high-quality, reliable transit service option connecting the San Fernando Valley and the Westside.   Please join us for in-person and virtual meetings that will focus on the monorail alternatives and gather feedback about the possible elimination of Alternative 2.

Saturday, May 11, 2024 10:00am-12:00pm  

Presentation will begin at 10:30am

Marvin Braude Center  6262 Van Nuys Bl  Van Nuys, CA 91401

Monday, May 13, 2024 12:00-1:00pm  

Call in: +1 669 900 6833  

Webinar ID: 848 5610 6007 

Register Here

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ICYMI: SOTC Recap from Los Angeles Magazine: We Have an Adult in the Room

"We have an adult in the room. The overwhelming feeling during the speech was that an adult is in charge of Los Angeles. Bass possesses an easy confidence, and one senses that after a decade navigating the snake pit that is the U.S. Congress, L.A. rifts are little league to her. The primary challenges facing the city are well known: homelessness, a looming budget shortfall and a Los Angeles Police Department that continues to hemorrhage officers. Bass made all those problems seem navigable if not fully solvable. And like any good SOTC she wrapped them in a theme, with repeated references to disrupting the “status quo” and enacting a “sea change.””

Read the article HERE

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