In an effort to engage directly with the community, nearly 2,000 Angelenos joined Mayor Karen Bass's telephone town hall yesterday, where she focused on resources available to the residents of Los Angeles and provided updates on her work covering a wide range of issues such as homelessness, public safety, economic development, and the environment.
Since taking office, Mayor Bass and her team have made strides in addressing homelessness, with more than 17,000 unhoused Angelenos coming inside through interim housing, vouchers, and permanent housing. This progress has been partially fueled by 26 operations under the Inside Safe initiative, which aims to house those living in encampments and prevent their return. The initiative has already served more than 1,500 Angelenos, even expediting the construction of over 7,000 affordable housing units across the city per the Mayor's Office.
In addition to tackling homelessness, Mayor Bass's administration also emphasized resources for renters and landlords. Low-income tenant households can apply for up to six months of owed back rent or unpaid rent due to a one-time economic hardship. The eligibility window for lower-income households will close on October 6, 2023, and will open for small landlords on October 23, 2023. Furthermore, the city has set up 15 FamilySource Centers, offering a range of free services to low-income residents, such as renter protections and financial coaching.
Another key area of focus was making Los Angeles safer by addressing hiring and retention issues within the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). In August, following contract negotiations, 1,048 individuals applied to join the LAPD, marking the largest number of applicants in a single month since September 2020. Mayor Bass has implemented various evaluation metrics for the LAPD, including increased mental evaluation team usage, emphasized de-escalation training, and a commitment to fostering a diverse workforce as detailed by the Mayor's Office.
To address issues like smash and grab robberies, the Mayor's Office formed an organized retail theft task force that operates in partnership with other cities throughout Los Angeles County. The task force has already led to over 48 arrests, and through the creation of the Office of Community Safety, distributed more than $50 million towards violence intervention, youth development, and reentry services aimed at reducing crime and violence.
Furthermore, Mayor Bass has demonstrated commitment to environmental concerns by taking strides towards creating a greener Los Angeles. Progress has been made in electrifying the city's transportation system, improving energy efficiency and affordability, and moving towards relying on 100% clean power. More details about this progress and other initiatives covered during the telephone town hall can be found on the Mayor's Office website.
