Los Angeles Mayor Bass announced a significant delegation of Los Angeles City Council members' visit to Washington, D.C., on Friday, October 13. This historic delegation aims to secure resources for unhoused community members while striving to enhance safety and living conditions, with targeted programs for veterans and working-class residents as well as upgrades to transportation systems, as announced on the Mayor's official website.
The delegation, comprising Council President Paul Krekorian, Councilmembers Bob Blumenfield, Hugo Soto-Martinez, Traci Park, Eunisses Hernandez and Heather Hutt, will engage with crucial figures from the Biden Administration and Congress. Emphasizing the importance of a city-federal government collaboration, Mayor Bass stated, “We are proving in just a few short months quickly that by locking arms, we get things done.”
During these meetings, the delegation to discuss vital issues with high-ranking federal officials, including Secretaries Marcia Fudge of Housing and Urban Development, Alejandro Mayorkas of Homeland Security, Denis McDonough of Veterans Affairs, and acting Secretary Julie Su of Labor. White House Directors Tom Perez and Neera Tanden among others from the administration are also expected to participate. This schedule comes as an effort to address issues and challenges specific to Los Angeles in sectors like housing, transportation, and public safety.
Previously, Mayor Bass and the City Council have already procured federal support—securing a proposal for over $35 million of appropriations for Fiscal Year 2024 for Los Angeles projects. The upcoming meetings in Washington, D.C. will foster discussions on the progress attained and deepen the city-federal interconnection, according to the Mayor's official website.
Dialogues in these meetings will span over diverse topics affecting the city dwellers, from housing accessibility for veterans and expansion of housing aid eligibilities to enhancements to the Port of Los Angeles and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games preparations. Additionally, large-scale discourses will be conducted over safety initiatives like a request for expedited Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursements regarding COVID-19 and funds for gun violence prevention programs.
Investment toward solidifying the relationships between Los Angeles and the federal government has proven successful, with multiple visits from senior White House officials. Since January 2023, Mayor Bass has hosted a total of seven such officials, including Senior Advisor Tom Perez, providing an insight into the local efforts to address homelessness.
The city has also been able to capitalize on the support from agencies such as the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and the Department of Health and Human Services to help unhoused individuals find proper accommodation. Los Angeles' participation in the ALL INside initiative by the White House and partnerships with various federal groups underscores its strategy to leverage federal support and expertise for the continued progress of the city.
