Mayor Karen Bass is back on home turf after a productive jaunt to Paris with Los Angeles civic heavyweights, prepping the City of Angels to host a game-changer—the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Keeping an eye on the prize, the delegation, including City Council members and local leaders, rolled up their sleeves to see just how the City of Light is setting the scene for the upcoming 2024 Games. The aim? To cherry-pick the brains of French officials and ensure L.A.'s plans are gold-medal ready, focusing on small, diverse businesses and green transport—plus the housing home run, according to the Mayor's office.
In a strategy to thoroughly cover all the bases, the City's delegation met with their French counterparts, sharing tips and tricks. Council President Paul Krekorian said, "Thanks to the Mayor's leadership in arranging this fact-finding visit, we're coming home with a wealth of information we can use to make the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games an extraordinary success for Los Angeles." In an effort to securely lock in, the games are intended to be privately financed and yield an enduring positive impact for L.A.'s residents, as Krekorian told officials.
Business France played host to L.A.'s finest as they discussed deals to drive growth in sectors like transport and tech. The French have even set up shop in Los Angeles, laying the groundwork for a long-term partnership. True to form, Westfield is flexing their sponsorship muscles with plans to turn their retail spots into hubs of 2028 excitement, getting the consumer buzz going early.
Housing initiatives took the spotlight too, with a tour of Parisian shelters throwing the city’s challenges and solutions into stark relief. L.A.'s leaders got down to brass tacks on innovative green transportation, eyeing the eco-friendly makeover slated for post-Games Saint-Denis. "The 2028 Games are America’s Games—and hold the promise to leave a brilliant legacy," declared Stephanie Wiggins, CEO of LA Metro. Aiming to truly bridge the city's present and future, she spoke to the transformative potential of the Games for Los Angeles' infrastructure and community.
Global relations weren't left on the back burner as Mayor Bass and Mayor Karim Bouamrane of Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine inked an agreement targeting youth, environment, sports, and culture. Meanwhile, across the pond, Hidalgo's team dished out their game plan for the 2024 shindig, teeing up Mayor Bass for an official role during the Paris Games' closing ceremony.
Back in L.A., life doesn't stand still with 'Inside Safe' operations continuing to bring the city's unhoused population in from the streets, while a collaboration with the state keeps areas near freeways free from trash and debris. As L.A. gears up for its Olympic moment, the gears of progress keep turning from greener practices to bolstering local safety and empowering residents to tackle tax season sans stress.
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