Mayor Karen Bass gathered with a cadre of state and labor leaders to drum up support for the proposed expansion of the California Film Tax Credit program. Bass, who has consistently backed this program since its inception during her tenure as Speaker of the Assembly, joined forces with Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur, Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, and State Senator Ben Allen, who introduced new bills to enhance and modernize the initiative.
"I want to thank Assemblymembers Zbur and Bryan, Senator Allen, and other legislative leaders for taking action to expand this important program and fighting back to keep our signature industry in Los Angeles and in California," Mayor Bass said, as quoted in an announcement from the Mayor's office. She further stressed the resilience of the city in the face of recent wildfires and reiterated her commitment to retaining the film industry locally as key to the city’s recovery.
The rally for the Film and TV Tax Credit Expansion saw a united front with labor leaders at the helm, supporting efforts to fortify the industry. This comes on the heels of a significant announcement last year by Mayor Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, which projected California at the forefront of capped film incentive programs, potentially outpacing rival states such as New York, as reported by the Mayor's Office.
In her first two years as mayor, Bass has implemented multiple measures to reinforce the entertainment sector, including forming an Entertainment Industry Council and signing Executive Directive 8, simplifying local film permitting. According to the Mayor's Office, her administration has also launched concierge services for new studios and sound stages, aiding in the reduction of bureaucratic hurdles, while adding over 8.1 million square feet of space dedicated to media production within the city.
