Mayor Karen Bass boarded a flight to Sacramento on Wednesday to press state lawmakers for fresh money to confront homelessness, speed up housing construction and help wildfire survivors rebuild, all while keeping an eye on Los Angeles’ preparations for the 2028 Olympics. The timing is no accident: the June primary is around the corner, and new polling suggests the mayoral race is tightening.
In the capital, Bass and a city delegation made a direct appeal for state support tied to homelessness, housing, wildfire recovery and Olympic-related infrastructure, according to ABC10. City leaders framed the meetings as an effort to lock in commitments that could ease short-term budget strain and accelerate rebuilding work.
Budget window for state aid
The visit landed in the middle of a budget scramble in Sacramento, as Gov. Gavin Newsom prepares a mid-May revision that includes proposed wildfire rebuilding dollars that Bass’ team hopes will unlock new assistance for Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Times. Newsom on Wednesday proposed a $100 million fund to help wildfire victims secure construction loans and buy down interest costs during rebuilding, the Times reported. Any infusion from the state could become a crucial tool for Los Angeles as officials try to close gaps in a tight city budget and move housing projects faster.
Political pressure as polls shift
Bass’ Sacramento push is unfolding as political pressure at home ticks up. A Loyola Marymount poll this spring showed Councilmember Nithya Raman in front, while a separate LA Times/UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey found Bass leading, a split that has scrambled the race, the Times reported. “This poll shows if only positive descriptors are used and context is provided, Raman is ahead,” LMU poll director Fernando Guerra told the Times. With the June 2 primary approaching, that mixed polling picture has added urgency to the mayor’s outreach.
Ground game and federal push
In Los Angeles, Bass rolled out a $14.8 billion spending plan in April that centers homelessness, housing and public safety, a blueprint she argues could stretch further with backing from Sacramento, per NBC Los Angeles. On Monday she met with homelessness service providers in downtown Los Angeles to brief agencies on the city’s needs and reinforce her priorities, according to Spectrum News. Earlier this spring, Bass and County Supervisor Kathryn Barger traveled to Washington, D.C., to push for FEMA and other rebuilding assistance, the mayor’s office said in a joint statement reported by ABC7.
Whether Sacramento lawmakers come through with substantial funding will help determine how effective Bass’ strategy is in the weeks ahead, with the Los Angeles mayoral primary scheduled for Wikipedia. City officials are watching the state’s budget revision closely, along with any follow-up from the Capitol, for signs that federal, state and local recovery plans can be stitched together before the council locks in its own budget.
