More Jobs, Investment and Opportunities Coming to the Valley Under Mayor Bass,
Valley Advisory Board Highlights Success
LOS ANGELES – Mayor Karen Bass is marking 818 Day, the annual day of recognition for the San Fernando Valley’s contributions to the City of Los Angeles by highlighting actions by her administration and Valley Advisory Board. Today she will visit historic and local businesses and meet with non-profit organizations. Under Mayor Bass, more jobs, investments and opportunities are coming to the Valley since taking office.
“The San Fernando Valley’s vibrant neighborhoods, commercial centers, parks, restaurants and small businesses make Los Angeles the great city that it is,” said Mayor Bass. “818 Day is an opportunity to highlight all that makes the Valley so special. We have made great strides in delivering for Valley communities and we will continue this work more urgently than ever.”
Since taking office, Mayor Bass has prioritized the San Fernando Valley communities, taking action to make neighborhoods safer, cleaner and more livable:
- Reducing Street Homelessness: More than 750 people were brought inside and more than 248 tons of debris were cleared through 24 Inside Safe operations conducted in Van Nuys, Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, North Hollywood, Chatsworth, Pacoima, Reseda, Granada Hills, Panorama City, Sun Valley, Shadow Hills, Arleta and North Hills.
- Leading a New Approach for the Sepulveda Basin: Launched the first-ever coordinated action plan in the Sepulveda Basin to reduce public safety threats. To date, more than 250 invasive trees and 100 dead shrubs have been removed, equating to approximately 30 rolloff dumpsters of fire-prone vegetation. The City is also increasing patrols to improve safety and support housing outreach in the Basin.
- Ensuring a “Games For All”: Fan activations will happen across the Valley for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In 2028, the Valley will host Olympic sporting events for the first time ever, when the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area is transformed into an exciting park featuring 5 sporting events including Skateboarding and BMX Racing. Marking another major milestone, Squash will make its Olympic debut on the Universal Studios Lot.
- Improving Public Transportation & Accessibility: The City of Los Angeles launched a new all-electric DASH bus route serving the Pacoima area and making stops at major sites like the Panorama Mall, Arleta High School and Ritchie Valens Recreation Center. This sustainable and affordable bus route builds upon Mayor Bass’ efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Metro G Line improvements have broken ground to increase public transportation options and better connect to jobs and opportunities across the region. More than 16 miles of protected bus lanes have opened to make bus service faster and more reliable.
- Keeping Our Entertainment Industry Local: Successfully advocated for the $750 million expansion of the Film & TV Tax Credit Expansion to keep production jobs local and support small businesses. Numerous studios located in the Valley to benefit from this new investment.
- Improving City Infrastructure: More than 100 new solar streetlights were installed in Van Nuys to keep communities safe and well lit as the city experiences years-long increases in copper wire theft which harm the streetlight network. Hundreds of street safety improvements were installed near schools in the Valley including Slow Speed Zones, speed humps and changes to intersections to make it safer for families and children to get to and from school. New bus shelters are also being installed throughout the Valley and beyond to provide shade, comfort and real time information for bus riders.
- Bringing Communities Together: Brought the Shine LA movement to beautify neighborhoods of Sherman Oaks, Lake View Terrance, Tujunga, North Hills, Pacoima and Granada Hills. Hundreds of residents and community members participated in tree planting, loose litter pick-up and community beautification efforts.
- Making the Valley Safer: Continued Mayor Bass’ comprehensive approach to public safety by surging law enforcement resources when crime spikes, prioritizing hiring of more LAPD officers and preventing crime before it happens. Summer Night Lights recently concluded its programming in Valley parks including Lanark Park, Valley Plaza, Delano Park, Sun Valley Recreation Center, Hubert H. Humphrey Memorial Recreation Center, Sepulveda Recreation Center and David M. Gonzales Recreation Center.
- Envisioning a Modernized Airport: Launched the development of the Van Nuys Airport Specific Plan to improve operations, create new jobs, reduce community impacts and encourage sustainable growth.
- Welcoming the LA Rams Headquarters, Training Facility & Future Development: Embracing and supporting the upcoming Rams Village at Warner Center development as the LA Rams relocated their permanent headquarters to the City of LA and continue using the facility as their state-of-the-art training center. This proposed project will be transformative — bringing new jobs, new community space, and new places to work, live and connect to the San Fernando Valley.
- Moving Charter Reform Forward: The Charter Reform Commission established by Mayor Bass and City Council has held two meetings in the Valley and will continue to host more so that residents are able to make their voices heard during this important process of reviewing and making recommendations for the City’s Charter.
Mayor Bass’ Valley Advisory Board Members are:
- Roberto Barragan, Executive Director, ICON CDC
- Sonya Blake, CEO/President, Valley Economic Alliance
- Maria Camacho, Director of Government Affairs, LA Rams
- Nicole Chase, President/CEO, Boys & Girls Club of the San Fernando
- Joshua Englander, President, JE Strategies
- David Ford, Senior Government Relations Manager, SoCal Edison/(City commissioner)
- Rob Glushon, President, Encino Property Owners Association
- Wendy Greuel, Former City of LA Controller/Councilmember, CD2
- Richard Katz, Former CA Assemblymember, AD39
- Janet Marinaccio, President/CEO, Meet Each Need with Dignity (MEND)
- Shefali Mistry, Associate VP of Government & Community Relations, CSUN
- Vicki Nussbaum, Executive Director, Studio City BID
- Dr. Armida Ornelas, President, Mission College
- Veronica Padilla Campos, Executive Director, Pacoima Beautiful
- William “Blinky” Rodriguez, Co-Founder, Champions in Service (CIS)
- Leticia Rodriguez, Executive Director, DIY Girls
- Jeff Skobin, Chief Marketing Officer/VP of Business Operations, Galpin Motors
- Dale Surowitz, President/CEO, LA Jewish Health
- Rowan Vansleve, President, Hope the Mission
- Stuart Waldman, President, Valley Industry Commerce Association (VICA)
- Keren Waters, City of LA Commissioner, Board of Neighborhood Councils
- Dennis Zine, Former City of LA Councilmember, CD3
Mayor Bass will begin her recognition of 818 Day by meeting with her new Valley Advisory Board. She will then meet with small business owners and community-based organizations. The visits and roundtable will focus on ways to collaborate with the city and opportunities to support their work. Later in the day, Mayor Bass will attend a mural unveiling of powerful women leaders who have shaped Los Angeles history which featured her likeness along other accomplished leaders.