Partnership is Direct Result of Mayor-Council Delegation to Sacramento
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom acted last weekend to move forward on a new partnership to help keep areas near freeways clean and safe as both the State and the City continue their efforts to bring unhoused people indoors. The establishment of this partnership is a direct result of the delegation trip led by Mayor Bass and Council President Paul Krekorian last week, which also included Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, Councilwoman Rodriguez and Councilmember Soto-Martinez. The delegation returned to Los Angeles having secured more than $300 million in emergency reimbursements for the Los Angeles region, with nearly $60 million in reimbursements in COVID-19 related expenses for the City.
“When we were in Sacramento last week, we raised the need to cut through red tape and come together to help keep public spaces near freeways clean and safe as we continue our work to bring unhoused Angelenos inside. Governor Newsom and Secretary Omishakin shared our commitment and just days later, we are moving this agreement forward,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “That’s why we make these trips. I again want to thank Governor Newsom for locking arms with us to deliver for the people of Los Angeles.”
"As we work to get people out of tents and into housing, collaboration is key," said Governor Gavin Newsom. "This agreement between the City of Los Angeles and the state underscores our shared commitment to addressing encampments and ensuring clean and safe public spaces for all Californians."
Initiated by the Mayor’s Office, this agreement between the Los Angeles Department of Sanitation (LASAN) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will allow City crews to access Caltrans properties to remove trash and debris from areas near freeways in Los Angeles. This will be an important strategy to help make sure public spaces are clean and safe following successful operations that bring unhoused people inside. The State will reimburse Los Angeles for costs associated with the partnership in the Caltrans District 7 Metro Region.
“An MOU like this creates an opportunity for Los Angeles to work more efficiently and collaboratively with our state partners as we work towards solving our city’s homelessness crisis,” said Councilmember John Lee, Chair of the City’s Committee on Public Works. “Addressing matters of public safety should not be limited by jurisdictional boundaries and so this collaboration will crucially help our city’s efforts to keep public spaces clean. I want to thank the Mayor for her leadership on working with the Governor to make our communities safer.”
In order to be ratified, the agreement must be considered by the Board of Public Works and the Los Angeles City Council.
Today’s announcement comes while Mayor Bass is leading an international delegation in Paris, France to foster business development and learn from innovative housing, green transportation and infrastructure projects to prepare Los Angeles ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Read the full document signed by the Mayor and the Governor here.