In a pivotal year for her political career, in which voters will decide whether to re-elect her for another four years, Mayor Karen Bass in delivering her annual State of the City report, "we are ready to resist and face whatever comes our way."

"Whether it's facing a reckless federal government to say that this city has fallen apart and "It needs help and to be rescued; to those who say our values ??are negotiable, who try to belittle our city, underestimate its strength, unity, and courage, we will not allow it," said the mayor, overflowing with enthusiasm and laughing at times. And just a few months before the start of the World Cup and two years after the Olympics, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called on Angelenos to work and build. "Let's continue to support people as the world comes together again here. Let's show the nation and the world that we are the greatest city on the planet," the mayor said while delivering her State of the City address. She said that Los Angeles has always been a unique city, with a school district where 125 languages ??are spoken. "What might be considered chaos elsewhere becomes harmony here, a place built from Olvera Street to the downtown skyscrapers by people who came from all over and decided to build something together, a place that has always welcomed the world."

Bass recounted the biggest challenges faced in the last year of his administration.

“We have streamlined the entire rebuilding process without compromising safety and have reformed the building permit system,” he said regarding the areas affected by the Pacific Palisades fire.

“We are fighting the next battle: preventing financial institutions and insurance companies from abandoning Los Angeles, because recovery should never be more difficult than the disaster itself.”

He revealed that next week, She will travel to Sacramento with Councilwoman Park and a delegation of Palisades residents to make it clear to the state that continues to invest in rebuilding Palisades is not an option, it is essential. "We are not just rebuilding. We are rebuilding smarter, faster, and safer, and today, more than 400 homes are under construction, and hundreds more have been approved and are ready to be rebuilt."She mentioned that families are returning to their homes, and while this represents progress, they will not slow down. A New Test: The mayor said that just as Los Angeles was beginning to recover from the fires, they were tested once again, not by nature, but by the federal government.

“I will never forget Friday, June 6, 2025: without communication, without prior notice, and with no respect for the city, Washington chose Los Angeles for its first experiment, its first testing ground.”

I have recalled that for days and weeks, masked men in unmarked cars sped through our streets and abducted parents picking up their children from school, Home Depot day laborers, car wash workers, gardeners; and people disappeared from the streets as if we lived in a police state, not in the United States.

“Days later, the Trump administration escalated the situation, sending thousands of National Guard members to our city. In the end, only a handful of them protected two federal buildings, while the rest played video games somewhere outside of Los Angeles. An incredibly irresponsible use of our young military personnel.”

She emphasized that this was not security but theater.

“Let's not forget either that infamous moment when former Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino sent troops, some even on horseback, into MacArthur Park, claiming authority over a park where many children were playing, and at that moment I had no choice but to stand up to him, because no leader who loves their city remains silent while Angelenos are terrorized in their neighborhood.”

She pointed out that the violence was confined to a few blocks in the center of a 500-square-mile city.

However, the administration preferred a televised crisis to the real facts.

“During those long summer days, I want to remind you that neighbors looked out for one another. Rapid response networks formed in communities. People came together to defend their now-unknown loved ones.”

He said that although the National Guard has now withdrawn, the brutality of the raids has not stopped.

“The raids continue daily in Los Angeles,And with them have come devastating losses of life. Therefore, I have asserted that remaining silent or minimizing what has happened is not an option. "This administration doesn't care about safety, doesn't care about order, and certainly doesn't care about the law. These senseless deaths, this lawlessness, and this violence must end, as must the presence of ICE in Los Angeles." He emphasized that across the country, mayors and local leaders have become the last line of defense for democracy in people's daily lives, acting where federal leadership has abdicated its duty to protect them.

“That's why I joined more than 130 mayors across the country when the raids began,"Citywide, too many neighbors share apartments with multiple families or work two or three jobs just to be able to afford rent. I know many of you wonder if you'll ever be able to own a home.”

That's why, he said, his first executive order accelerated the construction of affordable housing throughout Los Angeles, and they have spurred the construction of more than 3,000 units in the city, with 6,000 already under construction.

But he also revealed that they will provide $14 million in rental assistance to seniors and people with disabilities.

He stressed that the most extreme example of the lack of affordable housing is homelessness itself, with more than 40,000 Angelenos without shelter, and almost half of them sleeping on the streets every night.

“This is the consequence of decades of a rigid mindset that never built a system capable of meeting the magnitude of the need.”

He emphasized that in collaboration with the city council, through the Inside Safe program, they have dismantled nearly 120 encampments and moved thousands of Angelenos into permanent housing.

'We have an 85% retention rate in permanent housing. But that's not enough. We must provide more cost-effective solutions for the homeless and improve the retention rate in temporary housing by developing stronger and more comprehensive services, and accelerating the construction of affordable permanent housing.'

Regarding job creation, he said that together with the City Council, labor leaders, Community and business leaders passed legislation to expand the convention center.

“I am proud to announce that two major national conventions, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the American Geophysical Union, have chosen Los Angeles as their venue. That means more than 30,000 people will be coming to our city; and a lot of money and revenue for hotels.”

Safety

Regarding safety, his number one priority, he said homicides were down 19% last year, the lowest figure in 60 years, and shoplifting has also decreased.

“Los Angeles is a huge city with diverse needs, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to safety. Some neighborhoods want a strong, visible presence of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Others prefer a greater presence of community organizations and programs.We must offer both options.”

I have affirmed that all this work to make safety real and visible And that is precisely what will prepare us to welcome the world to Los Angeles.

“As we prepare for the US Women's Open, the FIFA World Cup, and, shortly thereafter, the greatest Olympic and Paralympic Games ever, we will continue to focus on the essentials—the things that define the city experience for those who live here and for the millions of visitors.”

She added that they will continue to address the issue of homelessness in camps and provide housing for Angelenos through programs like Inside Safe.

“We will intensify our efforts to provide housing for veterans and make housing affordable. We will accelerate beautification initiatives along major corridors throughout the city, with our new Clean Corridors initiative, especially near where World Cup watch parties will be held. girls at all of our city's public golf courses, from Van Nuys to Wilmington. city; and a lot of money and revenue for the hotels.”