Business leaders credited Mayor Bass for historic drop in homelessness and crime
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles’ leading business organizations endorsed Karen Bass’ re-election in an unprecedented show of unity, marking a first-of-its-kind endorsement of the region’s business leadership behind a single mayoral candidate.
The endorsement by the Central City Association PAC, Hollywood Chamber PAC, Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) PAC, BizFed PAC, and LA Jobs PAC signals that Mayor Bass has earned the business community’s confidence by delivering measurable change and progress on some of the city’s most pressing challenges.
“If we’re going to make LA a more affordable place to live, we must support the businesses that deliver housing and paychecks for Angelenos. That’s what I’ve done and I’m proud to have the unprecedented unified endorsement of LA’s leading business organizations,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “We’ve changed the way City Hall works to support business and jobs: cutting red tape, reducing costs, making catalytic investments, and getting serious about the encampments that harm corner stores, restaurants and office buildings alike. Past City leaders failed us on homelessness and so for decades, the numbers only went in one direction – up. We lean in, no matter how hard the challenge, and today, street homeless is down by almost 18 percent. That’s good for business, our neighborhoods and every Angeleno.”
The coalition emphasized that Mayor Bass has taken decisive action on issues that had long been ignored, leading to a reduction in street homelessness, reversing declines in police recruitment, accelerating housing production, supporting the film and television industry, and advancing catalytic infrastructure investments that are already creating thousands of high-quality union jobs.
“The Los Angeles business community is united behind Mayor Karen Bass,” said Nella McOsker, President and CEO of the Central City Association. “Karen Bass is the only mayor in Los Angeles history who has delivered real, measurable, multi-year reductions in homelessness. She’s making our streets safer with more officers, more foot patrols, a citywide unarmed response, and smarter use of technology. And after years of delay, she’s moving catalytic projects forward that put shovels in the ground, provide thousands of good-paying jobs, and deliver the kind of investment that drives long-term economic growth. That’s the leadership Angelenos deserve.”
“When Hollywood thrives, LA flourishes,” said Jerry Neuman, Chair of the Board of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. “Mayor Bass understands the value of Hollywood as a place and an industry and supports the large and small businesses that make up both. That is why Hollywood supports Mayor Bass.”
“LA BizFed PAC proudly endorses Karen Bass for Mayor of Los Angeles,” said Mitchell Vieyra, Executive Vice President of LA BizFed. “Los Angeles businesses need a mayor who will partner with the private sector to create jobs, reduce costs, and restore confidence in our city — and Karen Bass is that leader.”
“Los Angeles calls for leadership that reflects the scale and complexity of its economy,” said Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Maria S. Salinas. “Mayor Karen Bass has demonstrated a clear commitment to job growth, public safety, investment, and collaboration with the business community. This is not the moment to start over – the work ahead demands the continuity of leadership. The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to support her re-election as we work together to build a stronger, more competitive city.”
“It’s often said that the Valley elects the Mayor, and this year the Valley Industry and Commerce Association PAC is proud to join LA’s other business organizations in endorsing Mayor Karen Bass for reelection,” said Coby King, former Chair and current Treasurer of VICA. “The Mayor has always been committed to dialogue with the Valley business community and to responding to our specific needs. We look forward to continuing to partner with Mayor Bass to strengthen the Valley and regional economies and make the Valley an even better place to raise a family and build a business.”
For decades, Los Angeles fell behind on homelessness, housing, infrastructure, and public safety. In just three years, Mayor Bass has turned around the trajectory:
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Historic Reduction in Street Homelessness: After years of increases before she took office, Mayor Bass drove street homelessness down 17.5%.
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Tackling Affordability: Mayor Bass has accelerated nearly 40,000 units and signed into law the city’s first update to the rent stabilization law in 40 years to cap increases and strengthen tenant protections.
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Fixing Our Infrastructure: Issued an executive order to develop LA’s first-ever Comprehensive Infrastructure Plan to repair sidewalks, streets, and streetlights — a basic tool every major American city uses that Los Angeles never had until now.
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Making Los Angeles Safer: Mayor Bass has led the effort to rebuild LAPD hiring after years of decline and created the Office of Community Safety to expand civilian crisis response and community violence intervention strategies, leading to the lowest homicide total since the 1960s.
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Standing Up for Angelenos: Mayor Bass is leading communities and leaders locally and nationally to fight back against the Trump administration’s attacks on cities and immigrants.
