Bloomberg Talks – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Talks Public Transit

Date: March 27, 2026
Host: Bloomberg
Guest: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass

Episode Overview

This episode of Bloomberg Talks features an in-depth interview with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, focusing on public transit developments in LA, rising gas prices, housing affordability, Hollywood job impacts, preparations for global sporting events, economic insights relative to other major cities, and Mayor Bass’s vision for LA’s future—particularly homelessness, public safety, and core city services.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gas Prices and Public Transit (00:37–01:45)

• Context: California’s average gas price is around $6 per gallon; LA is a car-centric city.
• Mayor Bass’s Response:
  • LA has invested decades in expanding its public transit, encouraging its use alongside carpooling.
  • The high gas prices are complicated by both local environmental taxes and global uncertainty.
  • Quote:

    "Affordability is the number one issue we're dealing with here, period."
    — Karen Bass (01:28)

2. Housing Affordability and New Construction (01:45–02:41)

• Trend: Permit numbers for new construction have declined since 2022.
• Actions Taken:
  • Fast-tracked building approvals, especially for housing, via executive directive early in her term.
  • Currently, 40,000 units are in process, with thousands actively under construction.
  • Lessons in cutting red tape for housing now applied to commercial and residential projects generally.
  • Macro-economic pressures remain a challenge.
• Quote:

  "Making it easier to build...I signed an executive directive to fast track the building, especially of housing."
  — Karen Bass (02:00)

3. Hollywood, Industry Consolidation, and Job Impacts (02:41–04:28)

• Recent News: Paramount and Warner Bros. consolidation could mean job cuts in LA.
• Mayor Bass’s Approach:
  • Long-term engagement with the entertainment industry, including creating and advocating for state film tax credits.
  • Regular meetings with industry stakeholders, adopting their suggestions to streamline filming permissions.
  • Positive results: Over 119 new film projects in LA since the introduction of tax credits and other initiatives.
• Quote:

  “We do have filming increasing in our city. Of course, I'm concerned about the merger. I think what a lot of people don't think about are all of the jobs that are associated either directly or indirectly.”
  — Karen Bass (03:38)

4. Preparing for Major Sporting Events: World Cup and Olympics (04:28–06:50)

• World Cup 2026:
  • LA anticipates significant economic benefits, even though matches are hosted in Inglewood.
  • Expecting tens of thousands of visitors, hosting over 100 citywide events.
  • Federal security reimbursements are expected, as event classified as a national security event.
  • Quote:

    “We anticipate having 100 different events...We’re really seeing it as an economic boom to our area.”
    — Karen Bass (05:06)

• Olympics (LA28):

  • Recent controversy over LA28 chair Casey Wasserman’s past ties; Bass called for his ouster but will continue to collaborate professionally.

  • Established an Office of Major Events to coordinate city readiness.

  • Emphasizes collaboration with LA28 despite differences:

    "My role is to make sure that the city of Los Angeles is ready to welcome thousands, tens of thousands of visitors from around the world..."
    — Karen Bass (06:32)

5. Peer Cities, Innovation, and Transferable Leadership (06:50–08:03)

• Comparison with San Francisco:
  • Observes how SF’s mayors, London Breed and Dan Lurie, focused on AI and reversing economic decline.
  • LA differs by size and industry diversity; no single dominant driver.
  • Bass highlights collaborative relationships among major city mayors.

6. Accomplishments & Future Vision: Mayoral Re-election Pitch (08:03–10:08)

• LA’s Progress Since 2022:
  • Homelessness: LA reversed the national trend, boasting an 18% decrease in street homelessness vs a national increase.
  • Crime: Reduced to levels not seen since the 1960s.
  • City Services: Upgrades to street lighting, moving from copper (prone to theft) to solar, with a program to replace 60,000 lights underway.
  • The mayor frames her approach as focused on “basic quality of life” improvements.
• Quote:

  “What I hope to accomplish by the end of my second term is establishing and creating a functional system that we get people off the street...we have to keep them off the street permanently and we have to prevent more people from falling into homelessness.”
  — Karen Bass (08:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On affordability and transit:

  "Affordability is the number one issue we're dealing with here, period."
  — Karen Bass (01:28)

• On Hollywood jobs and production:

  “We do have filming increasing in our city...we have over 119 new projects that have started in L.A since the tax credits and these other initiatives have been put into place.”
  — Karen Bass (04:19)

• On Olympic partnership despite controversy:

  "The decision whether Casey Wasserman stays was up to the board. They've made their decision. My role is to make sure that the city of Los Angeles is ready..."
  — Karen Bass (06:32)

• On homelessness progress:

  "We've had the exact opposite in Los Angeles, where we've had a decrease in street homelessness of 18%."
  — Karen Bass (08:35)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Gas prices & public transit solutions: 00:37–01:45
• Housing construction trends and reforms: 01:45–02:41
• Hollywood job concerns & city intervention: 02:41–04:28
• World Cup/Olympics preparations & security: 04:28–06:50
• Comparisons with San Francisco leadership: 06:50–08:03
• State of LA & re-election goals: 08:03–10:08

Summary

In a wide-ranging discussion, Mayor Karen Bass described the city’s multi-pronged efforts to address affordability, stimulate housing construction, retain and grow local industry, prepare for international events, and enhance city services. She touted material decreases in homelessness and crime as evidence of her administration’s effectiveness and outlined a vision through a potential second term that centers on infrastructure, safety, and a functional system to keep residents housed. Her tone was pragmatic, optimistic, and focused on both immediate and long-term solutions while acknowledging the scale and complexity of LA’s unique challenges.