As a seasoned resident of Los Angeles, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration and anticipation when Karen Bass shared her experiences at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. Her words resonated with me, not just as a fellow Angeleno, but also as someone who cherishes the spirit of unity that these games embody.
As a gamer, I hopped across the pond twice, once for the Olympic Games and again for the Paralympics, right in the heart of Paris. Walking away from those incredible events left me feeling nothing short of inspired, especially as the mayor of L.A.
During a CNBC x Boardroom panel at Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows in Santa Monica on Tuesday, Bass expressed her appreciation, saying ‘I believe they did an outstanding job.’ She particularly admired how the event engaged the entire city, ensuring that everyone had a chance to be part of it, whether they attended the games or not.
After addressing a question posed by Sorkin regarding the Olympics in Los Angeles four years from now, Bass expressed her concerns. Specifically, she mentioned that the city has a lot of work to do in preparation, which includes logistics, budgeting, and planning. However, what seems most concerning for many Los Angeles residents is how traffic will be managed and the ongoing homelessness issue. Bass also touched upon these topics during Tuesday’s discussion.
Regarding her previous comments about the “no car rule,” Bass recently took the time to provide a clear explanation. Essentially, she wants to ensure no cars are allowed at the venues for the games, but public transportation should be utilized instead. She reassured that life in the city will continue as usual, although there were concerns about traffic congestion back in 1984. However, just like then, they found a solution, with former Mayor [Tom Bradley] taking charge and utilizing the technology that wasn’t available at that time.
Bass continued by saying that the COVID-19 pandemic introduced new protocols and routines of remote work, something she suggested could be implemented more widely among Angelenos as a way to curb traffic during the games. “I think we can stagger work schedules,” she noted. Another lesson learned from the 1984 Summer Olympics involved rescheduling semi-truck deliveries from daytime to nighttime.
The mayor suggested an arrangement for our area that would reduce traffic to a manageable level, with game-goers using public transport to get to the events instead. He added that city life will continue as usual. However, he reminded us of the fears surrounding the last games in ’84, but people found solutions then, just like Mayor Bradley did. It’s important to note that at that time, we didn’t have the technology we do today. Yet, we’ve all experienced the challenges of Covid-19 and discovered the benefits of remote work and staying home.
Bass clarified that transporting people to and from the venues will require approximately 3,000 buses, 3,000 bus drivers, and 3,000 parking spaces. To make this possible, we’ll need assistance not just from cities across our state but also from cities in other states.
As a gamer, I found it quite astonishing to witness the streets being emptied during the games, making them look almost like a virtual world. It was as if homelessness vanished magically. I can’t help but wonder, what steps would need to be taken to replicate this in Los Angeles?
Firstly, it’s crucial to make every effort possible to eradicate street homelessness. For the first time in a long while, we’ve managed to decrease street homelessness by 10 percent. To achieve this goal effectively, we should construct extensive, regionally located shelters. We’re already making progress on that front, but there’s still much more work to be done,” she explained.
According to Bass, approximately 18,000 housing units are expected to be made available over the next few years, which is significantly less than the current number of homeless people in the city, estimated at around 70,000. Clearly, addressing this issue will require a joint effort from everyone involved.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-09-11 22:54