Los Angeles mayor calls for unity, blasts ICE in State of City

By Chris Woodward
The Center Square

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wants residents to remain unified and continue helping one another in times of difficulty.

During her State of the City Address, the longtime Democrat said these are divided times. But she added she wants residents to show the world what the city, its people, neighborhoods and cultures have to offer.

“We were built by immigrants from every corner of the world,” said the mayor. “Our city has always been about bringing people together.”

Bass, a member of the U.S. House from 2011 to 2022, said many people looked after one another when the Trump administration deployed the National Guard to the city last summer.

“Neighbors looked out for neighbors,” said Bass, who was born and raised in Los Angeles. “Communities formed rapid-response networks. People stood together — to protect human beings they had never met.”

Bass said these events made her proud to be an Angeleno.

“While the National Guard has since left, the brutality of the raids has not,” said Bass. “Raids continue every day in Los Angeles, and with them have come the devastating losses of life.”

Examples offered by Bass include the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis as well as Keith Porter in Los Angeles. The three were killed by immigration officers.

“Keith Porter, a 43-year-old father of two, was shot to death by an off-duty ICE officer,” said Bass. “Staying silent or minimizing what is happening is not an option. This administration does not care about safety. They do not care about order. And they certainly do not care about the law.”

The Trump administration has stood by its actions and those of officers with Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Still, Bass called for the “senseless death, lawlessness, and violence” to end as well as ICE’s presence in Los Angeles. The mayor added that ICE is present in other cities as well, but officials are taking a stand.

“Mayors and local leaders have become the last line of defense,” said Bass.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly told The Center Square that Democrats are vilifying immigration agents, which has greatly increased assaults on them and puts them in danger. The department has stressed it’s working to make America safer from criminals.

The mayor also addressed rebuilding efforts in areas such as Pacific Palisades one year after the devastating Palisades Fire. After thanking families for sharing their stories and frustrations with her, Bass said, “Recovery should never feel harder than the disaster itself.” According to Bass, 400 homes are under construction and hundreds more are ready to be rebuilt.

Later, Bass touched on affordability issues, saying her administration is committed to helping people in different stages of life.

“The city that prices out its next generation is a city that stops believing in its own future,” said Bass. “We’ve expanded tenant rights and capped rent increases.”

The mayor also announced $14 million in rental assistance for seniors and people with disabilities.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles will host various watch parties for the FIFA World Cup, parties that Bass said will be free and open to the public.

When it comes to homelessness, Bass said her office has also moved with urgency.

“We broke down silos, challenged policies that kept people trapped on our streets and began building a coordinated system with one clear goal: End street homelessness,” said Bass.

Bass was introduced by Angel City Football Club co-founder and CEO Julie Uhrman. Uhrman announced a partnership with Los Angeles as part of the mayor’s efforts to promote youth sports. Angel City Football Club is a professional team that competes in the National Women’s Soccer League.