Los Angeles mayor says city will need to be cleaned up as it begins preparations for 2028 Olympics

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Thursday said the city was beginning to plan for the 2028 summer Olympics, but will need to be cleaned up first.

Bass met with Paris officials this week to discuss the 2024 Olympics and learn how to create a successful Olympic ceremony. The Paris Olympics were considered controversial because of certain elements in its opening ceremony, but the execution and planning of the ceremony have been praised.

The Democratic mayor admitted that Los Angeles, which is far larger in physical size than Paris, needed to be cleaned up due to graffiti, but said the city would prioritize the cleanup efforts.

"What I loved about [Paris] was the way the whole city was engaged. What's the secret sauce in that?" Bass asked Reuters. "One thing that's drastically different with LA versus Paris is the size and the density ... Paris is a smaller geographic area. Our sprawl is one of our advantages, but one of our challenges too. How do you create this sense of Olympic spirit citywide?"

"The city's dirty, graffiti everywhere, we've got to deal with the homeless issue, all of those issues," she continued. "And you can't do every street in the city. So where do you prioritize?"

Bass said she views other large-scale events in Los Angeles as a test drive or "practice" for 2028. Los Angeles will host several Soccer World Cup games, the NBA all-star game, and the U.S. Open for golf in 2026. It will also host the Super Bowl in 2027. 

The mayor will likely preside over some of the 2026 sporting events, but she will also face reelection, which means she might not be the city's leader for the Olympics. Bass was first elected in 2022.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.