Will L.A.’s 2028 Olympic Agreement Address Homelessness and Jobs?

By Bobbi Murray

This article was produced by Capital & Main and published on November 5th, 2021. Capital & Main is an award-winning publication that reports from California on economic, political, and social issues. L.A. TACO is co-publishing this article.

Few Angelenos are thinking about it yet, but seven years from now, the 2028 Olympics are on track to arrive in L.A. It could cost the city billions — a Los Angeles City Council committee in 2019 estimated a $6.9 billion public expenditure. As the city approval process quietly moves forward, voices from various constituencies — labor, advocates for unhoused L.A. residents — are asking what public investment is required, where money gets spent and what the city gets back.

A pending city council vote would approve the Games Agreement that outlines budgets and city costs and affirms a contract between the city and LA28, the nonprofit body representing the International Olympics Committee (IOC).