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Will Trump's enthusiasm for the LA Olympics help with fire recovery?
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass arrives in L.A. from Paris with the Olympic Flag in August.
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Leon Bennett
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Topline:
President Donald Trump’s longtime support for the Los Angeles Olympics could throw the city a lifeline at the same time that he’s seeking to disband the Federal Emergency Management Agency and place conditions on disaster aid to California.
Why it matters: Trump’s embrace of the Olympics stands in stark contrast to his criticism of state officials’ fire response and demands to send more water from the north to the south of the state in exchange for federal disaster aid. California leaders are hoping that his enthusiasm for the Olympics, which he took credit for bringing to Los Angeles during his visit to the Pacific Palisades on Friday, will entice him to make good on his promise to “get the problem fixed” and support Los Angeles officials in rebuilding the city.
What it means for disaster aid: Trump spokespeople didn’t respond to a request for comment on whether his pledges to support the Olympics means delivering on disaster relief or more narrow Olympic-related spending like public transit, where Los Angeles officials already have a $3.2 billion ask out to his administration. But state leaders say they know he’ll want the Games “to come off without a hitch.” Case in point: His remarks at a wildfire briefing in L.A. last week where he pledged to "come back as much as you need, and we’re going to turn it around."
The flip side of Trump’s Olympics: Although Gov. Gavin Newsom and city leaders paint a picture of a city rising from the ashes inspired by the Games, not everyone sees Trump’s boosterism for the Olympics as something that will benefit Angelenos affected by the fires. Some current and former City Council members have expressed concerns about the city being on the hook for cost overruns in the midst of fire recovery, or about Trump’s involvement driving increased homeless encampment sweeps and the presence of federal immigration officials during the Games.
A greener Games: Trump’s vision for the Games may also not align with what city leaders had in mind, including finding 2,500 electric buses to transport attendees, upgrading Metro stations, and building out bus lanes and bike-share hubs for a “transit-first” event.
For more, read the full story in POLITICO here.
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