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≡ L.A. CITY 2028 GAMES HEARING ≡
Responding to moans from civil rights and human rights organizations for funding to deal with what they are sure will increases in violations attendant to the 2028 Olympic Games, the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee promised to create a grant program to support human-rights prevention in and around the 2028 Games.
Multiple speakers at a snap, two-hour-plus Tuesday meeting of the L.A. City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games reviewed the LA28 human-rights strategy plan submitted in December. Created under the supervision of former U.S. Ambassador to Croatia and career foreign-service officer Juliette Noyes, the document was praised for its breadth, but panned for specific, funded support to deal with labor wage theft, human trafficking and homelessness.
Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson noted the Council’s expectation that “We want to be sure that all of the resources that are needed are in place, and the people that are needed are in place, the human capital that’s needed, is in place.”
In a later response, LA28 chief executive Reynold Hoover told the committee, “After the last time we were here, we heard loud and clear from both the community as well as all of you, and I would just like to say that I am pleased to announce our next step, which is an upcoming human rights program, in which we will dedicate funding in a grant program for community groups.”
This will be modeled after the LA28 Resilience Champions Fund, which issued its first grants in May to eight organizations for projects of $100,000 each. A total amount for the human rights program has not yet been determined. Hoover added:
“We heard the concern about funding associated with it. We are not the experts on human rights,” and noted a “task force effort among a number of different agencies” is a good approach.
Noyes explained the strategy document at length, pointing out that “major events like this can create unintended consequences for vulnerable communities, That’s why our strategy anticipates those challenges in the context of the ‘28 Games. We plan to address these issues in a framework of community engagement and accountability. …
“We will carry out due diligence, for example, by conducting background checks for key staff members. We will monitor worker protections in our supply chain, and we will train staff and volunteers to help defend human rights. We recognize that protecting human rights requires not just goodwill partnership in LA28-managed programs. It also required resources to bolster existing systems and processes to help fill gaps in human rights protections.”
She also spoke to fears concerning displacement due to the Games: “In terms of addressing the rights of unhoused communities, as required in our Games Agreement, our approach is built on proactive communication and coordination with the City. Based on lessons from previous Games, the largest disruptions to these communities typically stem from the construction of major new facilities. Because LA28 will not be building new permanent venues, we expect to avoid these major disruptions.”
Council member Hugo Soto-Martinez pointedly asked Hoover about what the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) will be doing during the Games, and in a tense exchange, Hoover explained:
“We work with our Federal partners, with our State partners, City and County, on law enforcement for the Games. I fully expect that the Federal government is going to be supportive of these Games and deliver the Games and respect human rights in the process.”
Soto-Martinez shot back and insisted that Hoover answer the question; the reply: “I don’t know what ICE is going to do, or not do in 2028, on the 14th of July, or before, when the Games come. I can tell you that the relationship that we have with the Federal government and this Administration, and members of Congress, has been incredible. …
“What ICE is going to do or not do, that’s not my answer. I can’t answer that question for you. That’s not my job. My job is to put on a Games in a safe, responsible and fiscally appropriate way, and that’s what I believe I’m going to do.”
Council member Imelda Padilla complained to Hoover about a failure of LA28 to come through for her on promises for an event in her district that had to be canceled.
No action was taken on the report, and the discussion was continued to the next meeting of the committee by Harris-Dawson.
After 85 minutes on human rights, the discussion turned to the draft agreement between the City of Los Angeles and LA28 on the Enhanced City Resources Master Agreement, a blueprint for how LA28 will buy services from the City – related to the Games – specified by follow-on agreements for each of the Olympic and Paralympic venues for which the City will provide services “above and beyond” “normal and customary” services for those sites.
Los Angeles City Administrative Office Matt Szabo explained, “this is the document that says, for the services that are required [by LA28], this is how much and how the City will be paid, based on the services.”
Council member Monica Rodriguez was not comfortable with this form of agreement, especially what happens to the City if LA28 has a shortfall, or even if it has a surplus, if that is insufficient to cover all of the City service costs related to the Games, noting “I have a lot of concerns as to the lack of cost containment, especially with the other venues and the other cities.”
Rodriguez wants a closed session of the Council on this issue, which Harris-Dawson agreed to, subject to the approval of the City Attorney. The committee, at the end of the hearing, moved consideration of the agreement to the full Council, but with no recommendation for approval.
That’s the next step.
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