Los Angeles leaders are committing billions to ensure the 2028 Olympics highlight advancements in climate and environmental policies, according to Alex Nieves.
Transit and community organizations are questioning whether this investment will form a lasting Olympic legacy for the region or be a fleeting initiative.
This concern about the sustainability of efforts was a focal point at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator’s Road to 2028 summit, held on Tuesday and Wednesday. The event aimed to use the Olympic Games as a catalyst for advancing clean energy and transportation in California’s most populous area.
The conference exuded optimism as Los Angeles County, along with numerous cities, works diligently to acquire hundreds of buses, plant trees, and clean waterways in preparation for the influx of millions of visitors expected for the Games in two years. Yet, some participants are already pondering the aftermath of the two-week event.
“Looking to the future, if the games depart and we haven’t improved communities, then we have all lost,” stated Cynthia Mitchell-Heard, CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League, during a panel discussion. The panel included grant recipients from the LA Olympics organizing committee, who have funded environmental projects. The Urban League received $100,000 to establish a workforce development program for individuals impacted by the Altadena fire last year.
Catherine Baltazar, associate director of advocacy and organizing at Climate Resolve, emphasized that simply injecting money into infrastructure projects won’t ensure long-term progress in historically under-resourced communities that have been disproportionately affected by climate change.
“Investment should not cease when the Games conclude,” Baltazar remarked. “These communities will persist long after the Games, and for me, that’s the legacy we should aim for.”
The emphasis on future sustainability partly stems from a successful trial during this summer’s World Cup. The region hosted eight matches at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood without major issues, experiencing a notable increase in public transit usage.
The Olympics, significantly larger than the World Cup, present unique challenges. However, the region benefits from having enough existing venues to accommodate all events. Current preparations focus on acquiring around 1,700 buses, including 500 electric school buses, to transport spectators to transit-only venues.
Transit advocates caution that these investments, alongside recent expansions to Los Angeles’ light-rail system, do not address existing budget deficits that could lead to service reductions. Bus and rail operators have raised similar alarms in the Bay Area.
In the past two years, Los Angeles’ legislative delegation has failed to secure increased state budget support for systems like LA Metro, which faces a $2.3 billion deficit through 2030. Metrolink, a commuter rail serving six Southern California counties, has indefinitely reduced weekday service by 20 percent due to a $30 million deficit.
Matt Petersen, CEO of the Cleantech Incubator, told POLITICO that the budget challenges have worsened under a Trump administration that was unfriendly to clean transportation.
“Local and state governments are struggling to allocate resources effectively,” Petersen mentioned. “The bottom line is: Without federal support, it’s extremely challenging.”
Despite these hurdles, Petersen remains confident that Los Angeles is on track to be ready for the Games and to deliver lasting benefits to the community.
“That’s our mission here,” he said. “Ten years after the Games, what will we have achieved because of this opportunity?”
