City making significant progress in Sepulveda Basin cleanup efforts, mayor says

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- City crews continued clearing trash, debris and invasive vegetation from the Sepulveda Basin on Wednesday as Los Angeles officials highlighted ongoing efforts to improve safety and prevent fires in the area.

The work is part of a large-scale cleanup that city leaders say has already made the basin safer, with more progress planned as the region prepares for the 2028 Olympic Games.

Crews earlier Wednesday were removing illegally dumped items and addressing areas previously occupied by encampments.

Officials said the city has invested significant money and staff time into the basin project. City leaders said $200 million has been set aside to expand the work.

One challenge, leaders noted, will be keeping encampments and illegal dumping from returning. Mayor Karen Bass said long-term success will require continued attention and public involvement.

"We understand you can't just do this one time, but what I do hope now, especially that the area is safer, [is] that we can have a lot of community involvement in maintaining it as well," Bass said. "A comprehensive approach means everybody involved. All hands on deck."

Los Angeles Fire Chief Jamie Moore said the department has already seen fewer fire calls in the basin since cleanup efforts began.

"We finally got it to a point now where it needs to be maintained, and that's going to be through enforcement, but it's also going to be through community activities," Moore said. "So when you see something, say something, you have to report it so that we can address it. And when we are able to stay on top of it, it's just like anything else. You maintain it and the problem will continue to stay away."

The cleanup and maintenance efforts are expected to continue.