California legislators are wrestling with mounting financial and logistical challenges as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approach, with state officials warning that budget constraints could undermine preparations for what organizers describe as the most complex Games in Olympic history.
At a California Senate Special Committee hearing, lawmakers and Olympic organizers outlined a daunting array of challenges facing the $7.1 billion event, from coordinating to ensuring benefits reach working-class communities amid the state's ongoing fiscal crisis.
"We are in a significant crisis when we're talking about the state of California's economic outlook," said Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, highlighting the tension between Olympic preparations and budget realities. "Our obligation is to the most vulnerable in this state, as well as the safety and security of the individuals that are either tourists, players and the districts that we represent."
The hearing, led by Sen. Ben Allen and Vice Chair Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, marked a critical juncture as organizers face the enormous scale of coordinating the largest Olympics ever. LA28 Organizing Committee CEO Reynold Hoover warned that preparations involve far more than initially anticipated.
"The list of things to do is much longer than 10,000," Hoover told lawmakers. "This will be the largest Olympics ever, and the first time we've had Paralympics in Los Angeles."
Budget Pressures Mount
The financial challenges are particularly acute given California's current economic climate. LA County CEO Fesia Davenport warned that without adequate funding for planning, the state risks "constraining our ability to pull off an effective Olympics event."
"If we do not have a funding source to start the planning today, we place ourselves at risk," Davenport said, noting that the county faces demands equivalent to supporting multiple Super Bowl events daily for a month.
The organizing committee operates as a nonprofit with no direct government funding, relying entirely on sponsorships, broadcast rights, and ticket sales. However, state and local agencies must still prepare for massive service demands, from law enforcement to emergency management.
Equity Concerns Take Center Stage
Several lawmakers emphasized preventing what Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas called "the tale of two games" — ensuring Olympic benefits don't bypass working-class communities.
"This is going to be a beautiful story of one united Los Angeles where we can grow our economies together," said Smallwood-Cuevas, whose district includes venues like the Memorial Coliseum and Exposition Park.
The senator pressed organizers about concrete hiring benchmarks and preparation for underserved residents, including formerly incarcerated workers. "What are the things that we will need to have in place, and especially if some of these a year out, it may put strain on resources?"
Sen. Durazo emphasized the importance of centering working people in Olympic planning. "We have examples of our past of project labor agreements and community workforce agreements, and the kinds of things that we know are very specific to the well being of not just Angelenos, but those who will come into work."
Transportation Coordination
Perhaps the most visible challenge will be managing regional transportation, with plans for a "games route network" spanning over 350 miles of express lanes that will "dramatically impact everyone in Los Angeles," according to organizers.
The Games Mobility Executives are coordinating between Metro, Caltrans, and other agencies to manage what Hoover described as unprecedented logistical complexity.
Legislative Oversight Intensifies
Committee Chair Allen emphasized the need for sustained legislative oversight as preparations accelerate. "The time to begin serious legislative oversight and collaboration is now," Allen said.
The committee plans additional hearings focusing on specific challenges, including transportation coordination and venue planning across the Los Angeles region.
Despite the challenges, organizers remain optimistic about the Games' potential economic impact, projecting $18 billion in economic benefits and 90,000 full-time equivalent jobs. The "no build" approach using existing iconic venues offers financial advantages compared to other Olympic host cities.
The 2028 Games will mark the third time Los Angeles has hosted the Olympics, following successful events in 1932 and 1984 that generated budget surpluses through careful cost control and use of existing facilities.
