Appearing on “Inside the Issues“ with Amrit Singh on Spectrum News 1, Zev Yaroslavsky reflected on the legacy of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics as the city prepares to host the 2028 Summer Olympics. Scheduled for July 2028, the Games will mark the third time Los Angeles has hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Yaroslavsky, who served on the Los Angeles City Council during the 1984 Games, emphasized the importance of fiscal safeguards that guided the city’s approach at the time. “We did not want taxpayers on the hook for the 1984 Olympics, so we proposed a charter amendment to prevent the city from using general fund dollars to operate the Games,” he said. “Ultimately, voters approved that amendment in 1978.”
Looking ahead to 2028, he expressed cautious optimism about the Games’ financial outlook. “There is no reason why the LA28 Olympics shouldn’t break even or make a profit,” he said, noting that in 1984, organizers were forced to “maximize revenue and minimize expenses” because the city was not financially backing the event.
However, Yaroslavsky also raised concerns about the stalled negotiations between the city and LA28 organizers, particularly the absence of similar taxpayer protections. Host Amrit Singh underscored the potential risks, noting that if costs exceed projections, “the city and the state are on the hook.”
Yaroslavsky, director of the Los Angeles Initiative at UCLA Luskin, called for greater transparency and stronger agreements as preparations continue, urging stakeholders to reach a clear and accountable path forward.