Mayor Karen Bass Celebrates Community and Coalition at Latinos Con Bass Event

Los Angeles, CA - Mayor Karen Bass Speaks at Latinos Con Bass Event on September 20, 2026

Photo Credit: Omar Cook/The Cook Connection

Los Angeles is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and its future will continue to depend on communities finding ways to work together across neighborhoods, cultures, and backgrounds. That spirit of coalition building was on display when I attended the Latinos con Bass community carne asada and volunteer appreciation event on Sunday, September 20.

The gathering brought Mayor Karen Bass together with Latino community members, campaign volunteers, organizers, and local leaders for an afternoon centered on community, conversation, and the upcoming election. There was great food, a DJ, and plenty of energy throughout the event, but what stood out most to me was the sense of connection among the people who came together.

Los Angeles City Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martínez and Monica Rodriguez addressed the crowd and expressed their support for Mayor Bass. They encouraged attendees to volunteer and become involved with the campaign, while making the case for why they believe Bass should continue serving as mayor. Their remarks reflected the explicitly political nature of the gathering: this was both a community celebration and an organized campaign event.

When Mayor Bass addressed the crowd, she spoke about her history in Los Angeles, her efforts to build coalitions between Black and Latino communities, and her commitment to serving residents across the city.

That history stretches back decades. In 1990, Bass founded Community Coalition in South Los Angeles during a period when the crack cocaine epidemic, violent crime, poverty, and strained relations between communities were major challenges. Community Coalition describes itself as having been founded as an African American and Latino organization focused on organizing residents and addressing the root causes of crime, addiction, and poverty. Bass's work there included intentionally bringing Black and Latino residents together around common community concerns.

Community Members Gather to Show Support For Mayor Karen Bass at Latinos Con Bass Event

Photo Credit: Omar Cook/The Cook Connection

That background gave additional context to seeing her speak before a largely Latino gathering decades later. Los Angeles has changed tremendously since the early 1990s, but the importance of building relationships between the city's communities remains.

Homelessness was also part of the conversation. Bass discussed her administration's efforts to move unhoused Angelenos indoors and spoke about housing development underway in the city. Homelessness remains a significant challenge, and the city's approach continues to face scrutiny over outcomes and spending. In August, Bass's office announced that the Inside Safe initiative had completed its 140th operation and said the program had brought more than 6,000 unhoused Angelenos indoors since its launch. Earlier this year, the city also broke ground on an East Hollywood tiny-home project expected to provide more than 50 interim housing units.

Immigration enforcement was another issue connected to the broader political environment surrounding the event. Bass has publicly opposed federal immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles, an issue that has become especially consequential for immigrant communities across the city. For many Latino families, debates surrounding immigration enforcement are not distant political conversations; they can directly affect families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and the sense of security within a community.

For me, one of the most meaningful parts of the afternoon was simply spending time with members of Los Angeles' Latino community. I enjoyed the food, music, conversations, and opportunity to show my support for Mayor Bass. Whatever someone's political views may be, there is value in residents participating in the civic process, meeting their elected officials, asking questions, volunteering for causes and campaigns they believe in, and developing relationships across communities.

Omar Cook Attends Latino Con Bass Event in Support of Mayor Karen Bass

Bass also remained at the event after her remarks and spent time engaging directly with supporters. That interaction contributed to the community atmosphere of the afternoon rather than making the gathering feel like a speech followed immediately by an exit.

My experience at Latinos con Bass also reinforced something larger about Los Angeles. This city cannot reach its potential through communities operating entirely within their own circles. Black, Latino, Asian, white, immigrant, working-class, business, faith, and other communities frequently share concerns about housing, public safety, economic opportunity, education, immigration, and the future their children will inherit.

Political coalitions will always contain disagreements, and no elected official should be beyond public scrutiny. But creating spaces where residents can gather, engage with leaders, and participate in the political process is an important part of civic life.

I left Latinos con Bass grateful for the opportunity to experience that engagement firsthand. The carne asada, music, and positive atmosphere made the afternoon enjoyable, but the relationships and conversations represented something more significant.

Los Angeles is strongest when its communities are engaged, connected, and willing to work across differences toward a city where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.