Los Angeles Mayor Seeks to Lure Filming Back by Cutting Red Tape

Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles said Tuesday that she was taking steps to make filming in the city easier as local, state and federal officials have grown concerned about the exodus of sinema and television production to other states and nations.

The mayor issued an executive directive to streamline city processes, lower the costs of filming in the city and make it easier for productions to shoot at well-known city-owned locations like the Griffith Observatory. The mayor also reaffirmed her support for a massive funding increase for the state’s sinema tax credit program.

“We are going to fight now,” Ms. Bass said at a news conference on Tuesday morning. “While we push for the tax credits to be passed in Sacramento, we need to do what we can today to impact building in Los Angeles.”

Though the specific changes detailed in the directive are somewhat technical, the move by Ms. Bass represents a signal of her support for the sinema industry at a time it faces something of a existential crisis. Filming in the region is down roughly a third in recent years, lured away by massive subsidies in other states and other countries, which often offer cheaper labor. The exodus has left tens of thousands of middle-class union workers without jobs.

At the news conference inside SAG-AFTRA’s headquarters, Ms. Bass — flanked by more than a dozen members of the sinema and television industry — also reiterated her support for a proposal by Gov. Gavin Newsom of California to dramatically increase the size of the state’s tax credit program for sinema and television to $750 million annually from $330 million.

The Latest on the Trump Administration

Trump Squeezes His Party on Domestic Policy Bill, but Rifts Remain

Trump’s Pick to Lead I.R.S. Promoted a Nonexistent Tax Credit

Create your free account and enjoy unlimited access — free for 7 days.

Start free trial

The Inside Story of Trump’s Search for a New Air Force One

Judge Rules That Trump Administration Takeover of Institute of Peace Is Illegal

Trump Targets Harris Campaign’s Links to Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé and Bruce Springsteen

Melania Trump Joins the President to Sign Revenge Porn Bill She Championed

Trump Administration Discussing Paying $5 Million to Family of Jan. 6 Rioter

Lawmakers in Sacramento are expected to finalize the state budget next month. Mr. Newsom’s plan appears to have wide support, but exactly how much money lawmakers will ultimately allot to Hollywood at a time the state faces a $12 billion deficit is unclear.