Rick Caruso Enters the Race for LA Mayor

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

Developer Rick Caruso—known for creating the Grove, the Americana at Brand and Palisades Village in Pacific Palisades—announced his candidacy for mayor of Los Angeles on Friday, February 11.

His appointment at the City Clerk’s office on Friday afternoon came after months of speculation that he would run for mayor.

“I have formally begun the process of running for mayor of Los Angeles. I did this because I love LA,” Caruso shared to Twitter on Saturday, February 12. “As the grandson of immigrants from Boyle Heights, I believe in the LA dream. We cannot tolerate homelessness, crime and corruption that the politicians have created for us. We can end homelessness. We can stop crime. We can end corruption.

“We can fix LA. The politicians can’t.”

The race already includes a number of high-profile Democrats hoping to succeed outgoing Mayor Eric Garcetti, including United States Representative Karen Bass, City Councilmen Joe Buscaino and Kevin de León, and City Attorney Mike Feuer.

Caruso developed not only the Americana at Brand in Glendale, the Grove, and Palisades Village, but The Commons at Calabasas, Waterside at Marina del Rey, and the Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito.

He has served as the president of the civilian police commission after being appointed to the commission by Mayor James Hahn in August 2001, as well as the Board of Water and Power Commissioners after being appointed by Mayor Tom Bradley in 1985.

According to the LA Times, Caruso revealed some details on how he would plan to govern the city.

He said he wants to increase the number of Los Angeles Police Department officers, and—to avoid conflicts of interest—he would put his company, Caruso, in a blind trust, meaning he wouldn’t have a say in its operations or investments.

Caruso also told the LA Times that the firm would not do any new projects in the city of LA while he served as mayor.

Feuer—who announced his candidacy early last year—released a statement in response to Caruso’s mayoral run.

“As Mayor, I will continue to reflect LA’s values when it comes to standing up for our most vulnerable communities, protecting women’s rights and building an LA that works for us all,” he said. “By any measure, Mr. Caruso does not reflect LA’s values and fails on all counts.”

As for the other candidates up against Caruso, De León announced his candidacy in September last year and filed his paperwork on February 11. He is promising 25,000 new housing units by 2025, more rental assistance and more.

Buscaino submitted his filing to run for mayor on Tuesday, February 8.

“I have a plan to clean Los Angeles and end street camping once and for all,” Buscaino said in a succeeding statement. “Belief in my plan is why I just officially gave up my third term as councilmember to run for mayor … Because my plan to end street camping was not supported by the LA City Council, I’m putting it on the ballot to allow you, the voter, to decide if you agree.”

Bass submitted her paperwork on Wednesday, February 9.

“We cannot criminalize people into housing. It will not work,” Bass said in a statement. “We must take a comprehensive approach that unifies every level of government. We need someone who can lead. That’s what I’m ready to do as the next mayor of Los Angeles.”

The primary for the 2022 election is slated to take place on June 7, with the final two contenders of each race meeting in the general election on November 8.

City News Service contributed to this report.