In the race for Mayor of Los Angeles.... you can add a name familiar to the U-S-C community.... Rick Caruso has joined the fray.... Caruso is Chair of the Board of Trustees of U-S-C.... He’s also a wealthy shopping mall developer.... Nick Charles reports....
Rick Caruso, a sixty-three year old billionaire real-estate developer announced Saturday that he will be running for L.A. mayor as a democrat, after entertaining the possibility of a run since 2010. Caruso said in a Twitter statement, “I won’t be a typical democrat, that’s for sure. I will be a pro-centrist, pro-jobs, pro-public safety Democrat.”
Caruso is a familiar face in LA life. He owns The Grove and the Americana at Brand, and other shopping centers in and around LA. He has been involved in public life since the 19-80s, holding various board positions in different organizations, including head of the City’s Police Commission and having been on the board of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Rick Caruso graduated from USC’s School of Policy Planning and development in 1980.
He became the chair of the board of trustees of U-S-C in 2018.
Although his candidacy for Mayor has only just begun, a few U-S-C faculty have expressed concern about his ability to handle both roles as well as the possibility of a conflict of interest.
In the race for Mayor Caruso will face harsh opposition. Current leaders include the former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Representative Karen Bass and City Councilman and former State Senate leader Kevin de Leon and City Attorney Mike Feuer. The unhoused and crime are two main issues for LA’s voters Caruso who will likely self-fund much of his campaign could run more to the right than some other Democratic candidates. On the day he filed to run Caruso told reporters “I love Los Angeles, I love the diversity of Los Angeles, I’m eager to be a part of this.”
Primary voting day is June 7. Observers say the race will likely require a runoff in November.