LA mayoral candidate Rick Caruso has vowed to set up his own office at City Hall with the sole purpose of protecting Hollywood if he is elected and bringing music to the ears of the stars who supported him.
Caruso, a billionaire and former Republican real estate magnate, made the pledge in an interview with The Ankler this week.
He’s running against Democrat Karen Bass in November’s election to fight crime, homelessness and end a steady stream of “career politicians” who he says have ruined the city.
Part of his plan is, if elected, to set up an office in his office dedicated to protecting Hollywood.
“I will have a separate office in the mayor’s office that will only focus on the entertainment industry.
“We have to have the cost of doing business for the entertainment industry, frankly, all companies, but the entertainment industry has to be lower in the city of Los Angeles,” he said.
Rick Caruso with Gwyneth Paltrow, one of the many stars who have supported him in his campaign to be LA’s next mayor
“I will work very closely with Hollywood because this city is Hollywood.
“And instead of shipping out of this city the biggest industry we have in this city, I want to bring it back to this city.”
Caruso, 63, also insisted he was pro-choice despite suggestions to the contrary from Democrats like Hillary Clinton and Planned Parenthood.
He said his faith as a Catholic was “armed” against him.
“I will work very closely with Hollywood because this city is Hollywood
The abortion controversy dates back to a 2007 Los Angeles Magazine profile in which the reporter said he was “anti-abortion in most cases.”
Speaking to The Ankler this week, Caruso said it reflected his views at the time, but not now, that he had “developed” and was “always pro-choice.”
“My comments might have been about how I felt at the time. Has my feeling about abortions evolved? Of course it has evolved to abortions. And we want to have leaders who continue to develop.
“But I’ve never been against women’s suffrage. And that was used against me and it’s an untruth and I’m glad you gave me the opportunity to clean that up.
“What has so disappointed me is that my religion, which is Catholic, just like our President and just like Nancy Pelosi is Catholic, has been armed against me for sheer politics. That’s what you call insider Washington policy being used against me. i am catholic i love my faith But I also have free will. And I make decisions based on what I think is best.
Caruso is up against career politician Karen Bass. She has the support of the White House and Hillary Clinton
Caruso runs on a platform to fight crime and clean up the city where homelessness is on the rise
“I’ve always been a pro choice. I’ve never been against a woman’s right to vote. And I remain pro choice. I also live with a very strong and intelligent wife who is 37 years old and a very strong and intelligent daughter who is 22 years old.
“I would never again try to tell them what to do with their bodies or how to make decisions about their lives because I respect a woman’s right to make choices.”
Caruso said companies should be rewarded for putting their money into the city but instead face homelessness — like Netflix, where dozens of homeless people sleep outside.
“The only loyalty I have here is that I’m not pursuing a career in politics. I want to clean up the city I love and I want to get back to private life.”
‘Look at [Netflix CEO] Ted Sarandos. Here’s a guy who said, “I’m going to make a commitment and actually have my headquarters in Hollywood,” and made a big, incredibly wonderful commitment to the city. And what did the city do?
“The city has allowed camps around headquarters.”
Caruso said the homeless camp deterred Netflix employees from returning to the office.
“People come to work and I’ve spoken to the executives there who come to work with human waste on their shoes because there is so much human waste on the sidewalk because we have allowed people to live in the most inhumane situation .
“It is unbelievable what all of our elected officials have allowed. We let people live and die in their own garbage on the streets. And then let’s do it in front of one of Hollywood’s big companies.’
Caruso was a Republican for years before registering as a Democrat ahead of the mayoral race earlier this year.
Caruso with his wife Tina and daughter Gigi in 2018. He said of his stance on abortion, “I’ve always been pro-choice. I’ve never been against a woman’s right to vote. And I remain pro choice. I also live with a very strong and intelligent wife who is 37 years old and a very strong and intelligent daughter who is 22 years old.’
He insisted in his interview – and has maintained throughout his campaign – that party affiliation is irrelevant.
“None of these issues are Republican or Democratic issues. None of them are. These are human problems. These are issues that affect all of our lives every day.
“When crime is rising, when you have homicides that are at a 15-year high and it’s only getting worse, when you have hate crimes that are up 160 per cent, when you now have 44,000 homeless and people on the streets die are matters of life and death that transcend any type of party.
“And from that point of view, I don’t see it as partisan politics. We just have serious problems,’ he said.
He added that Hollywood heavyweights, including mega-agent Bryan Lourd, Disney’s Dana Walden and Netflix’s Sarandos, are “upset” by the state of the city.
“People are tired. You are upset. You feel unheard. Many are afraid and worried about the future of this city. And people are looking for someone to come in and be able to solve the problems. And they believe, and I’m sure you asked them, they believe very, very strongly that I can solve the problems.
“And I believe very, very strongly that I can solve the problems.”
Caruso claims he will retire from politics once the race for LA mayor is over.
“The only loyalty I have here is that I’m not pursuing a career in politics. I want to clean up the city I love and I want to get back to private life.”
While Caruso is backed by the stars, his opponent – a longtime politician – is backed by Democrats like Hillary Clinton.
Clinton threw her weight behind Bass this week because she said she would protect abortion rights in LA — even though they are enshrined in law by the state of California.
Bass was also endorsed by President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden and Harris released a joint statement earlier this month endorsing Bass.
They said, “Karen Bass has our friendship, and she has earned our respect through her leadership in Congress on crime prevention strategies, effective and fair policing, and the well-being of children and families.”