The Race for L.A. Mayor

A look into the candidates for mayor and their most important policies.

Julia Melville ‘25|Last updated October 28, 2022

Earlier this year, in June, the primary election for Los Angeles County was held. The results for mayor were quite surprising after June 7th, the election day. For the position of mayor, there was an unexpected outcome of who the winner was…no one. It was a tie between Representative Karen Bass and Rick Caruso. Since neither candidate won with 50% or more of the vote, there will be an upcoming election on November 8th, the same day as midterms. Karen Bass had 43.1% of the vote and Rick Caruso has 36%. Throughout these past months, the projection has been fluctuating of what percentage of the vote each candidate has. So instead of trying to persuade you to vote a certain way, I will present you with the facts and therefore you will be able to make an informed decision on who you believe is the best candidate for the Mayor of Los Angeles. 

Both candidates are pro-choice and support a women’s right to choose and reproductive health. 

No matter who you choose to vote for, it is important to vote. By voting, you are supporting your own opinion and living out the democracy that this country reflects.

Caruso

[caption id="attachment_2305" align="aligncenter" width="475"] Rick Caruso (Courtesy of the Caruso for Mayor Campaign)[/caption]

Rick Caruso is a real estate developer, who has now decided to run to be the next Mayor of Los Angeles. Rick Joseph Caruso graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science degree. Three years later in 1983, he received a Juris Doctor degree from the Pepperdine University School of Law. In 1987, Rick Caruso developed his real estate business, Caruso Affiliated. He has since developed many shopping complexes, some of which include The Grove at Farmers Market, The Americana at Brand, and The Commons at Calabasas. Rick Caruso is running in the mayoral race as a democrat, although he was formerly a republican. 

HOMELESSNESS:

He wants to take old office buildings and renovate them into “livable units for the homeless” (CBS Los Angeles – Meet the Candidates: Rick Caruso). Rick Caruso plans to build 30,000 shelter beds and hire 500 case and sanitation workers to help clean the streets of L.A. He would like to build housing for the homeless while they are getting the help and aid they need to become stable. Caruso would like to remove encampments if they refuse the help that they are offered for the third time. He would have them arrested and place them in facilities that they need to help them with their addictions or mental health problems. 

CRIME AND SAFETY:

Rick Caruso plans to work with the police commissioner. He believes that clearing encampments will help with safety in neighborhoods. Caruso wants to add 1,500 officers to patrol neighborhoods. 

EVICTION:

He wants to change the process by requiring recipients to show proof that they need the aid. After changing that law, he would then extend the eviction moratorium. 

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS:

Caruso states that these regulations may increase cost, but they are worth the price in terms of the effect on the environment. He wants to update many planning and building codes because those older rules make it more expensive, according to his opinion. 

Karen Bass

[caption id="attachment_2306" align="alignnone" width="475"] Karen Bass (Courtesy of the Karen Bass for Mayor Campaign)[/caption]

Representative Karen Bass is a politician who has been a House Representative for 12 years. Karen Ruth Bass graduated from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program. She later received her Bachelor of Science degree in health science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 1990. In 2015, she got her masters in social work from the University of Southern California. Karen Bass started her career working as a physician’s assistant and was slowly led to social work. She helped the founding Community Coalition, an organization that aids those with addictions, poverty, violence, and crime. Representative Karen Bass is running as a democrat in the mayoral race for Los Angeles. 

HOMELESSNESS:

She wants to get 15,000 people into housing by the first year. Rep. Bass would like to address those who are unhoused and the problem that creates the homelessness problem. She would like to help move people to permanent housing but she does not plan to do this slowly and thoughtfully.  Bass believes that arresting homeless people is criminalizing the public and she stands against forcing homeless people out of encampments. 

CRIME AND SAFETY:

She plans to increase the number of LAPD officers that are active in the streets. Rep. Bass would like to create a safer bond between the police department and the community by having programs set in place based off of the community. She wants to invest in strategies to prevent crime in many neighborhoods. 

EVICTION:

She wants to aid small businesses and families to prevent more homelessness. She plans on doing this by extending the eviction moratorium and helping landlords as well. 

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS:

She wants to make building a faster process by cutting out the unnecessary rules. She believes that more housing can be built by removing the extreme environmental regulations.