Billionaire developer Rick Caruso has strongly criticised Mayor Karen Bass’ leadership during the Pallisard fire and has not ruled out her from challenging her in next year’s election.
Meanwhile, Bass’ Allies aims to Caruso, portraying him as one of several wealthy right-wingers who weaponized the January 7th flame and spread misinformation about the mayor.
But on Thursday, all of that drama was suspended. The former political enemy – the bass that blundered Caruso violently in 2022 – appeared together on the sun-drenched corner of Pallisard to promote plans to rebuild a local city-owned recreation center.
Personal donations from Caruso’s charity will help LA pay for the roughly $30 million redesign of the Palisades Recreation Center in Alma Real Drive, which was damaged in the fire. The vast centre was a popular neighbourhood gathering, with tennis courts, basketball courts and playgrounds.
In an individual interview at the event, reporters asked Bus and Caruso about their relationship. Caruso said he believed it was the first time they’ve appeared in public together as they were opposed to the 2022 election.
Bass shed light on Caruso’s questions about her past criticism of her, saying, “The goal is to restore and heal this community.”
“It’s appropriate for us to come together in a public-private partnership. That’s the best way to get things done,” Bass said. “The government cannot do it all on its own.”
Another major donor for the recreation center rebuilding is LA Strong Sports. This is a group started by Lakers coach JJ Reddick, a Palisade resident who coached the youth basketball team at the center. Reddick, who also appeared at the event Thursday, said the rebuilt recreation center would become “the cornerstone of this community.”
Still, given its rocky history, the exterior of the joint base Caruso attracted the most attention.
In X, user @ThereAlvalververde writes:
Caruso spent more than $100 million on mayoral bids, but lost to the bass nearly 10 points. At Palisade, he received more votes than the bass.
Since then, he has not ruled out another political run, including the governor.
After the fire broke out, he appeared at Fox 11 and called the lack of water coming out of the fire hydrant “an absolute mismanagement by the city.” He also pointed out the absence of the bus. The mayor was in Ghana on a diplomatic trip.
Since then, Caruso has been using social media to steer the bass, calling for an independent investigation into the fire. Last month he accused him of using the word “nuisance” to describe the destroyed home.
Bass’ Allies claims she is under attack from “wealthy oligarchs” such as Trump supporters Caruso and Nicole Shanahan, who support the bankroll of a campaign that reminds her. (Caruso opposes recall efforts.)
At the event Thursday, Caruso said he was friends with Bass and that he has known each other for 30 years. He said he visited Bass at City Hall about six months after the 2022 election.
Given the recent attacks on Bass’ leadership, Caruso has been asked what he thinks about her work so far.
“I think she’s trying. I want to see and I know that residents want to happen more,” he said.
More widely, he said the city needs to pressure the owners of commercial buildings to clean up any remaining fire fragments on their property.
For her, Bass said the city is at pace, one of California’s fastest fire recovery to date. “We’re months and months away,” she said, compared to Woolsey and camp fires.
More than a dozen Palisade residents, including Jessica Rogers, president of Pacific Palisades resident Asun, attended the event Thursday. Rogers approached Caruso and was grateful to have appeared next to Bass, urging him to continue his relationship with the city.
“It’s very important for our community to see you work together as a team alongside the mayor,” she said.
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