Rick Caruso Says California's Far-Left Era Is Over After LA Fire Catastrophe

The billionaire developer who nearly became LA's mayor reveals how devastating fires exposed decades of progressive policy failures and why he thinks voters are ready for a dramatic political shift.

Key Takeaways

• Rick Caruso believes the catastrophic LA fires that burned 20,000 acres represent a turning point against far-left California politics
• The developer traces California's decline to systematic election of unqualified or ideologically-driven leaders over competent pragmatists
• Los Angeles ran out of water during firefighting efforts due to an empty reservoir that supplies fire hydrants
• Caruso spent over $100 million in his 2022 mayoral race but lost to Karen Bass despite private support from many celebrities
• He advocates for mass deportation of criminals while creating citizenship pathways for hardworking undocumented immigrants
• The LA school system spends nearly the most per student nationally while ranking around 50th in educational outcomes
• Caruso plans to continue rebuilding efforts through his nonprofit Steadfast LA and hasn't ruled out future gubernatorial runs
• He believes both parties need new leadership, calling for retirement of longtime figures like Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell
• California voters are experiencing "suicidal empathy" - being so compassionate they tolerate deadly policy failures on homelessness and crime

The Fires That Changed Everything

The devastating January 2025 Los Angeles fires burned an area two and a half times the size of Manhattan, creating what Rick Caruso calls a political awakening for California voters. The billionaire real estate developer, who lost the 2022 mayoral race to Karen Bass, argues these fires represent a turning point where voters finally rejected far-left governance after witnessing its catastrophic consequences firsthand.

• The fire department ran out of water at 10:30 PM on the crucial Tuesday night because the reservoir supplying fire hydrants sat empty, forcing firefighters to abandon home protection efforts mid-battle
• Mayor Karen Bass had cut fire department funding even further in 2024 despite the chief publicly warning this would impact public safety capabilities
• Forty years of unmanaged brush buildup created the fuel load, with city officials consistently making excuses about why hillside clearing couldn't happen despite repeated warnings
• The fire department operates with outdated, mothballed equipment sitting in yards because the city lacks mechanics to repair and maintain critical firefighting apparatus
• Los Angeles population has more than doubled since 1965 while maintaining roughly the same number of firefighters and actually operating fewer fire stations than decades ago
• Caruso received calls from voters saying "I can't believe I voted for Karen Bass" and "I woke up the day after the fires and now I'm a Republican" - reflecting widespread buyer's remorse

The fires exposed what Caruso describes as systematic incompetence across multiple city departments. "What's predictable is preventable," he emphasized, arguing that proper brush management, adequate fire department funding, and basic infrastructure maintenance could have dramatically reduced the devastation.

California's Systematic Decline and "Luxury Beliefs"

Caruso attributes California's transformation from paradise to dysfunction to voters systematically electing leaders who lacked practical experience or prioritized ideology over competency. He identifies this pattern as creating a dangerous disconnect between policy consequences and the people advocating for those policies.

• Crime rates have spiked 26% over the past decade while homelessness in the Bay Area increased 46%, demonstrating the failure of progressive approaches to address basic quality of life issues
• The concept of "luxury beliefs" - where affluent people advocate for policies like "abolish the police" while living in neighborhoods with private security - has dominated California politics
• Los Angeles spends billions on homelessness programs that have produced no measurable results, with over 40,000 homeless in the city and 70,000-80,000 countywide despite massive spending
• The Triple H bond measure promised 10,000 homeless housing units over 10 years but delivered barely 1,000 at an average cost of $800,000 per unit
• Progressive leaders refuse to course-correct failed policies, instead doubling down on approaches that demonstrably don't work while demanding more funding
• "Suicidal empathy" drives policies like providing expensive tents and needles to enable street drug use while telling voters this represents compassionate governance

During his time as police commissioner over 20 years ago, Caruso helped reduce Los Angeles crime to levels not seen since 1950 by making politically difficult decisions like firing a popular police chief and bringing in proven leadership. He argues similar courage and practical experience could quickly reverse California's decline if voters prioritize competency over ideology.

Education Crisis and DEI Spending Failures

The Los Angeles Unified School District exemplifies California's misplaced priorities, spending nearly the most per student of any state while ranking around 50th in educational outcomes. Caruso points to this massive resource misallocation as evidence that throwing money at problems without accountability produces worse results for the communities most in need of quality education.

• LA Unified approved a $120 million "Black Student Achievement Plan" intended to narrow achievement gaps, yet 75% of black boys in LA still fail to meet basic reading standards
• Only 56% of graduating seniors are deemed prepared for college or postsecondary careers despite massive spending on equity initiatives and social programs
• California passed legislation preventing schools from notifying parents if students identify as LGBTQ, allowing children to transition socially at school without parental knowledge
• Caruso and his wife support Catholic schools in impoverished communities that achieve 100% graduation rates and 100% college enrollment with a fraction of public school budgets
• A Catholic high school in Watts, three blocks from a public school, maintains 100% graduation and college placement rates while the nearby public school achieves only 25%
• The district needs to be broken up into smaller, community-focused units that can be held accountable for results rather than continuing failed bureaucratic approaches

"There's nothing more important than educating our youth," Caruso stated, advocating for school choice as a parental rights issue that transcends partisan politics. He believes competition would force public schools to improve their performance and use taxpayer money more effectively.

Immigration: Balancing Compassion and Security

Caruso's approach to immigration reflects his family's Ellis Island heritage while acknowledging the real security and economic challenges facing California. His position separates hardworking contributors from criminal elements, arguing for both pathway to citizenship and aggressive deportation depending on individual circumstances.

• California's $50 billion agriculture industry depends heavily on undocumented workers, with reports of 75% absenteeism in agricultural hubs due to deportation fears
• Gangs from El Salvador and Chile operate daily in Los Angeles, committing murders, drug dealing, and home invasions that terrorize residents
• A friend was recently killed by a Chilean gang member who shot him during a robbery attempt, illustrating the real violence affecting communities
• Caruso opposes Trump's proposed mass deportation of 10+ million people while supporting aggressive removal of criminals with documented backgrounds
• His grandparents arrived through Ellis Island as teenagers with nothing and built successful lives, providing the template for how immigration should work in modern America
• The current climate creates fear among productive, tax-paying undocumented families who have American-born children and deep community ties

"When I think of them I think of my grandparents," Caruso explained about hardworking undocumented immigrants. He advocates for clear messaging that distinguishes between supporting productive residents and removing criminal elements, arguing this approach serves both humanitarian and security interests.

Political Evolution and Party Switching

Caruso's frequent party changes reflect his consistent positions rather than political opportunism, as he describes himself as "fiscally very conservative and socially very liberal" - a combination that doesn't fit neatly into either major party. His experience reveals how California's political system punishes independent thinking and rewards partisan loyalty.

• Switched from Republican to independent in 2011, back to Republican in 2016 to vote for John Kasich, then independent again in 2019, finally Democrat in 2022 for his mayoral run
• California's closed primary system forces party registration changes to participate in primary elections, creating artificial party switching for practical voting purposes
• The Democratic establishment mobilized against him despite his moderate positions, bringing in Biden, Pelosi, Bernie Sanders, and ultimately Obama to stop his campaign
• Celebrity endorsements and private support meant little against the organized Democratic machine that viewed him as an outsider threat to their control
• He believes centrism and moderation are making a comeback as voters reject both extreme right and extreme left positions in favor of pragmatic problem-solving
• His positions on issues like immigration, education, and law enforcement don't align perfectly with either party's orthodoxy but reflect common-sense approaches

"I'm never going to compromise my values or views for any party," Caruso declared, suggesting his political identity matters less than his commitment to practical governance and accountability.

Rebuilding LA and Future Political Ambitions

Through his nonprofit Steadfast LA, Caruso has assembled major corporations and talent to accelerate Los Angeles' recovery while positioning himself as a de facto public official despite his electoral loss. His hands-on rebuilding approach contrasts sharply with official government response and demonstrates the kind of leadership he would bring to future campaigns.

• Steadfast LA leverages partnerships with Netflix, Amazon, JP Morgan, Parsons, and major law firms to provide expertise city government lacks for rapid rebuilding
• The organization focuses on getting victims back into homes, schools, churches, and synagogues quickly rather than accepting years-long timelines from official channels
• Caruso's son and daughter lost a home in the fires, making the rebuilding effort deeply personal while giving him credibility with other victims
• His previous development projects like The Grove demonstrate his ability to create successful, community-centered spaces that could serve as rebuilding models
• While not currently considering gubernatorial runs, he acknowledges he will "give it some thought" down the road when current crisis recovery work concludes
• He would accept a request from President Trump to serve the country in any capacity where he's qualified, including potential disaster recovery roles

"If it makes Karen Bass a hero great, if it makes anybody a hero great, I just want people including my daughter and their son and everybody like them to be able to get back into the communities they love," Caruso explained about his rebuilding motivation. His approach prioritizes results over political credit while building the infrastructure for potential future campaigns.

The devastating fires created a political opportunity for proven competence over ideological purity. Whether through Steadfast LA or future elected office, Caruso positions himself as the kind of experienced, pragmatic leader California needs to reverse decades of decline and restore the state's promise as a place where human flourishing is possible.