Rick Caruso Wants to Expand L.A. Mayor’s Powers on Homelessness
Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterBillionaire developer Rick Caruso said Monday that if elected mayor of Los Angeles, he would take power over homelessness policy away from the City Council and concentrate it in his office.Caruso announced his candidacy late on Friday, just ahead of the filing deadline, and is beginning to outline his plans. In an interview with Variety, he said that he would claim emergency powers to address the city’s homelessness crisis.“Day one, I’m going to declare a state of emergency, take the authority in the mayor’s office, and I’m going to be held accountable for it,” Caruso said.