Former Los Angeles schools Superintendent Austin Beutner has officially launched his campaign for mayor, focusing on pressing issues facing the city while taking aim at both Mayor Karen Bass and President Donald Trump.
In a four-minute video message released on Monday, Beutner described Los Angeles as a city that is “under attack,” featuring footage of U.S. Border Patrol agents to emphasize his points about immigration policies.
“I’ll never accept the Trump administration’s assault on our values and our neighbors,” Beutner declares in the video while standing in a tree-lined residential neighborhood.
He continues, “Targeting people solely based on the color of their skin is unacceptable and un-American,” underlining his commitment to counter discrimination and foster safety for all residents of the city.
The video resonated with voters who may be disillusioned with Mayor Bass while looking for a Democrat willing to confront the current political climate.
Furthermore, Beutner positions himself as a pragmatic problem solver, highlighting his philanthropic work through Vision to Learn, an initiative providing eye exams and glasses to low-income children.
He also underscores his leadership of L.A. Unified during the COVID-19 pandemic and his role in promoting Proposition 28 in 2022 to enhance arts education in California public schools.
Reflecting on his journey into public service, Beutner recounts a significant biking accident approximately 17 years ago that changed the trajectory of his life, leading him to take on responsibilities like serving as “jobs czar” under former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
In his campaign video, he critiques the current city administration, noting high housing costs, increases in parking meter rates, and the rising fees for trash pickup affecting homeowners and small apartment buildings.
Beutner describes L.A. as a city that is “adrift” and points out shortcomings in Bass’s efforts to tackle homelessness, an area she has identified as a signature initiative.
“The city spent billions to solve problems that have just become bigger problems,” he criticizes, indicating dissatisfaction with the city’s management of vital issues.
In light of recent city events, Beutner, whose home was severely damaged in the Palisades fire, expressed concerns about the city’s inadequate response to such disasters.
He states, “Fire hydrants that don’t work are a metaphor for the failure of leadership in City Hall,” directly linking the city’s current struggles to its leadership.
A spokesperson for the Bass campaign, Douglas Herman, reacted to Beutner’s comments by urging a movement beyond divisiveness.
He pointed out that violent crime rates have seen a decrease across the city, with homicides at their lowest levels in 60 years.
“When Karen Bass ran for mayor, homelessness and public safety were the top concerns of Angelenos. And she has delivered in a big way,” Herman stated, emphasizing the progress made under her administration.
He further remarked that homelessness has declined for two consecutive years in Los Angeles, highlighting that thousands have been transitioned from the streets into housing.
“There’s more work ahead, but this administration has proven it can deliver,” he added, reaffirming Bass’s commitment to extending the positive trajectory in her potential second term.
Beutner, who voted for Bass in the previous election, may not be the only affluent figure from the Westside vying for the mayor’s office.
Developer Rick Caruso, who spent a staggering $108 million on his campaign in 2022 and lost to Bass, is also considering another run for either mayor or governor.
Caruso is expected to make a decision following the upcoming special election in November, with reports indicating that he is being encouraged to enter the mayoral race again.
Despite his past as a Republican potentially being a hurdle, Caruso did change his voter registration to Democrat before launching his last campaign, but the Bass campaign successfully painted him as a conservative.
Beutner, a Democrat with a background in the Clinton administration, does not carry the same historical baggage but is also at a disadvantage in terms of name recognition compared to Caruso.
Poll results commissioned by Caruso, released in early September, indicated a significant lead for Bass in direct comparisons.
The survey revealed that 41% of respondents supported Bass, while approximately 25% indicated they would back Beutner, leaving one third of respondents undecided.
As Beutner announced his candidacy, he shared pointed criticism regarding how the city has managed the aftermath of the devastating Palisades fire, referring to the city’s shortcomings concerning emergency preparedness and response.
His remarks on the immigration crackdown under Trump resonate with a position taken previously by Bass, who condemned federal agents for their aggressive tactics, drawing public outrage and protests across Los Angeles.
In June, Bass characterized the Trump administration’s actions as an “all-out assault on Los Angeles,” asserting that federal agents had been apprehending individuals indiscriminately and creating an atmosphere of fear among immigrants.
The political landscape has shifted further following a Supreme Court ruling in September, which has implications for immigration law enforcement practices across the country.
The court found that immigration agents can detain individuals based on racial profiling, setting aside Los Angeles’s previous restraining order against such practices.
In response to the Supreme Court decision, Caruso also expressed concerns, stating that the ruling could instill fear within the local community with regards to ICE actions.
As the race for mayor in Los Angeles intensifies, Beutner’s campaign themes and critiques highlight pressing challenges and differing viewpoints on leadership, public safety, and community values.
image source from：latimes
