The billionaire developer Rick Caruso firmly criticized mayor Karen Bass during the fire in Palisades and did not exclude challenging it in the elections next year.
The Bass allies, on the other hand, targeted Caruso, painting him as one of the rich wealthy who armed the fire of January 7 and widespread poor information on the mayor.
But Thursday, this whole drama was paused. Unique political opponents – Bass completely beaten Caruso in 2022 – appeared together in a corner of the sun in the palisades to present a plan to rebuild the local leisure center belonging to the city.
Private donations from the Caruso philanthropic group, streadfast, will help pay the overhaul of around 30 million dollars from the Palisades leisure center on Alma Real Drive, which was damaged in the fire. The sprawling center had tennis courts, basketball court, a playground and more, and was a popular neighborhood gathering place.
In separate interviews during the event, journalists questioned Bass and Caruso about their relationship. Caruso said he thought it was the first time they have appeared together in public since they were opponents in the 2022 elections.
The bass took place on the questions on the past criticism of Caruso about it, claiming that “the objective is to restore and cure this community”.
“It is necessary for us to come together in a public -private partnership – this is the best way to get things done,” said Bass. “The government cannot do everything alone.”
The reconstruction of the leisure center is another leisure donor is Strong Sports, a group launched by the Lakers Coach JJ Redick, a resident of Palisades who led a basketball team for young people in the center. Redick, who also appeared during the event on Thursday, said that the rebuilt leisure center would be “the cornerstone of this community”.
However, the joint appearance of Bass-Caruso attracted the most attention, given their rocky history.
On X, the user @therealvalverde wrote: “It’s cool, JJ Redick helped bring Karen Bass and Rick Caruso to bring together!”
Caruso spent more than $ 100 million on his own money for his candidacy for the town hall, but lost nearly 10 points against Bass. In the palisades, he obtained more voices than bass.
Since then, he has not excluded another political race, including for the governor.
After the fire broke out, it appeared on Fox 11, calling for the lack of water leaving the fire terminals “an absolute mismanagement of the city”. He also underlined the absence of Bass – the mayor was in Ghana during a diplomatic trip.
Since then, Caruso has used social media to request an independent fire survey and continue with Aiguille Les Basses. Last month, he accused her of using the word “nuisance” to describe the destroyed houses.
The Bass allies argued that it was attacked by “wealthy oligarchs”, notably Caruso and Nicole Shanahan, a supporter of Trump who helps finance a campaign to remind her. (Caruso is opposed to the recall effort.)
During the event on Thursday, Caruso said he was a friend with Bass and that they have known each other for 30 years. He said he had visited Bass at the town hall about six months after the elections in 2022.
Given his recent attacks against the management of Bass, Caruso has been invited to what he thought of his work so far.
“I think she is trying. I would like to see, and I know that residents would like to see, the more would happen,” he said.
More broadly, he said, the city must put pressure on the owners of commercial buildings to eliminate the fire debris that remains on their properties.
For its part, Bass said that the city was on the rhythm of one of the fastest fire recovery from California. Compared to Woolsey and Camp fires, “we are months and months to come,” she said.
More than a dozen residents of Palisades, including Jessica Rogers, president of the residents of Pacific Palisades Assn., Assisted the event on Thursday. Rogers approached Caruso and thanked him for having appeared next to the bass, urging him to continue his relationship with the city.
“It is so important for our community to see you queuing with the mayor and working together as a team,” she said.
California Daily Newspapers
