Rick Caruso: Attract Businesses to South Park, “Start with Clean and Safe”
Rick Caruso, founder and former CEO of Caruso Real Estate, runner up to Karen Bass in the last mayoral race, member of the Board of Trustees at USC, former president of the LA Police Commission, and former commissioner and president of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners was in conversation with South Park Business Improvement District’s (SPBID) Executive Director Nolan Marshall at the SPBID Social District’s Annual Meeting on November 20 at ASU’s campus at the Herald Examiner Building on Broadway at 11th Street.
Nolan asked Caruso for his advice on bringing more businesses to South Park and downtown LA. Caruso said investment in downtown starts with the residents. Home is the most important part of a person’s life. Clean, safe parks build a strong downtown which attracts businesses to invest in the neighborhood. Start with clean and safe.
When asked about the derelict Oceanwide property, Caruso said the property had “negative market value.” He does not believe there is a market for the property, but offered a solution--having the state, federal, and city governments work together to support the property as work force housing for teachers, fire and police, and others to live in downtown, close to transit, without having to commute long hours to work. Caruso believes the towers should be cleaned and the streetscape restored because at present we are sending the message that we do not care.
Bring Back Palisades was an example Caruso used on bringing together a team to work on building back the city after the destructive fires. He noted his work calling businesses and investors to partner with him and the need for private-public partnerships.
Caruso also mentioned San Francisco and their mayor’s focus to bring back their downtown area. Mayor Daniel Lurie has won over his constituents by prioritizing clean and safe streets to attract people back to the city to live and work. “Downtown is the beating heart of our city,” Caruso said. He added that the economic revenue generated in downtown powers transportation, creates parks, pays first responders, and sustains critical family services.
Caruso was asked if he is running for governor or mayor. He side-stepped the question and asked the audience if they wanted him to run for governor or mayor. He received the most applause for mayor.
SPNA is working on future articles about attracting and keeping new businesses as well as growing our resident population. We welcome your thoughts on the subject. Send us an email at spnadtla@gmail.com.
By Debra Shrout