Protesters repeatedly disrupted discussions at the first LA Mayor’s debate held at Loyola Marymount University on Tuesday.
One heckler shouted “f*cking cop” at Councilman Joe Buscaino. A protester also rushed the stage, requiring intervention by security.
To the protesters’ dismay, nearly every single candidate said they supported putting more police officers on the streets. Kevin De León said he’d keep the LAPD at current levels.
Four out of the five candidates also agreed that homelessness is the city’s No. 1 issue. Mel Wilson, a San Fernando Valley real estate broker and former member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board, disagreed somewhat. He called housing affordability the top issue.
Rick Caruso, the billionaire developer behind The Grove, was not present due to a scheduling conflict. That didn’t stop Buscaino and City Atty. Mike Feuer from attacking him. Buscaino called Caruso anti-labor. Feuer brought up allegations that he mishandled sexual assault claims as chair of USC’s board of trustees.
Read more about the debate at the Los Angeles Times.