Protestors Disrupt LA Mayoral Debate, One Rushes Stage
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — The Los Angeles Mayoral Debate was filled with constant disruptions from the audience from several spectators berating the candidates to one protestor storming the stage.
The debate featured five mayoral candidates Joe Buscaino, Karen Bass, Kevin de León, Mel Wilson and Mike Feuer. Candidate Rick Caruso denied the invitation for "scheduling reasons," according to the statement released by his campaign. The campaign added that he will be present at a future debate.
The debate began smoothly at 6 p.m. in Loyola Marymount's University Hall as candidates answered questions about the importance of the homelessness crisis present in the city.
However, fifteen minutes later one of the protestors began to berate the stage, quickly followed by two others.
The debate briefly resumed until another protestor continued to yell at the candidates at about 6:25 p.m. Shortly after, one person rushed the stage.
The disruptors were escorted out of the auditorium after they refused to stop yelling. The rest of the debate wrapped up with little to no outbursts from the audience, following the protestor storming the stage.
The candidates answered questions regarding, the homeless crisis, public safety and police reform — some of the most pressing issues L.A.
"If we can move heaven and earth to build football stadiums, we can do the same things to get people of color, veterans... into housing," said de León.
The rest of the candidates agreed with the councilman with Bass saying she would declare a state of emergency in order to get input from state and federal agencies.
Buscaino added that he wanted to address drug addiction and mental health concerns among the unhoused. The candidates also addressed the need to create better paying jobs and affordable housing to fight the homeless crisis.
"Housing affordability is the backbone of the city of L.A.," said de León. "Either we are going to continue to push people out, or we are going to a make a city that works for everyone."
On public safety and police reform candidates talked about their visions for law enforcement with Bass, calling for equal policing, and denounced the apparent "guardian style" she believed to be present in wealthy neighborhoods, while a "warrior style" in "communities of color."
Buscaino added that he would back the police department but was adamant about keeping officers accountable, while Feurer reminded the audience that he was not only the first candidate to reject defunding the police but to increase the police force to at least 10,000.
A recent study from UC Berkley placed candidate Bass in the lead before the debate started.
