Caruso celebrity endorsements prove Americans are sick of soft-on-crime policy

Rick Caruso, a former Republican, is running for mayor of Los Angeles in one of the nation’s most important local races. Although he is officially running as a Democrat, Caruso is generally considered to be more conservative than his opponent, Karen Bass, a soft-on-crime radical.

Crime, homelessness, poverty, and drugs are huge issues in Los Angeles and are quickly getting out of hand. Ms. Bass–who led the passage of Congress’ progressive police reform bill–infamously claimed that she would feel completely safe walking the streets of LA… until her home was broken into, at which point she walked back the claim. Many voters worry that her lenient stance on crime would be damaging to the city.

Although celebrities tend to shy away from endorsing conservative candidates, the stakes are too high in this race, and many have flocked to Caruso, bashing Bass and the effect soft-on-crime policy has had on their city.

“I am writing this as a citizen of this beautiful but struggling city of ours,” wrote the CEO of Netflix, Ted Sarandos. “The entire Machine of the Democratic Party had aligned for a candidate that is part of the very system that is failing this city. They are wrong. I am choosing to ignore the endorsements of the club members for a club member and vote for better leadership – I encourage you to do the same,” he urged.

“Rick is the Democrat I’ve been waiting for,” Sarandos, a Democrat, continued, “one with a plan and a track record of accomplishing impossible tasks in California and Los Angeles. He does it by building coalitions and working with everyone involved to build consensus and support. He can do that because he understands the needs and he understands the system that stands in the way of progress. He is a problem solver. That’s what he does all day, every day. He is not a legislator; he is a doer who understands the legislators and the legislated. He makes Los Angeles a better place.”

Actor Chris Pratt also threw his support behind Caruso. “I’ve lived in LA for over 20 years,” he said on social media. “It’s been great to me. In that time I’ve seen what many residents here have seen, the city’s gradual decline into pain and utter disarray. If you live here, you know exactly what I’m talking about.” Pratt continued: “I don’t normally support political candidates. But in this election, there’s too much to lose.”

Superstar Katy Perry echoed Pratt’s and Sarandos’ sentiment, sharing that “I am voting for a myriad of reasons (see the news) but in particular because Los Angeles is a hot mess.”

I’m not recommending that we let celebrities influence our decision of who to vote for. Actors and pop stars are not political experts after all. It is far better for We the People to take the time to do our own research and vote for the candidate that aligns closest with our values.

Nevertheless, the fact that so many celebrities are willing to break ranks with conventional Hollywood wisdom goes to show just how abysmally soft-on-crime policy has failed.

The American people deserve better–they deserve leaders who won’t endanger their cities and citizens just for the sake of “social justice.” The rich like Chris Pratt and Katy Perry have the ability to leave LA if it gets too bad; many people in the middle class do not have that option.

More important than celebrities’ opinions, local business owners and Los Angeles police have also warned against continuing down the city’s current, soft-on-crime trajectory. "We want someone who's tough on crime, because crime is out of control,” said the Los Angeles Police Protective League. “Gun violence, totally out of control. Murders are up. Our city is dirty. Homelessness everywhere.”

Crime proved to be a major issue this election season, not just in Los Angeles but throughout the U.S. Voters are fed up with progressive crime policy, and regardless of who wins, it is clear that the American people expect them–and will hold them accountable–to make our cities safe again.