By Michelle Edgar
Special to the Daily Press
Inside the AMC Theatre at The Americana at Brand — one of Rick Caruso’s own developments — the billionaire builder paused, taking a breath before speaking. His voice softened as he reflected on what had happened just hours earlier.
“Yesterday was one of the greatest days of my life,” he told Adam Carolla during a live taping of The Adam Carolla Show. “We delivered five homes to families who had lost everything in the wildfires. I left there thinking, ‘Why isn’t the government doing more for these people? They have no options.’”
That question — and the action behind it — captured the essence of Caruso’s mission with Steadfast LA, a startup dedicated to helping wildfire victims rebuild faster through public-private partnerships. It’s an approach he believes can scale — from neighborhoods like the Palisades and Altadena to the City of Los Angeles and, eventually, the entire State of California. His philosophy is simple but urgent: to build back better, leadership must think like builders — cutting through bureaucracy, empowering communities, and partnering across sectors to get results.
“I do enjoy taking very complex problems, taking them apart and putting them back together — and I love public service,” Caruso said early in the conversation, setting the tone for an evening that blended civic passion with practical solutions.
Moderated by Carolla, the discussion spanned Los Angeles governance, infrastructure efficiency, vocational trades, housing affordability, Olympic readiness, and post-disaster recovery. But at its heart, it was a conversation about how to restore competence, pride, and progress to California’s public life. “Government can’t do it alone,” Caruso said. “But when the public and private sectors come together with purpose and integrity, we can move mountains.”
He traced that conviction back to his family’s beginnings. His grandfather immigrated from Italy and worked as a gardener in Boyle Heights. His father went on to become a successful businessman. By his mid-twenties, Caruso was already serving as one of Los Angeles’ youngest commissioners on Water & Power which lead to a Board role, in addition to Police Commissioner, learning from civic giants like Mayor Tom Bradley and later Mayor Dick Riordan. “They empowered people, they valued results, and they knew what leadership meant — making tough calls and standing by them,” he recalled. Those lessons, he said, shaped his belief that leadership isn’t about title or tenure; it’s about responsibility and courage.
Throughout the evening, Caruso returned to what he calls the “builder’s mentality” a mindset grounded in urgency, discipline, and common sense. “We’ve got a city full of meetings but no progress,” he said, drawing laughter and applause. “We need leaders who roll up their sleeves.” Carolla quipped that “common sense is an endangered species in Los Angeles,” as the two men agreed that change requires both the private sector’s efficiency and the public sector’s reach — the model Caruso has been proving through Steadfast LA.
They spoke about how California could learn from its own failures. Carolla introduced his idea of “monuments to failure,” inspired by Ferrari’s habit of displaying broken parts to spark innovation. He suggested that the state’s stalled bullet train could serve as a symbol of inefficiency, a reminder of what happens when ambition isn’t matched by execution. “We should be learning from what hasn’t worked — not burying it in another study,” Caruso said. “That’s how you build better the next time.”
The conversation turned toward education and the workforce. Both men lamented the decline of vocational training and the lack of opportunities for young Angelenos to enter the skilled trades. “If you drive down PCH, you see hardworking crews — mostly Hispanic tradespeople — literally building the city,” Carolla said. “Why aren’t we opening those opportunities for every kid in LA?”
Caruso agreed, calling for a revival of trade schools and stronger union partnerships with groups like the Carpenters and Pipefitters. “Not everyone needs a four-year degree,” he said. “We need plumbers, electricians, builders - people with purpose and pride. This is about dignity giving people the chance to build their own future.”
On housing, Caruso was direct. Nearly 40 percent of the cost of new housing, he said, comes from regulation and permitting. His company has worked to challenge that model through workforce housing that allows employees to live closer to where they work without subsidies or tax credits. “We build housing that honors workers,” he said. “That’s how you build a community, not just a skyline.”
Looking ahead to the 2028 Olympics, Caruso questioned whether Los Angeles is ready. “We clean up for cameras, not for residents,” he said. He called for a return to civic pride and long-term planning, suggesting that the opening ceremony be held at the LA Coliseum to honor the city’s Olympic legacy. “The world is coming,” he said. “Let’s show them the Los Angeles we all love clean, proud, and united.”
As the evening unfolded, Caruso reflected on his early years in public service. “Tom Bradley built coalitions. Dick Riordan ran the city like a business. Jim Hahn made hard choices — hiring Bill Bratton and cutting crime, even when it cost him politically. That’s what leadership looks like.” Carolla nodded, adding, “We need to start voting for competence over charisma.” The audience erupted in applause.
When the conversation turned to whether he would run for office again, Caruso smiled, the same measured, understated smile that’s become his signature. “What is the path to do that? I’m at a point very soon that I have to make a decision,” he admitted. “It’s a really tough decision. I want to come in and do good, and do the right thing, get it done, and go back to the private sector. I’m not looking for a career. Within a few weeks or so, I’ll probably have a decision made, and it’s a big topic of discussion at the house with my wife and kids, who are incredibly supportive.” Carolla laughed, offering, “If you run for governor, I’ll move to Sacramento with you.”
Caruso chuckled, then paused. “I don’t know,” he said. “What I do know is I’ll never stop fighting for this city and for this state. You don’t need a title to serve. You just need to care enough to do something about it.”
Before the night ended, he returned to what had made that day so meaningful. Just hours earlier, Steadfast LA had handed keys to five newly built homes in Altadena - each one for a family that had lost everything in the wildfires. “It was one of the greatest days of my life,” Caruso said quietly. “When you help a family rebuild their home, you help rebuild their hope. That’s what being a builder means.”