LA business leader says crime, wildfire fallout fueling Pratt surge as voters seek change: 'People are angry'
SANTA MONICA, CA — A business leader and former city council candidate is reacting to Spencer Pratt’s surge in the Los Angeles mayoral race by pointing to crime, the recent...
By Fox News · Fox News
SANTA MONICA, CA — A business leader and former city council candidate is reacting to Spencer Pratt’s surge in the Los Angeles mayoral race by pointing to crime, the recent wildfires, and the inhospitable business climate as the reason why voters are discontent with the status quo. "I think a lot of people are concerned about what's happening, they really don't know how to fix this, and I think the crime, the homelessness, the addiction, all the above behaviors of what's happened in our city as politicians that are causing this, I think a lot people are seeing that," John Putnam, the president of Putnam Brands & Putnam Accessory Group, told Fox News Digital. "And I think Spencer's actually bringing the light in a real way. He's pretty basic with his delivery of his issues and I think that's resonating a lot. Even if you don't want to vote for him, you're listening, though and I think that's resonating with a lot of people." Putnam, a former candidate for Santa Monica City Council in 2024, told Fox News Digital that even though his town of Santa Monica doesn’t vote for LA mayor, the winner’s platform will have a "trickle down" effect all across the county. SPENCER PRATT ENTERS LA MAYOR RACE, ACCUSES CURRENT LEADERSHIP OF 'CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE' OVER FIRE RESPONSE "California's got a big issue, but the city, especially where we live, Santa Monica is a byproduct of what's happened in Los Angeles and across the world," Putnam said. "In Santa Monica alone, we're a people driven economy. 80% of our revenue comes from outside this city. We need revenue being generated from people that are coming here to visit." Putnam’s company, which he has run for 40 years, is based near downtown Los Angeles and he told Fox News Digital that it’s clear when you drive around the city that the business climate is being significantly handcuffed by crime, homelessness, high taxes , and other factors. "It costs so much to operate a business here," Putnam said. "Out of 250 cities that were…