![Candidates greet one another](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9205809/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4783x3188+133+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F99%2F86%2Fb575a3f84c618481b3f75a8ade37%2F934126-me-second-mayoral-debate-13-mjc.jpg)
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The first attack against mayoral candidate Rick Caruso came less than 10 minutes into Tuesday night’s mayoral debate at USC’s Bovard Auditorium.
City Councilman Joe Buscaino, before discussing his housing plans, quipped that he was glad Caruso “finally” was on the debate stage.
“I think I was attacked,” Caruso told the audience, looking amused. “It felt like an attack.”
Nearly all of the other big-name candidates for Los Angeles mayor took aim at Caruso, attacking the real estate developer over his police spending plan, his support for Dist. Atty. George Gascón and his personal yacht in the first televised forum to feature all five onstage.
![Rep. Karen Bass meets students](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/603d410/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6369x4233+0+0/resize/2000x1329!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff5%2Fcd%2F6c819fec45e58f722ee6b80a90af%2F934126-me-second-mayoral-debate-14-mjc.jpg)
![Mayoral candidates debate.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/67827fc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6720x4480+0+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F09%2F9c%2Fd19683b0467baaffde2e1758bf40%2F934125-me-0322-second-mayoral-debate-gem-013.jpg)
![Rep. Karen Bass smiles as Rick Caruso speaks](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2da7a56/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6720x4480+0+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2F38%2F98cde04641619fa9591058822bf2%2F934125-me-0322-second-mayoral-debate-gem-001.jpg)
![Buscaino and De Leon shake hands](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f48ca63/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3052x2160+0+0/resize/2000x1415!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2F96%2F54d787f04464842ec4190ebc349d%2F934125-me-0322-second-mayoral-debate-gem-015.jpg)
![Rep. Karen Bass, left, is greeted by Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer as businessman Rick Caruso waits.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/32f836d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3811x2664+0+0/resize/2000x1398!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1a%2F63%2F0f3e076d479a9dd6f0ca2ea5bbe7%2F934125-me-0322-second-mayoral-debate-gem-016.jpg)
![Kevin de Leon gestures from a lectern](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9595c4a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5884x5089+0+0/resize/2000x1730!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2F7e%2F0969a7314ac6bd8c972d2845eb74%2F934126-me-second-mayoral-debate-08-mjc.jpg)
![Businessman Rick Caruso, second from right, makes a rebuttal during the mayoral debate](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7e11d67/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7518x5046+0+0/resize/2000x1342!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd0%2Fc4%2F1269734849cd9e5597b8a12f99ac%2F934126-me-second-mayoral-debate-02-mjc.jpg)
![Joe Buscaino, city councilman, speaks](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8fcc553/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7111x4993+0+0/resize/2000x1404!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F51%2F80%2F59362fa945f98a3cc958c0ac4a47%2F934126-me-second-mayoral-debate-05-mjc.jpg)
![Mike Feuer speaks](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d589a2a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8021x5350+0+0/resize/2000x1334!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F55%2F06%2Fece5bc09486aa0dcd70f971b4e8d%2F934126-me-second-mayoral-debate-10-mjc.jpg)
![Rick Caruso hugs a supporter before the debate.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e8ca481/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6291x4148+0+0/resize/2000x1319!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9f%2F2e%2F7127b3fa49558baa0f2276f213a1%2F934125-me-0322-second-mayoral-debate-gem-014.jpg)
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