Meet Bryant Acosta, Candidate For Los Angeles Mayor

LOS ANGELES, CA — Bryant Acosta, 43, is vying to be elected as the Los Angeles mayor.

In the June 2 primary, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass will face a challenge from 13 other candidates as she seeks a second term. Among them is Acosta.

Learn more about Acosta's goals for Los Angeles:

What is your educational background?

I hold a bachelor of arts in graphic design, with a focus on design systems, visual communication and creative problem-solving — training that shaped my ability to think strategically, execute at a high level, and deliver results within budget.

What is your professional background?

I’ve spent 20+ years managing large organizations, handling multimillion-dollar budgets and building systems that deliver results. As a former chief creative officer and now a small business owner, I’ve worked at both executive and ground levels solving real-world problems. My background isn’t in politics — it’s in execution, turning ideas into outcomes that actually work for people.

Have you ever held public office, whether appointive or elective?

No. But if we’re being honest — what has a long political résumé gotten us? Not much. We keep electing the same types of people, and the results speak for themselves. I’m running because we need a different kind of leadership — someone who actually understands what everyday Angelenos are going through and knows how to fix broken systems, not just navigate them.

What are the top three issues facing Los Angeles right now?

1. Accountability & Transparency: Angelenos don’t trust City Hall because they can’t see where their money is going or what’s getting done. We need real transparency and systems that hold leadership accountable.

2. Affordability: The cost of living is out of control. From housing to everyday expenses, people are being priced out of the city they live and work in. We need real solutions that bring costs down and stabilize communities.

3. Homelessness: The crisis continues despite billions spent. We need a coordinated, results-driven approach that focuses on housing, mental health, and accountability for outcomes — not just more spending.

What is one specific policy you would implement in your first 100 days?

Launch the LA NOW App. In my first 100 days, I’ll roll out a next-gen civic platform that gives Angelenos real-time transparency into where city money is going and how projects are progressing. It will provide easy access to city programs, allow residents to pay parking tickets, receive push notifications for things like jury duty, and report issues directly — while holding leadership accountable in real time.

What is your plan to reduce homelessness, and how would you measure success after one year?

Homelessness has to be treated like the emergency it is. My plan focuses on getting people off the street faster through a coordinated system that connects housing, mental health care, addiction treatment, job support, and case management—because the current one-size-fits-all system has failed our city. By addressing root causes, we can move people into permanent housing and set them up for long-term success, not just temporary fixes.

We also need real accountability. That means cutting out ineffective third-party actors, bringing oversight back into City Hall, and working closely with the Controller to ensure every dollar is tracked and invested in programs that actually deliver results.

After one year, success is clear: fewer people living on the street, more people placed into permanent housing, higher retention rates, and faster response times from outreach to placement.

What is one specific change you would make to improve public safety?

Real accountability and coordination across public safety. I’d implement a citywide system that tracks response times, outcomes, and repeat incidents in real time — so we know what’s working and what’s not. That means better coordination between police, mental health teams, and outreach services to respond with the right resources, not just more policing.

How would you improve transparency or accountability at City Hall?

I would launch the LA NOW App — a next-gen civic platform that shows exactly where taxpayer dollars are going, tracks city projects in real time, and lets residents report issues directly. It would also hold leadership accountable in real time, so delays, cost overruns, and inaction are visible to everyone—not buried in reports.

On the backend, I’d work closely with the controller to strengthen auditing, cut out wasteful spending, and ensure departments are measured by performance and outcomes. If something isn’t working, we fix it — or we stop funding it.

Why are you a better choice than your opponents?

Because I bring something they don’t — real-world leadership and next-gen thinking.

LA doesn’t have an ideas problem, it has an execution problem. We’ve had politicians, billionaires, celebrities, and the same recycled approaches, and the results speak for themselves.

I’ve spent 20+ years leading teams, managing multimillion-dollar budgets, and building systems that actually work. I’m not here to play politics — I’m here to fix what’s broken. I understand what everyday Angelenos are going through because I’ve lived it, and I know how to turn ideas into real outcomes.

If you want more of the same, you have options. If you want results, I’m your candidate.