Hubbry Logo
Austin BeutnerAustin BeutnerMain
Open search
Austin Beutner
Community hub
Austin Beutner
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Austin Beutner
Austin Beutner
Austin Beutner
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Austin Michael Beutner (born April 8, 1960) is an American businessman who served as Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent from May 1, 2018 to June 30, 2021. He previously served as the first deputy mayor of Los Angeles from 2010 through 2013, and briefly ran in the 2013 Los Angeles mayoral election. Prior to entering politics, Beutner was an investment banker and would later become the publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Times and The San Diego Union-Tribune.[1][2][3]

Key Information

In October 2025, Beutner announced his candidacy in the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral election.[4]

Philanthropy

[edit]

In 1994 Beutner founded The Beutner Family Foundation with a focus on philanthropy and education for economically disadvantaged people.[5]

In 2012 Beutner founded Vision to Learn,[6] a non-profit that provides children with free eye exams and free glasses by bringing its mobile eye clinics to schools and to other neighborhood youth and community organizations.[7]

On November 8, 2022, California voters approved Proposition 28: The Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act. The measure requires the state to establish a new, ongoing program supporting arts instruction in schools beginning in 2023–24.[8] Beutner authored the bill and spent nearly $4.2 million of his own money to support the bill.[9] Californians overwhelmingly passed the Proposition.[10]

Beutner established the Beutner Family Award for Excellence in the Arts, providing scholarships to support 20 students at the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles County.[citation needed]

Biography

[edit]

Early life and education

[edit]

Beutner was born in New York and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of German immigrants who came to the United States in the 1920s for economic opportunity. His mother was a schoolteacher and his father was a manufacturing engineer.[11] His mother was Jewish and his father was Catholic, although he did not find out that his father's family was Christian until he was an adult.[11][12] He is a graduate of East Grand Rapids High School, and graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts in economics.[13]

Finance

[edit]

After graduating in 1982 he went to work at Smith Barney as a financial analyst. At the age of 29, he became partner at The Blackstone Group.[14][15]

In 1996 Beutner co-founded Evercore Partners, an American independent investment banking advisory firm, with former Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Roger Altman. When Evercore went public (NYES-EVR)[16] in 2006, the IPO reportedly made Beutner more than $100 million.[17][18]

Government

[edit]

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Beutner went to work for the U.S. State Department on Russia issues.[19][20]

In January 2010, Beutner was appointed by Antonio Villaraigosa to be the first deputy mayor of Los Angeles, with oversight of twelve city agencies, including the Port of Los Angeles, Department of Water and Power and the Housing Authority, with over 17,000 employees.[21][22] In 2013, with Villaraigosa's term ending, Beutner launched a campaign to run for Mayor of Los Angeles, but dropped from the race after a year having captured only 2% of likely voters.[23] The election was a year away when Beutner suspended his efforts.

In 2013, Beutner and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Mickey Kantor co-chaired the 2020 Commission[24] to study and report[25] on the financial matters in Los Angeles. One of the report's recommendations was to reform the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP). In 2016 Beutner and Kantor penned an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times aimed at bringing about reform and changes to the DWP, noting that "The city deserves a public utility that is operated in the long-term best interests of its customers, employees and our environment."[26]

Los Angeles Unified School District

[edit]

In July 2017, Beutner created a task force for the Los Angeles Unified School District to look for solutions for declining attendance and other problems. Beutner co-chairs the task force with SEIU President Laphonza Butler. "We are here to support Michelle King, and offer suggestions," Beutner said in an interview with LA School Report.[27][28]

On May 1, 2018, the Board appointed Austin Beutner and was met with criticism by United Teachers Los Angeles, who said that Beutner did not have any experience managing a school or a school district.[29][30] In 2019, UTLA authorized a strike against LAUSD that lasted six days.[31] About 30,000 teachers strike and only a third of about 500,000 students showed up to school, with the District losing $15 million on the first day.[32][33] The strike ended after a deal between LAUSD and UTLA was reached.[34]

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had forced the schools to shut down.[35] In 2021, Beutner announced that he would step down on June 30.[36][37]

In 2025, Beutner filed a lawsuit against LAUSD for allegedly misusing millions of dollars meant to be used for arts education.[38][39][40]

Newspaper ownership

[edit]

In March 2013, a group led by Beutner and Eli Broad announced their intent to purchase the Los Angeles Times from its parent Tribune Publishing.[41] They were unsuccessful.

In 2014, Beutner took over as publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Times when Eddy Hartenstein left to become the non-executive chairman of the board of Tribune Publishing.[42] When Tribune Publishing acquired the San Diego Union-Tribune in 2015, Beutner was named its CEO and publisher, as well as CEO of the newly formed California News Group.[43]

He was fired as publisher and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Times on September 8, 2015. He wrote on Facebook that the dismissal was not voluntary: "I am not departing by choice, nor is this some 'mutual agreement' on my part and Tribune Publishing".[44] Beutner's firing was protested by a number of prominent community leaders.[45][46]

Vision to Learn

[edit]

Beutner founded the nonprofit organization Vision to Learn in 2012 in order to provide free optometry services to children in low-income communities.” In 2022 New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof profiled Vision to Learn in his annual holiday gift guide, writing that “Vision to Learn’s model addresses real-world problems.”[47]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Austin Beutner

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Austin Beutner is an American investment banker, media executive, philanthropist, and public servant who served as Superintendent of the —the second-largest public school system in the United States—from May 2018 to June 2021. A alumnus, Beutner previously held senior roles in finance before transitioning to media ownership and civic leadership in , including as publisher and CEO of the and Union-Tribune from 2014 onward. Beutner's tenure as LAUSD superintendent was marked by efforts to stabilize district operations amid chronic budget shortfalls, teacher union negotiations, and the onset of the , during which he prioritized reopening schools for in-person instruction ahead of many peers while expanding support for student and academic recovery. Despite lacking prior administration experience—a point of initial contention—he built rapport with rank-and-file educators through visible engagement and results-oriented leadership, though critics questioned his business-oriented approach to public schooling. In philanthropy, Beutner has supported arts and children's health initiatives, serving as former chairman of the board and lecturer at . As of October 2025, Beutner has entered the race for , positioning himself as a pragmatic outsider focused on following recent wildfires.

Early Life and Education

Upbringing and Family Background

Austin Beutner was born in 1960 in New York to German immigrant parents. His mother worked as a public school teacher specializing in reading instruction, while his father, a manufacturing engineer, held jobs in factories. The family relocated frequently during Beutner's early years, moving four times before he completed fifth grade. He was ultimately raised in , where he attended public schools—a system he later described as foundational to his achievements, stating, "I am a product of public schools, and I wouldn't be here today, but for my great public school education."

Academic and Early Professional Influences

Beutner attended Dartmouth College, where he majored in economics and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1982. During his undergraduate studies, he received mentorship from Professor Colin Campbell, an economist who served as his thesis advisor and exemplified rigorous critical thinking combined with intellectual kindness. Beutner later described Campbell as "one of the best critical thinkers about economics I’ve ever met," highlighting how this guidance fostered his analytical rigor in economic principles. Dartmouth's academic environment also instilled in Beutner key attributes, including , , , and deference to superior expertise in group settings. He has noted that " is also about having the to know there’s probably someone in the room smarter than you," a perspective shaped by the college's emphasis on communal problem-solving amid intellectual challenges. These formative experiences at Dartmouth laid groundwork for Beutner's later application of calm, evidence-based decision-making in complex organizational contexts. Upon graduating, Beutner launched his professional career in as a at Smith Barney in 1982, focusing on the firm's Group through 1988. In 1986, at age 26, he contributed to establishing Smith Barney's Merchant Banking Group, gaining hands-on exposure to investment structuring and high-value transactions. This initial role in a recovering post-recession market underscored the value of diligence and timing in financial advisory, propelling Beutner toward advanced positions, such as becoming the youngest partner at The Blackstone Group by age 29.

Private Sector Career

Investment Banking and Finance Roles

Beutner commenced his professional career in finance in 1982 as a financial analyst in the mergers and acquisitions department at Smith Barney, Harris Upham & Co., immediately following his graduation from Dartmouth College with a degree in economics. During his tenure there, which lasted until approximately 1986, he played a key role in establishing the firm's merchant banking group. In the late 1980s, Beutner transitioned to The Blackstone Group, a leading and investment firm, where he advanced rapidly to become a partner in 1989 at the age of 29—the youngest partner in the company's history at that time. His work at Blackstone focused on investments and advisory services, contributing to the firm's growth during a period of expanding activity. Beutner co-founded Partners, an independent investment banking boutique, in 1995 alongside , former Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, and assumed the roles of president and co-CEO. Headquartered in New York with a significant West Coast office in that Beutner helped establish, specialized in advisory services for mergers, acquisitions, and restructurings, growing into one of the premier independent firms globally under his leadership. The firm's on the in 2006 generated over $100 million in personal proceeds for Beutner from his equity stake. He stepped down as co-CEO on May 1, 2008, after a 22-year career in merchant banking, partly to recover from injuries sustained in a 2007 bicycle accident.

Newspaper Publishing and Media Leadership

In August 2014, Austin Beutner was appointed publisher and chief executive officer of the and the San Diego Union-Tribune, succeeding Eddy Hartenstein who transitioned to non-executive chairman of Company, the parent entity. Beutner, previously a investment banker and civic leader, reported to Tribune Publishing CEO Jack Griffin and aimed to leverage his outsider perspective to address the newspaper's challenges in a declining print media landscape. His selection marked the first instance of a single publisher overseeing both major Tribune properties in . During his tenure, Beutner emphasized digital innovation, including experimentation with new revenue models and efforts to strengthen reader engagement through community-focused initiatives. He pursued a strategic overhaul of operations, seeking greater for the properties from Tribune's headquarters to adapt to local market dynamics and compete with emerging digital competitors. These moves reflected Beutner's background, prioritizing cost efficiencies and growth in subscriptions amid industry-wide revenue pressures from advertising declines, which had reduced Los Angeles Times print circulation and ad income by over 20% in the preceding years. Beutner's ended abruptly on September 8, 2015, when dismissed him after 13 months, citing strategic disagreements with corporate executives who favored centralized control over decentralized experiments. The ouster coincided with Tribune's rejection of a potential investment overture from billionaire , amid broader tensions over the company's resistance to acquisition by . Post-departure, Beutner advocated for local news organizations to capitalize on their geographic advantages for differentiated content and partnerships, underscoring his view that national chains often stifled regional innovation. No subsequent roles in newspaper publishing or broader media are recorded for Beutner.

Public Service Roles

City Government Positions

In 2010, Austin Beutner was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor as the city's first for , accepting a nominal salary of $1 per year. In this role, officially titled First and Chief Executive for Economic and Business Policy, Beutner focused on job creation, business attraction, and economic revitalization efforts amid the aftermath of the . Beutner's initiatives included streamlining permitting processes for businesses, negotiating public-private partnerships to develop underutilized city properties, and advocating for infrastructure investments to support employment growth. He worked to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, reporting that his office facilitated over 10,000 new jobs through targeted economic programs during his tenure, which lasted until 2013. These efforts emphasized private-sector involvement in municipal projects, drawing on Beutner's prior finance background to prioritize measurable outcomes over expanded government spending. The position concluded in 2013 when Beutner transitioned to other pursuits, including a brief unsuccessful mayoral campaign bid that year. His service marked his initial foray into direct city governance, predating subsequent roles in utilities management and education leadership.

Leadership at Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

Austin Beutner was appointed interim of the Department of Water and Power (LADWP) on April 20, 2010, by the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, following nomination by Mayor . He accepted the role for a symbolic salary of $1, with an initial term of up to six months, tasked with stabilizing the utility amid high turnover—marking him as the ninth in ten years. His mandate included conducting a comprehensive financial and operational review, implementing customer-oriented reforms, advancing and initiatives, executing the mayor's Water Supply Action Plan to reduce reliance on imported water, overseeing infrastructure improvements, and leading the search for a permanent successor. Beutner's leadership emphasized cost control and efficiency, achieving $263 million in savings within his first several months through budget cuts that averted an immediate rate hike for customers. He advanced environmental goals by elevating sources to 20% of LADWP's total production during his tenure and introducing conservation programs that reduced usage by more than 20%. Efficiency measures also curbed power consumption, aligning with broader efforts. To enhance accountability, Beutner expanded public engagement, holding dozens of additional meetings with community groups, neighborhood councils, ratepayers, and City Council members to scrutinize the and long-term planning. Beutner stepped down on December 20, 2010, upon the appointment of Ron Nichols as permanent , having fulfilled his interim objectives including the of a long-term leader with specialized utility expertise. His eight-month stint focused on short-term stabilization rather than long-range transformation, reflecting the transitional nature of the position amid LADWP's ongoing governance challenges. No major public controversies directly targeted Beutner's performance, though the utility's structural resistance to oversight persisted as a broader institutional issue.

Superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District

Austin Beutner was appointed superintendent of the (LAUSD) on May 1, 2018, by a 5-2 vote of the school board, despite lacking prior experience in public education administration. His selection drew criticism from teachers' unions and some board members, who argued his and business background made him unsuitable for addressing persistent gaps and fiscal challenges in the district serving over 600,000 students. Beutner committed to priorities including student equity, quality teaching in every classroom, operational transparency, and fiscal sustainability to avert risks. Beutner's strategic emphasized decentralizing authority from the central office to local schools and communities, aiming to empower parents and reduce bureaucratic layers. Early in his tenure, the district faced a teachers' strike from January 10 to 22, 2019, led by United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) over demands for smaller s, more support staff, and higher pay amid disputes over reserve funds and budget priorities. Beutner maintained the district's reserves were necessary for long-term stability and portrayed negotiations as ongoing, resulting in a settlement increasing teacher salaries by 6% and adding nurses and counselors without fully conceding on class size reductions. Under Beutner, LAUSD saw modest gains in student performance, with state test scores rising by 1.6 percentage points in arts and 1.9 points in math from 2018 to 2019, marking an acceleration from prior stagnation. He focused on fiscal discipline, stabilizing the during enrollment declines and obligations, while advocating for community investments in student . The onset of the in 2020 granted Beutner emergency powers to expedite decisions on school closures and remote learning transitions, managing a year of disruptions without reported breakdowns in district operations. Beutner announced on April 21, 2021, that he would not seek contract renewal and stepped down on June 30, 2021, after three years, citing the district's improved readiness for reopening and his desire to transition leadership for the post-pandemic recovery. His tenure concluded with mixed assessments: supporters credited for averting fiscal crises and incremental academic progress, while critics, including unions, viewed his approach as prioritizing efficiency over equity and teacher input.

Philanthropic Efforts

Focus on Education and Foster Youth

In 1994, Austin Beutner established the Beutner Family Foundation, a philanthropic entity dedicated to supporting initiatives for economically individuals, including programs aimed at improving access to learning opportunities. The foundation has provided grants to secondary schools, higher education institutions, and related educational efforts, with reported assets of approximately $175,821 directed toward such causes. These investments prioritize underserved populations, though specific allocations to foster programs are not detailed in public records. A primary outcome of the foundation's work is the 2012 launch of Vision To Learn, a nonprofit co-founded by Beutner to deliver free vision screenings, eye exams, and glasses to children in low-income communities via mobile clinics at schools. By addressing uncorrected vision issues—estimated to affect up to 20% of low-income students and impair academic performance—the program has served over 500 schools and provided services to hundreds of thousands of students nationwide, enabling better focus in educational settings. Beutner serves as chairman, emphasizing the causal link between vision correction and improved learning outcomes for disadvantaged youth, including those facing barriers like that overlap with experiences. While Vision To Learn targets broad for low-income students, Beutner's philanthropic emphasis on vision care indirectly supports foster youth, who often reside in such communities and experience higher rates of untreated issues impacting attendance and achievement; however, no dedicated foster-specific programs under his foundation initiatives have been publicly identified. This approach aligns with data showing that vision problems contribute to lower reading proficiency and in among vulnerable children.

Major Foundations and Initiatives

In 1994, Austin Beutner established the Beutner Family Foundation, a private philanthropic entity based in Pacific Palisades, California, with an emphasis on advancing education opportunities for economically disadvantaged populations. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization, channeling resources into charitable and educational causes, including grants totaling $6,000 in 2023 to support aligned initiatives. The foundation's most prominent endeavor is Vision To Learn, launched in 2012 under Beutner's leadership to address vision care deficiencies among low-income schoolchildren. This nonprofit delivers free on-site vision screenings, eye examinations, and prescription glasses directly at schools, libraries, and community centers, targeting underserved youth where up to 3 million children nationwide attend classes without corrective eyewear they medically require. Initiated with glasses for just five students at Napa Elementary School in , on March 27, 2012, the program has expanded nationally across multiple states, partnering with school districts, foundations, and corporations to serve children in high-need areas at a per-child cost under $150, covering all services from screening to fitting. Beutner continues to chair Vision To Learn, which has garnered recognition such as the 2022 Holiday Impact Prize for scaling access to vision care and improving academic outcomes linked to corrected vision. Beyond Vision To Learn, the Beutner Family Foundation has supported select educational grants, though its activities remain modest in scale compared to the nonprofit's broader reach. These efforts align with Beutner's longstanding commitment to remedial interventions for at-risk youth, prioritizing direct service delivery over broad policy advocacy in philanthropic channels.

Political Activities

2013 Mayoral Campaign

Austin Beutner, then serving as first deputy mayor for economic development under Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for a symbolic $1 annual salary, filed paperwork on April 14, 2011, to establish a campaign committee and begin fundraising for a potential bid in the March 2013 Los Angeles mayoral election. His motivations centered on leveraging his private-sector experience in investment banking and public-sector role to address job creation, city efficiency, education, and public safety, following a personal shift in priorities after a mountain biking accident that ended his private equity career. Beutner, a 51-year-old multimillionaire resident of Pacific Palisades with a wife and four children, emphasized his non-political background, including philanthropy in arts and education such as chairing boards at the Broad Stage and California Institute of the Arts, and funding scholarships for high school students. In a January 20, 2012, speech, Beutner outlined a business-oriented platform aimed at reforming city government, which he described as inefficient and likened to "the barnyard called City Hall." Key proposals included investing in biotech and technology sectors, streamlining tax and regulatory processes to support small businesses, and eliminating the city's business tax despite its $400 million annual revenue, arguing it burdened . He criticized delays in infrastructure projects, such as a rail cargo facility near the and road improvements, as well as a protracted 35-year plan, and opposed California's initiative as a costly "," advocating redirection of funds to local transportation needs. Beutner also highlighted excessive City Council salaries of $178,000, positioning himself as an outsider to entrenched politics in contrast to figures like Villaraigosa and council members and Jan Perry. Beutner's campaign raised $627,445 but spent $535,878 over its roughly yearlong duration, with plans to reimburse donors upon withdrawal. Despite early from donors, contacts, and others—without initial use of personal funds—the effort struggled to gain traction amid a crowded field. On May 8, 2012, Beutner announced his withdrawal from the race, citing irreconcilable demands of campaigning with his family responsibilities as a husband and father. In a letter to supporters, he expressed commitment to business-friendly reforms but prioritized personal obligations, stating the campaign's intensity conflicted with family needs. Following the exit, Beutner shifted focus to , including the "Vision to Learn" initiative providing eyeglasses to schoolchildren, and received praise from rivals like Garcetti, Wendy Greuel, and for his civic contributions. He did not participate in the March 5, 2013, primary election.

2026 Mayoral Campaign and Policy Positions

On October 13, 2025, Austin Beutner announced his candidacy for the 2026 mayoral election, positioning himself as the first major challenger to incumbent Democrat , whom he had endorsed in 2022. The announcement came via a four-minute video posted to and his campaign website, austinforla.com, amid criticisms of the city's handling of recent wildfires, including the Palisades Fire where infrastructure failures like non-functional fire hydrants exacerbated damage. Beutner, drawing on his experience as former LAUSD superintendent and , described as "adrift" and in need of a "citywide turnaround" to address declining affordability, public safety, and governance effectiveness. Beutner's campaign launch highlighted specific failures under Bass, including inadequate responses to the January 2025 wildfires symbolizing broader infrastructure breakdowns, persistent homelessness despite reported reductions, and budget decisions contributing to a projected billion-dollar shortfall. He criticized Bass's opposition to auditing the Inside Safe homelessness program, arguing for greater accountability in spending on support services. On public safety, Beutner pledged support for frontline workers such as firefighters and police, citing increased emergency calls related to homelessness as evidence of a deepening "humanitarian crisis." Regarding policy positions, Beutner expressed skepticism toward the 2025 Greater LA Homeless Count's reported 4% decrease, referencing a study indicating potential undercounting, and advocated for comprehensive audits of existing programs to enhance effectiveness. He supported expanding multi-modal transportation options for safer streets, including backing Measure HLA for and housing density increases. On federal relations, Beutner vowed to resist perceived as discriminatory—such as raids targeting individuals by skin color—while urging local reforms to minimize federal overreach, and committed to delivering a successful despite potential challenges from the incoming Trump administration. Beutner indicated that more detailed proposals on , safety, , and budget management would be released in subsequent weeks, emphasizing practical problem-solving over to restore public trust in city government. The election's primary is scheduled for June 2, 2026, with a potential runoff in November if no candidate secures a . As of the announcement, Bass's campaign had not issued a formal response, though Beutner's entry was noted as a significant jolt to the race given his prior alliance with her.

Controversies and Criticisms

Lack of Education Experience in Superintendent Role

Austin Beutner was appointed superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) on May 1, 2018, by a 5-2 vote of the school board, despite having no prior experience in education, including no time spent as a teacher, principal, or district administrator. His professional background prior to the role centered on finance and public service, including serving as CEO of the investment bank Evercore, first deputy mayor of Los Angeles under Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa from 2010 to 2013, and publisher of the Los Angeles Times and San Diego Union-Tribune from 2014 to 2016. Critics, including teachers' union representatives and education advocates, highlighted Beutner's absence of classroom or operational experience in public schools as a significant liability for leading the nation's second-largest district, which enrolled over 600,000 students at the time and faced chronic budget shortfalls, low graduation rates, and academic underperformance. United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) opposed the appointment, arguing that an outsider without education credentials could not effectively address pedagogical challenges or build trust with educators accustomed to insider leadership. Beutner himself acknowledged the unconventional nature of his selection during his introduction, stating it reflected the board's desire for change amid ongoing fiscal and academic crises, though detractors contended this prioritized business-oriented management over proven educational expertise. The decision drew comparisons to prior superintendent searches, where candidates with direct experience were favored, and amplified concerns about external business influences in public governance, particularly given Beutner's ties to supporters on the board. Despite these critiques, proponents emphasized his financial acumen as essential for stabilizing LAUSD's $7.5 billion annual , but the lack of sector-specific background persisted as a point of contention throughout his tenure, resurfacing in evaluations of district outcomes like the 2019 teacher strike and pandemic response.

Responses to Union and Progressive Critiques

Beutner addressed union criticisms during the 2019 teachers' strike by underscoring fiscal constraints while affirming alignment on core goals like smaller classes and competitive pay, stating that the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) demands mirrored district aspirations but exceeded available resources without additional state funding. The resulting tentative agreement, ratified by 86 percent of UTLA members, delivered a 6 percent salary increase phased over two years, class size caps reduced by up to four students in grades K-3 over four years (with 90 high-needs schools seeing immediate relief), and allocations for 600 additional staff including nurses, librarians, and counselors, which Beutner framed as a pathway to "accelerated improvement in student learning" and enhanced support services. In defending against UTLA portrayals of his as adversarial or corporate-driven, Beutner emphasized collaborative outcomes over confrontation, noting in a 2021 exit reflection that he "didn’t come for that fight" with unions but to improve performance, achieving gains without "busting anything up" through joint efforts on pay and class sizes. He countered claims of excessive demands by pointing to the strike's resolution via , rejecting narratives of inherent opposition and attributing tensions to longstanding underfunding rather than policy divergence. Progressive critiques framing Beutner as advancing —often citing his finance background and support for charter accountability—were met with assertions of commitment to public school equity, including initiatives like Primary Promise, which yielded "astounding" gains in early grades, with one pilot showing doubled reading proficiency after 10 weeks via targeted interventions. Beutner highlighted district-wide metrics under his tenure, such as expanded and supports for K-3 students contributing to sustained NAEP reading improvements, positioning these as evidence-based responses prioritizing student results over ideological resistance to evaluation or efficiency measures. On pandemic-era union demands for extended closures, Beutner negotiated distance learning pacts with UTLA emphasizing health protocols alongside instructional continuity, dismissing external lawsuits to force reopenings as "political stunts" that undermined negotiated stability, while later critiquing post-tenure district-union agreements for potentially shortchanging student access to arts under Proposition 28 funding. This reflected a consistent emphasis on pragmatic, resource-limited advancements in outcomes, such as reduced chronic absenteeism through family engagement programs, over unchecked expansion of adult-focused concessions.

Recent Political Stances on Immigration and Local Crises

In 2025, during his campaign launch for the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral election, Austin Beutner expressed opposition to the Trump administration's enforcement measures, describing them as an "assault on our values and our neighbors" that unacceptably targets individuals based on skin color. He vowed not to accept such policies, aligning with local resistance to federal actions like ICE raids, which he characterized as arresting "neighbors" rather than addressing core city problems. Beutner advocated prioritizing local solutions over federal overreach, stating that the city's "rudderless" leadership on domestic issues invites such interventions. Regarding local crises, Beutner has criticized the handling of as a "" exacerbated by ineffective spending, noting that has allocated billions of dollars yet seen problems intensify amid rising housing costs. He questioned the official 2025 Homeless Count's reported 4% decrease, referencing a analysis indicating an undercount, and proposed a comprehensive of homelessness programs to verify outcomes, asserting that visible evidence shows the issue persists or worsens. Beutner has also highlighted leadership failures in responding to emergencies, particularly the January 2025 Palisades fire, which killed 12 people and damaged thousands of homes, including his own. He attributed the inadequate response to systemic breakdowns under Mayor Karen Bass, such as non-functional fire hydrants, a broken reservoir, malfunctioning fire trucks, and insufficient firefighter deployment, calling broken hydrants a "metaphor for the failure of leadership in City Hall" and emphasizing that "the buck stops with the mayor." Overall, Beutner portrayed Los Angeles as "adrift" with no apparent progress on affordability, crime, or crisis management, urging a change in leadership to refocus on these priorities.

References

  1. https://edsource.org/2021/a-look-back-at-austin-beutners-tenure-as-l-a-unified-superintendent/657184
  2. https://calarts.edu/members/austin-m-beutner
  3. https://calltolead.dartmouth.edu/stories/trust-earned-work-you-do-not-words-you-say
  4. https://woodbury.edu/news/newly-appointed-superintendent-of-los-angeles-unified-schools-austin-beutner-to-speak-at-graduation/
  5. https://edsource.org/2021/qa-la-unifieds-austin-beutner-explains-his-decision-to-step-down-as-superintendent/653524
  6. https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-edu-beutner-los-angeles-superintendent-20180501-story.html
  7. https://laist.com/news/education/lausd-beutner-exit-interview-superintendent-austin
  8. https://www.thelatrust.org/articles/the-la-trust-will-honor-austin-beutner-at-sept-30-gala
  9. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/13/austin-beutner-launches-bid-to-unseat-karen-bass-in-la-mayoral-race-00606207
  10. https://cdn.cfr.org/sites/default/files/pdf/austin-beutner-short-bio-08.2020.pdf
  11. https://www.venicenc.org/ncfiles/viewCommitteeFile/5215
  12. https://laist.com/podcasts/off-ramp/meet-austin-beutner-mayoral-candidate
  13. https://www.givinglistlosangeles.com/2021/11/02/the-problem-solver/
  14. https://www.lausd.org/cms/lib/CA01000043/Centricity/Domain/978/Superintendent%2520Beutner%2520Bio.pdf
  15. https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-austin-beutner-los-angeles-times-publisher-20140811-story.html
  16. https://investors.evercore.com/node/11891/html
  17. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-09-17/beutner-tells-downgraded-los-angeles-grow-up-as-ex-banker-woos-employers
  18. https://www.privateequityinternational.com/evercores-beutner-to-retire/
  19. https://www.dogoodla.org/austin-beutner
  20. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2006-10-01/a-hot-ipo-market-for-boutique-banks
  21. https://www.marketing91.com/morgan-stanley-competitors/
  22. https://lamag.com/theindustry/who-is-austin-beutner/
  23. https://www.pacificcouncil.org/about/network/profile/austin-m-beutner
  24. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/12/business/media/ex-banker-to-lead-los-angeles-times.html
  25. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-11/is-austin-beutner-planning-to-run-for-los-angeles-mayor
  26. https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-austin-beutner-tribune-publishing-20150908-story.html
  27. https://www.cjr.org/the_feature/a_billionaire_a_fired_publisher_and_a_spectacle_at_the_la_times.php
  28. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/09/business/media/publisher-is-being-dismissed-from-los-angeles-times.html
  29. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-08/los-angeles-times-publisher-beutner-ousted-by-tribune-publishing
  30. https://www.niemanlab.org/2016/02/former-l-a-times-publisher-local-news-orgs-need-to-take-advantage-of-their-unique-geography/
  31. https://www.attoreassociates.com/news/austin-beutner-ceo-los-angeles-times/
  32. https://abc7.com/post/former-lausd-superintendent-austin-beutner-launches-campaign-unseat-mayor-karen-bass/17998628/
  33. https://laist.com/news/politics/why-former-lausd-superintendent-and-businessman-austin-beutner-wants-to-be-las-next-mayor
  34. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/former-los-angeles-schools-superintendent-launches-challenge-mayor-kar-rcna237508
  35. https://www.ladwpnews.com/austin-beutner-appointed-ladwp-interim-general-manager-by-los-angeles-board-of-water-and-power-commissioners/
  36. https://www.ladwpnews.com/ron-nichols-appointed-general-manager-of-the-los-angeles-department-of-water-and-power/
  37. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-21-la-me-dwp-rate-threat-20100721-story.html
  38. https://laist.com/news/kpcc-archive/beutner-faces-dwp-history-resisting-oversight
  39. https://abc7.com/post/philanthropist-austin-beutner-named-next-lausd-superintendent/3413855/
  40. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/lausd-superintendent-announcement/153688/
  41. https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-edu-unions-rally-against-beutner-20180524-story.html
  42. https://www.lausd.org/site/Default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&PageID=1&ViewID=6446ee88-d30c-497e-9316-3f8874b3e108&FlexDataID=69059
  43. https://www.laschoolreport.com/more-parents-less-district-lausds-new-superintendent-readies-his-strategic-plan-to-bring-change-to-la-schools/
  44. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-power-struggle-behind-the-los-angeles-teachers-strike-11548082800
  45. https://theschoolleader.org/asasp/news/details-la-strike-settlement
  46. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-08-15/la-schools-superintendent-student-achievement
  47. https://www.lausd.org/site/Default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&PageID=1&ViewID=6446ee88-d30c-497e-9316-3f8874b3e108&FlexDataID=83535
  48. https://edsource.org/2021/l-a-unified-supt-austin-beutner-to-step-down-in-june/653462
  49. https://www.dailynews.com/2021/06/26/ive-still-got-another-chapter-in-me-for-lausds-beutner-a-turbulent-term-but-no-regrets/
  50. https://socalgrantmakers.org/profile/org/670
  51. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/the-beutner-family-foundation
  52. https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/the-beutner-family-foundation-us-foundation-137052573
  53. https://visiontolearn.org/news/vision-to-learn-founder-austin-beutner-rejuvenation-inc-founder-jim-kelly-and-new-york-times-columnist-nick-kristof-address-vision-care-crisis-among-school-children-across-the-country/
  54. https://visiontolearn.org/
  55. https://gothamartists.com/austin-beutner/
  56. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/137052573
  57. https://visiontolearn.org/about/from-the-founder/
  58. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vision-learn-founder-austin-beutner-140000953.html
  59. https://visiontolearn.org/wp-content/uploads/VTL_AnnualReport_2020_2022_23_sm.pdf
  60. https://visiontolearn.org/impact/recognition/
  61. https://visiontolearn.org/news/beutner-family-foundation-honored-for-vision-to-learn/
  62. https://www.ladowntownnews.com/news/beutner-files-papers-for-mayor-s-race/article_fff762a3-6453-5d4e-a135-6574f644733d.html
  63. https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/culture-monster-blog/story/2011-04-15/l-a-arts-philanthropist-austin-beutner-takes-first-step-toward-a-run-for-mayor
  64. https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2012-jan-20-la-me-beutner-mayor-20120120-story.html
  65. https://www.dailynews.com/2012/05/08/businessman-austin-beutner-drops-bid-for-la-mayor/
  66. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-may-09-la-me-0509-beutner-out-20120509-story.html
  67. https://patch.com/california/pacificpalisades/austin-beutner-drops-out-of-la-mayoral-race
  68. https://www.dailynews.com/2025/10/11/former-lausd-superintendent-austin-beutner-launches-2026-mayoral-bid/
  69. https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/los-angeles-austin-beutner-interview/
  70. https://www.laschoolreport.com/austin-beutner-is-named-superintendent-as-board-members-choose-strong-leadership-to-tackle-lausds-deep-academic-and-fiscal-challenges/
  71. https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-los-angeles-schools-austin-beutner-superintendent-lc.html
  72. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-25/austin-beutner-la-schools-timeline-strike-covid-more
  73. https://www.laschoolreport.com/change-must-happen-austin-beutner-is-introduced-as-superintendent-and-vows-to-start-with-lausds-culture/
  74. https://enewspaper.latimes.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=77157fac-34ee-4cd4-bfd6-44e0bded9935
  75. https://www.the74million.org/article/austin-beutner-named-superintendent-of-l-a-schools-as-board-turns-focus-to-tackling-dire-academic-and-fiscal-challenges/
  76. https://abc7.com/post/austin-beutner-resigns-lausd-superintendent-who-is-of-los-angeles-unified-school-district/10535125/
  77. https://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-edu-lausd-strike-deal-details-20190122-story.html
  78. https://www.lausd.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=4466&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=74488&PageID=1
  79. https://edsource.org/2019/agreement-reached-on-la-school-strike-teachers-expected-to-return-to-class-on-wednesday/607523
  80. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/16/us/california-today-austin-beutner-la-teacher-strike.html
  81. https://www.dmgroupk12.com/writable/documents/DMJ30_Case_Study_LAUSD.pdf
  82. https://edsource.org/2022/la-unifieds-stunning-reading-score-on-naep-illusion-real-or-something-in-between/681723
  83. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-02-06/beutner-lausd-lawsuit-reopening-political-stunt
  84. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-11/lausd-misused-millions-intended-to-increase-arts-instruction-lawsuit-alleges
  85. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-13/austin-beutner-launches-mayoral-campaign-vowing-to-fight-injustices-carried-out-under-trump
  86. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-11/former-l-a-schools-chief-plans-to-announce-a-run-for-mayor
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.