Frank Stallone, the actor and brother of Sylvester Stallone, says California isn’t the same place he moved to in 1979. Back then, he says it was sunny, safe, and full of hope. Now, he calls it filthy, scary, and overrun with crime and homeless camps. He blames liberal leaders like Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for letting the state fall apart.
Stallone says downtown Los Angeles looks like the movie Escape from New York, where cities turn into lawless wastelands. He describes trash piled four feet high, sidewalks blocked by tents, and streets smelling like human waste. He locks his car doors now, something he never did in the “good old days.”
Homelessness is out of control, Stallone says. He wants tents and RVs cleared off sidewalks and parks. He thinks young people begging on corners should get jobs instead of handouts. While some homeless are mentally ill, he says many could work cleaning up the city. But leaders aren’t making that happen.
Stallone slams Governor Newsom as a “phony” who cares more about his podcast than fixing problems. He criticizes Mayor Bass for leaving Los Angeles during wildfires to visit Ghana. He says fired officials like the fire chief were just scapegoats for bad policies.
Crime is another disaster. Stallone points to laws like Proposition 47, which lets thieves steal up to $950 without major penalties. He says this encourages criminals and hurts businesses. New 2025 laws are cracking down harder on fentanyl dealers and repeat offenders, but Stallone thinks it’s too little, too late.
Drugs like fentanyl are flooding streets, causing overdoses and violence. Hollywood has become a hotspot for drug crime. Cops are seizing more stolen goods and making arrests, but Stallone says the damage is already done. He worries the 2028 Olympics will embarrass Los Angeles if things don’t change.
Stallone supports Rick Caruso, a businessman, to run for governor. He says leaders need to be “visionaries” who clean up streets, enforce laws, and restore pride. Until then, he warns California will keep sinking into chaos.
The state’s beauty – mountains, beaches, perfect weather – is still there. But Stallone says bad policies and weak leaders are ruining it. He wants a return to common sense: punish criminals, help the truly needy, and make California dreamy again.
