LA mayoral debate: Karen Bass, Nithya Raman both lose

See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The California Post on Google.

Key points

• For 90 minutes at the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, the two attacked each other, interrupted each other, and informed each other what a bad job they were doing.
• Afterwards, Raman landed a jab concerning Mayor Bass's campaign staff running crisis communications for Lineage, the food storage firm involved in the recent Boyle Heights fire.
• LA Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman faced off in the first mayoral debate of the general election, and both managed to earn terrible grades.
• But Raman couldn't explain why she had hired staff from disgraced Maine Senate candidates Graham Platner's campaign.
• Raman additionally fielded a question concerning fears of the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America, including the rise of antisemitism.

For 90 minutes at the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, the two attacked each other, interrupted each other, and informed each other what a bad job they were doing. At one point, even the moderator lost patience.

During an exchange on homelessness, he scolded both candidates. "The audience doesn't know who to believe, and they don't have a lot of confidence that either of you have a definitive plan."

Neither candidate seemed to have any new ideas for solving LA's challenges. Neither candidate seemed up to the challenges of the office.

As if she hadn't been in office for four years, mayor Bass spoke vaguely regarding transforming the system for dealing with homelessness, and concerning creating a new central economic development authority.

Raman managed to step on one rake after another. When Bass declared, "You have missed several thousand votes because you won't show up to work, " Raman, amazingly, remarked, "Yeah."

When a resident asked what the candidates would do regarding the fact that street vendors are outcompeting brick-and-mortar restaurants by evading regulations and taxes, Raman talked concerning how great vendors are.

Bass didn't miss the opportunity to land a punch: "I do not think that you should have a food vendor in front of a restaurant, period, " she remarked, to applause.

Bizarrely, Raman additionally brought up the fact that she had once endorsed Bass. She failed to explain why she had changed her mind.

In practice, the only positive point the challenger managed to put throughout was the fact that homeless encampments had declined in her own council district.

But Raman struggled to explain why she had voted against a city ordinance banning homeless encampments near schools and day care centers.

There was evident frustration in the room against Raman. This person represents Sherman Oaks as part of Council District 4. One of the questions demanded to know why Raman had not been more responsive to local businesses. All Raman could say was that voters in other parts of the city felt "let down" by Bass.

"Of course there's gonna be people that complain, " Raman concluded, attempting to explain why her own constituents were unhappy with her.

Raman additionally fielded a question concerning fears of the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America, including the rise of antisemitism. According to She, while she was a member of the socialist organization, she had charted an independent course.

At one point, Raman was asked: "What, if anything, have you done to protect single-family homes?" She waffled, ending with a warning that the attacks on single-family homes would continue unless the city built enough of the dense high-rises that the state clearly prefers.

There could not have been a more tone-deaf response. The moderator then began arguing with Raman concerning SB 79, a recent state law that overrides local zoning to encourage high-rises near transit hubs.

Bass insisted on getting a word in edgewise; she ought to have allowed Raman to continue to dig the hole she was in. Sign up for the California Morning Report newsletter.

California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

Afterwards, Raman landed a jab concerning Mayor Bass's campaign staff running crisis communications for Lineage, the food storage firm involved in the recent Boyle Heights fire. Bass had to admit it wasn't a good look.

But Raman couldn't explain why she had hired staff from disgraced Maine Senate candidates Graham Platner's campaign. Her best defense: She additionally hired staff from Zohran Mamdani's campaign. (As if that were a good thing.).

Both candidates seemed determined to lose. Neither of them mentioned the challenge of rebuilding after the LA fires last year.

Both deserved to earn an "F." Bass looked only slightly more competent. So, "D-minus" for her.

She additionally stole a line from Spencer Pratt, the insurgent candidate who shook up the primary election.

Bass – surprisingly – emphasized the importance of fighting drugs and mental illness among the homeless.

As if she hadn't been running a "housing first" policy for four years.

At least she learned something from Pratt. It was a reminder of how much he brought to the election. Joel Pollak is Opinion editor of the California Post.

In short, LA mayoral debate: Karen Bass, Nithya Raman both lose is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.