Final Mayoral Debate Sees Moderators Challenge Nithya Raman on Multiple Fronts

Los Angeles mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Nithya Raman participated in their final debate, where moderators from NBC4 and Telemundo 52 directed numerous challenging questions toward Raman.

The debate, held Tuesday evening, saw Bass, the incumbent, aiming to highlight doubts about her challenger, while Raman sought to criticize Bass's record and promote her own platform of change. The moderators, however, largely focused their inquiries on Raman.

Early in the debate, when asked about voter trust, Bass highlighted public safety improvements during her term. Raman responded by quoting Ronald Reagan, asking, "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

Homelessness and Policy Stances

During a discussion on homelessness, Raman was questioned about her responsibility as chair of the city council's homelessness committee. After initially evading the question, she was pressed further. Subsequently, Raman was asked if she would repeal an ordinance banning homeless encampments near schools, an ordinance she had previously opposed. She took a significant pause before confirming she would not repeal it.

Bass then criticized Raman's alleged mismanagement of the committee, to which Raman responded by accusing the mayor of making "personal attacks."

Controversial Video and Police Chief Comments

The moderators also brought up a since-deleted campaign video featuring Raman, created with social media influencer Ed Choi. In the video, Raman appeared to label Bass and LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell as "fascists." Raman attempted to clarify, stating her objection was to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) being racist, not the city or the mayor. However, the moderators questioned why her campaign had not vetted Choi's views, a question Raman could not answer.

Bass responded by accusing Raman of dishonesty and questioning her understanding of the word "fascist," stating it showed Raman was "not ready for prime time."

Further scrutiny fell on Raman's apparent shift in stance regarding LAPD Chief McDonnell's future. While she had previously suggested to the California Post that she would fire him, she later stated to other outlets that she would retain him until 2030. When asked to clarify, Raman stated the decision was not solely the mayor's and depended on "other factors."

Bass countered that Raman was demonstrating a lack of understanding and admitted that while firing the chief was the easy part, replacing him before the 2028 Olympics would be the difficult challenge. Bass also criticized Raman for taking different positions on various days.

Palisades Fire and Measure ULA

The debate addressed the Palisades Fire, a point of vulnerability for Bass, who apologized for being out of the country during the incident. Raman pledged to be on the "front lines" during emergencies but also proposed a "Palisades czar" for rebuilding, an approach Bass had previously attempted unsuccessfully.

Later, Raman faced questions about Measure ULA, the "mansion tax." She had voted for it, then later stated it needed reform. When asked why she did not foresee the issues with Measure ULA, Raman cited "data" that supported the measure before its passage, which she claimed changed afterward. The article noted that public arguments against the tax were available prior to its approval.

Bass accused Raman of being "contemptuous" of constituents regarding hazardous, abandoned buildings and claimed Raman had asked her four years prior to manage her city council district, a claim Raman denied.

Despite the candidates' discussions on issues such as traffic safety and Hollywood jobs, the debate largely highlighted their weaknesses. The moderators' persistent questioning of Raman led to her being portrayed as radical and inconsistent, a dynamic Raman's campaign may view as an unfair fight, but one that the article suggests was "brutally honest about her shortcomings."