Los Angeles mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Nithya Raman participated in a debate Wednesday evening that has been described by some observers as potentially the worst streamed political debate in history. The 90-minute event, held in front of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, was criticized for a lack of new ideas and for failing to adequately address constituents' concerns.
During the debate, Mayor Bass stated that homelessness would not be solved without addressing drug addiction and mental illness. Councilmember Raman, who represents Sherman Oaks in the City Council, faced questions regarding her membership in the Democratic Socialists of America, her vote against the police budget, and her support for allowing homeless encampments in city parks. Her responses were met with criticism for not reassuring the business community about street vendor regulations or homeowners about the future of single-family housing.
Raman also appeared to agree with Bass's claim that she had missed "thousands" of meetings and votes, attempting to deflect blame by mentioning Bass's appointments to outside jobs. Bass, in turn, was pressed on why her close advisors were doing public relations work for Lineage, the company whose warehouse experienced a prolonged fire in Boyle Heights. She also faced criticism for the three-year delay in appointing a "film czar," a position intended to address job losses in Hollywood.
Adding to the disorganization, some viewers attempting to watch the debate online encountered a message stating, "The webinar is at the host’s allowed capacity," preventing them from viewing the event. Critics suggested that the debate's low quality made it appear as if the candidates were reluctant to win the election, leaving voters with a choice between "the incompetent versus the malevolent."