{"id":2647480,"date":"2026-08-20T16:39:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T20:39:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bass-and-raman-clash-over-hot-button-issues-in-los-angeles-mayoral-debate\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T16:41:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T20:41:58","slug":"bass-and-raman-clash-over-hot-button-issues-in-los-angeles-mayoral-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bass-and-raman-clash-over-hot-button-issues-in-los-angeles-mayoral-debate\/","title":{"rendered":"Bass and Raman clash over hot-button issues in Los Angeles mayoral debate"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbass-and-raman-clash-over-hot-button-issues-in-los-angeles-mayoral-debate%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2647480&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Los Angeles Mayor Karen bass and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman engaged in a heated debate over key issues such as homelessness,public safety,housing,and the economy during the first major debate of their mayoral race. Bass aimed to portray Raman as an inexperienced outsider unlikely to garner support at City Hall, while raman criticized Bass&#8217;s handling of homelessness and other city problems, citing a 49% reduction in unsheltered homelessness in her district as evidence of her effectiveness. The debate highlighted disagreements over programs like Inside safe, city management of homelessness funds, housing density laws, public safety funding, policing policies, immigration enforcement, and the entertainment industry\u2019s economic impact. both candidates clashed over policy approaches, with Bass emphasizing her experience and initiatives, and Raman advocating for greater oversight, accountability, and reforms to address Los Angeles\u2019s longstanding challenges.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Los Angeles Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/karen-bass\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2491\">Karen Bass<\/a> and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman traded sharp attacks Wednesday night over <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/homelessness\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1928\">homelessness<\/a>, policing, housing, and the city\u2019s struggling economy in the first major debate of the general election campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 90-minute debate offered voters a preview of a race expected to be closely watched. Bass, who finished about 5 points ahead of Raman in the June primary, sought to portray her challenger as an inexperienced outsider who would struggle to build support at City Hall.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4694893\/bass-raman-clash-los-angeles-mayoral-debate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Bass and Raman clash over homelessness, public safety, and Hollywood in heated Los Angeles mayoral debate<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4692828\/trump-96-percent-endorsement-success-rate-republicans-he-backed-who-lost\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump has a 96% endorsement success rate. Here are the Republicans he\u2019s backed who have lost<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4692436\/five-takeaway-florida-alaska-wyoming-primary\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Five takeaways from Florida, Alaska, and Wyoming primary elections<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raman argued that Bass\u2019s four years in office have produced inadequate results on some of Los Angeles\u2019s most pressing problems.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Karen Bass and Nithya Raman (AP photos)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/image-collage-h08lbvbfo-1780964762721-e1787253503822.jpg?1780950423&#038;w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, left, and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman. (AP photos)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4643801\/los-angeles-homelessness-crisis-central-fight-bass-raman-mayoral-race\/#google_vignette\">Homelessness<\/a> emerged as one of the night\u2019s central issues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Homelessness in the country\u2019s second-largest city rose 3.4% to an estimated 45,194 people in 2026, while unsheltered homelessness increased by nearly 8%, according to the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count. The increase followed two consecutive years of declines.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raman, who founded a homelessness outreach nonprofit, pointed to a 49% reduction in unsheltered homelessness in her district as evidence of what she said stronger oversight can accomplish.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She promised to audit every city dollar devoted to homelessness within her first six months as mayor and criticized Bass\u2019s Inside Safe program, arguing that roughly $400 million has been spent without sufficient accountability.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bass defended Inside Safe, a housing initiative launched by Bass to move people from street encampments into temporary motel and hotel rooms. She argued that Los Angeles\u2019s broader homelessness system is dysfunctional because responsibility is divided among the city, Los Angeles County, and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf the city controls the system completely, we can have our own contracts with federally qualified health clinics to get people the healthcare that they need, especially in terms of drugs and mental health,\u201d Bass said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bass also challenged Raman\u2019s claim that the reduction in homelessness in her council district was primarily the result of her policies, arguing that Inside Safe played a major role.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The program has faced questions about its effectiveness. A <em>Los Angeles Times<\/em> analysis found that roughly 41% of people who entered Inside Safe had <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2026-04-05\/under-la-mayors-300-million-homeless-program-40-have-returned-to-street\">subsequently returned<\/a> to homelessness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bass repeatedly pointed to Raman\u2019s six years on the City Council, including her leadership of the Housing and Homelessness Committee, arguing that she bears some responsibility for the city\u2019s challenges.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The candidates also clashed over a state law encouraging greater housing density around transit corridors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bass has opposed the law, arguing that Sacramento should not dictate how Los Angeles develops its neighborhoods.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe best way to build is to reach agreement with communities,\u201d Bass said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raman supports the bill but has worked with city officials on guidelines for implementing it, including potential limits on building heights and unit counts in some single-family neighborhoods.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is a massive problem for the future of Los Angeles,\u201d Raman said, calling for a planning department capable of zoning for more housing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Public safety provided another major point of contention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raman defended her opposition to a 2023 contract that provided pay increases for Los Angeles Police Department officers, arguing the city could not afford the agreement and suffered as a result through reduced funding for streetlights, pothole repairs, and sanitation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is about fiscal management of our public tax dollars,\u201d Raman said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raman said she supports maintaining the size of the LAPD but argued the department still struggles with recruitment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bass, who has advocated expanding the department, used a 2020 social media post in which Raman supported defunding the police to attack her opponent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe\u2019s irresponsible in what she talks about because she talks out of both sides of her mouth,\u201d Bass said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raman also criticized Police Chief Jim McDonnell over his handling of federal immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles. She said she would replace McDonnell if elected.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t believe that his response to the ICE raids on our streets has met the moment,\u201d Raman said. \u201cThis is a moment where immigrants in the city are under attack.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The candidates also sparred over Los Angeles\u2019s entertainment industry.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raman said the city has lost tens of thousands of film jobs under Bass and said Los Angeles needs a more aggressive film tax credit to compete with other states.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/4691016\/californias-wealth-tax-already-failing\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4691016\"><strong>OPINION | CALIFORNIA\u2019S WEALTH TAX IS ALREADY FAILING<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe need a tax credit and advocacy in Sacramento for the kind of tax credit that is the same as Georgia has, that\u2019s the same that New Jersey has, that\u2019s taking jobs away from here,\u201d Raman said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bass pointed to her appointment of a film czar to serve as a liaison between the industry and City Hall and criticized Raman for not doing more during her six years on the council.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LA Mayoral Race Heats Up: Bass and Raman Clash<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2647481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-collage-h08lbvbfo-1780964762721-e1787253503822.jpg?1780950423&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[51930,67308,84462,44994,84463],"class_list":["post-2647480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-bass-2","tag-hot-button-issues","tag-los-angeles-mayoral-debate","tag-political-clash","tag-raman"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-collage-h08lbvbfo-1780964762721-e1787253503822.jpg?1780950423&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2647480"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2647483,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647480\/revisions\/2647483"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2647481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2647480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2647480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2647480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}