Mayor Karen Bass made an appearance in Sherman Oaks on Oct. 16 to begin her planned 15-day campaign tour across the City Council’s 15 districts. Bass started her `15 in 15′ campaign tour in Council District 4, which is represented by her challenger, Councilwoman Nithya Raman. The incumbent joined residents of CD4 who say Raman has been “absent and failed to lead while the mayor has stepped up to resolve issues in their communities,” according to the mayor’s campaign.
Bass’ campaign is expected to unveil additional details about the remaining tour stops in the coming days. Raman’s campaign just a day ago released a television advertisement featuring L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia. The 30-second ad highlights Raman’s commitment to transparency and accountability by auditing the city’s use of taxpayer dollars.
The two mayoral candidates are expected to ramp up their attacks against one another and boost their platforms as they seek to reach undecided voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
The hopefuls clashed over homelessness and public safety during their last televised debate Tuesday night.
During the debate, Bass portrayed Raman as someone who lacks experience to run the second-largest city in the nation, as well as someone with no convictions. At one point, Bass argued that Raman’s constituents call the mayor’s office to address critical issues affecting their communities. Raman argued that is a sign of a fractured, broken city where departments are not
functioning properly.
Raman, on the other hand, focused on sharing her vision for a better, healthier, and functioning city for residents. The councilwoman emphasized that it was time for a new chapter for Angelenos.
During the debate, Bass touted what she called her accomplishments in reducing homelessness for the first time in years through her signature initiative, Inside Safe, as well as supporting the construction of affordable housing units via her first executive directive.
Bass emphasized that voters will have a significant choice for mayor. “Voters need to look at my team. She (Raman) has been in Los Angeles for 13 years and has served on two councils at that time. She has consistently voted against police officers. She has consistently voted to not remove encampments in front of schools, so parents and kids have to navigate their way
through,” Bass said.
“There is a better way to go,” Bass added. Raman insisted that her policies resulted in a nearly 50 percent reduction in homelessness for her district. The councilwoman countered that under Bass, the city is struggling.
“As I have been around the city talking to voters through this campaign, the answer for too many Angelenos has been the same… what I have heard from them is that we’ve had a mayor who has been MIA. For me, that is simply unacceptable,” Raman said.
“I know that the city can do better,” Raman added. “We’ve seen a reduction in homelessness, nearly 50 percent, even as it rose across the city, and I’ve delivered real constituent services consistently. And that’s what I hope to deliver.”
NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams, NBC4 Chief Political Reporter Conan Nolan and Telemundo 52 anchor Alejandra Ortiz moderated the debate, which was organized in partnership with Loyola Marymount University.
The one-hour debate was televised by NBC4 and Telemundo 52 and streamed on the stations’ websites, mobile apps and local news streaming channels. Bass and Raman are scheduled to make an appearance at a downtown forum Thursday at 6 p.m., which is being hosted by the Downtown Los Angeles Residents Association in partnership with the South Park Neighborhood
Association, LA River Artists and Business Association, and DTLA Proud.
