Bass, Raman are nearly tied in fundraising with LA mayoral election weeks away<\/a><\/p>\nLos Angeles mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Nithya Raman have each raised about $2.5 million in direct contributions and so-called “matching funds” from the city.<\/p>\n
“When I think of foreign affairs, especially conflicts, my focus is on how they impact the city of L.A. And no, I don’t,” Bass said.<\/p>\n
On local issues, Bass apologized for not being in Los Angeles during what she described as one of the most difficult moments of her career — the January 2025 wildfires.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat will forever go down as one of the worst moments that I ever experienced. To me, not being here was very, very painful,\u201d Bass said.<\/p>\n
Until the number of unhoused people in L.A. rose in July, Bass had promoted what she saw as relative success in getting people off the streets.<\/p>\n
Neither candidate offered a clear answer about how long homeless encampments should be allowed to remain. Raman noted the legal limitations the city faces when someone declines an offer of shelter.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople can refuse shelter. People are able to say that they won\u2019t go into a shelter, and if you offer that shelter and they don\u2019t take it, there is no legal pathway to which you can force them to go indoors,” Raman said. “What you can do is force them to go from that particular location.”<\/p>\n
\u201cThere just shouldn\u2019t be people sleeping on our streets period,\u201d Bass said.<\/p>\n
With polls showing nearly one-third of voters still undecided, minds may not have changed, but more likely, solidified after the discussion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found a lot of the way things have been handled pretty disappointing. I continue to be disappointed in the way L.A. funds a lot of things, and the mayor is in charge of that budget,\u201d Raman voter Ravayna Coen said.<\/p>\n
Bass supporter Houman Hemmati said he would back the incumbent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to decide between who will make the city worse or who will keep the city the way it is, with four years max in office. So I think Karen Bass is the person I’m going to put my support behind,\u201d Hemmati said.<\/p>\n
With five weeks remaining before Election Night, both candidates are working to reach voters who have not yet made their choice. Ballots will begin arriving by mail on Thursday.<\/p>\n
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