Dave Zahniser\u2019s story<\/a> about Raman\u2019s many flip-flops. This is one of them. She was all in on the mansion tax, as was I. But then she did a turn-around. You can argue that she\u2019s learning and evolving. Or you could conclude that she\u2019s trying to figure out what might offer her the best chance of winning.<\/p>\nArellano: I\u2019m with you \u2014 but tell that to the most wokoso of my friends. Now I\u2019M going to not name names haha!<\/p>\n
Lopez: Bass was on it. I met with her in her office to talk about her reaction to ICE. She seemed to me at the time to be personally offended by the attacks on her city.<\/p>\n
Ali: Immigrants get the job done. Raman has pointed out that she\u2019s an immigrant. Any questions?<\/p>\n
Arellano: Bass has repeatedly brought up the fact that L.A.\u2019s immigrant rights establishment \u2014 a major moral and political force in city politics \u2014 backs her and that she\u2019s stood with them for decades. All of that is true. But some of those longtime activists have privately hectored her for supposedly not being as strident against Trump\u2019s deportation deluge as other big-city mayors like Brandon Johnson in Chicago and Minneapolis\u2019 Jacob Frey. None have left her side, however, which is something that younger Latino activists have also privately stewed about. Go public with this stuff, folks!<\/p>\n
Lopez: I\u2019m reminded a little bit of traveling with presidential candidates for a brief stint, and thinking that Bill Bradley was the smartest one on the trail. But he seemed to lack a spark, as if he wasn\u2019t sure he wanted to subject himself to the business of politics. I\u2019m getting a little bit of that with Raman.<\/p>\n
Ali: Bass used the word \u201cproud\u201d in describing her response to the Lineage fire. Honestly, that\u2019s quite stunning. It was a fiasco, for weeks.<\/p>\n
Arellano: Now Raman is attacking Bass over Lineage and, by association, Palisades. There\u2019s much to criticize Bass on, but Raman has succeeded when she offers a message of positivity and vision and seems lazy when criticizing Bass considering that\u2019s all the rest of the city does one way or another.<\/p>\n
Lopez: I agree with you Gustavo. Come on. You need to show command of the topic, not review your notes.<\/p>\n
Ali: But just as a matter of presentation, Bass knows how to speak to the camera, and address the moderators, without appearing confused about where to turn. It sounds like a minor thing, but it matters in political debates. Trump the Reality TV Showman had that down, and look what happened.<\/p>\n
Lopez: Another opportunity for Raman, the Boyle Heights fiasco. Can you imagine months of inconvenience in certain other neighborhoods of LA?<\/p>\n
Arellano: Supporters of Raman will say that her constantly looking down at notes shows a prospective mayor that does the homework and relies on facts instead of emotions in making decisions. To the average viewer, though, the move looks like someone who can\u2019t speak from the heart and isn\u2019t well-versed on matters. Sorry for obsessing over this, but this is a televised debate, after all.<\/p>\n
Lopez: One reason for staffing problems is the way firefighters, many of whom live out of state, stack overtime and float to opening at one station after another, where there\u2019s no teamwork, and where they\u2019re perhaps too tired to work effectively. Will one of these candidates crack down?<\/p>\n
Lopez: But yes to Gustavo. LAFD screwed up, as LA Times reporting has proven. The smoldering fire was not put out despite warnings.<\/p>\n
Arellano: Raman finally got the better of Bass on Palisades, which is an albatross that will never leave the mayor.<\/p>\n
Ali: Do we believe the outcome of the fire would have been different under another mayor? I\u2019m not sure given how fast and ferocious that fire was. Follow up is another matter. I\u2019m also watching Spencer Pratt\u2019s X account to see if he weighs in. Nothing, so far.<\/p>\n
Lopez: She hired Steve Soboroff without word on what he was being paid or by whom. Then she hired consultants. Then it wasn\u2019t clear who was in charge of what.<\/p>\n
Arellano: But that bungling came from LAFD, which is what Bass should be screaming from the top of the Hollywood sign.<\/p>\n
Lopez: It wasn\u2019t just that she was out of town. It\u2019s that the early planning was bungled in multiple ways.<\/p>\n
Lopez: Gustavo that doesn\u2019t sound like Dennis the Menace.<\/p>\n
Arellano: Bass shouldn\u2019t be apologizing for not being in L.A. during the fire! It\u2019s a reminder that she didn\u2019t step up to the occasion, and she doesn\u2019t realize that NO ONE who\u2019s upset at her for that will ever forgive her for that. And I say this as someone who defender her not being in town, a stance I still stand by<\/p>\n
Lopez: An attempt by Bass to appease Palisades voters. But is it too little too late?<\/p>\n
Ali: I agree, Steve. Bass is more commanding. She leads this debate. So far.<\/p>\n
Lopez: An opening for Raman on the fire.<\/p>\n
Lopez: I think we\u2019re seeing the benefit of the poise that comes with two decades of running for political office. Bass knows how to do this. The campaign part of it, anyway, even if the leadership part is not always there.<\/p>\n
Arellano: Although Raman has spent most of her time weathering Bass\u2019 barrages, her answers have been crisp and on point. This is not the blabbering Raman of the primary; this is a candidate that has learned to stick to whatever script she\u2019s reading from and not stray from it<\/p>\n
Ali: I\u2019d like a more definitive answer on the LAPD chief.<\/p>\n
Ali: Raman wants LAPD chief out. She is asked will she replace him before the 28 Olympic games? It\u2019s not something she can immediately set a timeline on.<\/p>\n
Lopez: Raman was \u201cdefund the police\u201d and then voted for a 3% LAPD budget increase. Which is the real Raman?<\/p>\n
Arellano: Raman: \u201cI resent personal attacks and I\u2019d rather stick to facts.\u201d Bass: \u201cI am.\u201d Critics have long said Raman is thin-skinned and can\u2019t take the political heat — and so far, she\u2019s showing that the mayor\u2019s attacks is getting under her skin. She\u2019s even trying to speak over or shush Conan Nolan — not a smart move.<\/p>\n
Lopez: This is partly about Raman trying to figure out if she\u2019s still DSA material or more moderate for the sake of this election.<\/p>\n
Arellano: \u201cYou are not ready for prime time.\u201d Bass on Raman. A sentiment long used against Raman — yet Raman keeps winning and winning. How long can her streak last?:<\/p>\n
Ali: The \u201cfascist\u201d comment is a problem for Raman, and she needs a better defense than she didn\u2019t know. Bass just said it\u2019s proof that she\u2019s not ready for prime time. BOOM!<\/p>\n
Arellano: Bass also looking at her notes, but doing the Xavier Becerra-channeling-Xavier Becerra move of jotting down notes while her opponent talks \u2014 power move.<\/p>\n
Lopez: Oh come on, Raman can\u2019t blame the \u201cbig social media team.\u201d Is she in charge or not?<\/p>\n
Arellano: Lorraine, ask my editors how much I antagonize them with my vibes journalism. I\u2019m this paper\u2019s Dennis the Menace!<\/p>\n
Arellano: Raman looks like she wants to be anywhere but there. Bass is coming out firing but doesn\u2019t seem meandering or even necessarily lashing like the Sherman Oaks fiasco. But attacking Raman again and again — someone that many Angelenos still really don\u2019t know, unlike the historically unpopular Bass — might backfire<\/p>\n
Ali: If I ever run against either of you, Steve or Gustavo, I promise not to say you were difficult to work with.<\/p>\n
Lopez: Mental health courts deal with drugs and mental illness. There aren\u2019t nearly enough with them, even though they\u2019re effective. But a mayor can\u2019t wave a wand.<\/p>\n
Ali: I may have spoken too soon. Raman just attacked Bass for attacking her.<\/p>\n
Lopez: Harm reduction is the norm in L.A. It works for some people, harms others, including neighbors and merchants.<\/p>\n
Arellano: \u201cYour colleagues have a very difficult time working with you.\u201d Bass, to Raman. MEAN GIRLS ANYONE???<\/p>\n
Ali: Not a great look. The notes, I mean. And yes, it does feel Raman is a bit restrained.<\/p>\n
Lopez: It\u2019s early, but to Lorraine and Gustavo, does it appear Raman is playing it safe, like someone who thinks she\u2019s in the lead?<\/p>\n
Arellano: Raman continues to look down at notes — good look, or bad look?<\/p>\n
Ali: Agree, Steve.<\/p>\n
Lopez: I\u2019ve walked to school with parents weaving around encampments and drug activity. I think they\u2019d support the bans.<\/p>\n
Lopez: Here\u2019s another problem for Raman. She\u2019s opposed to clearing encampments near public spaces. But claims she\u2019ll support it if council members want those bans.<\/p>\n
Ali: Raman was also asked if she accepts any responsibility for some of the homeless crisis. She pointed to Bass, again.<\/p>\n
Lopez: I\u2019ll give her this: Raman knew more about homelessness before taking office than most council members did.<\/p>\n
Arellano: Raman says homelessness is \u201cthe biggest issue\u201d she\u2019s hearing about from constituents. Rather than take any blame for her actions or lack of actions, she pivots to pointing a rhetorical finger at Bass while saying she\u2019s \u201cvery, very proud\u201d of the results in her district to combat encampments. Hmm…<\/p>\n
Lopez: Raman can\u2019t escape the reality that she had more authority on homelessness than anyone but Bass. She\u2019s partly responsible for the continued challenges. And she was in favor of Inside Safe initially, then turned against.<\/p>\n
Arellano: Bass is already on the attack against Raman, with her first two answers criticizing her opponent over her stance on police and for supposedly having two huge homeless encampments within her district. Not a surprising move, considering multiple polls have shown Raman ahead and Bass\u2019 favorability ratings around the same as that of former Angels owner Arte Moreno.<\/p>\n
Ali: Bass making it out that Raman is not a new choice in LA politics. That speaks to the mayor\u2019s concern about voters wanting change.<\/p>\n
Lopez: People don\u2019t care about who\u2019s in charge, city or county, whether LAHSA survives or not. They want to see better results.<\/p>\n
Lopez: Tough topic for Bass. On her signature issue, the results on homelessness are not great.<\/p>\n
Arellano: What\u2019s next \u2014 summoning the spirit of Pete Wilson, who\u2019s based his post-presidential practice in Century City for years? Another Angeleno!<\/p>\n
Ali: Well, Pratt is not around. Someone has to shout out Reagan.<\/p>\n
Ali: Wow, Raman is channeling Reagan<\/p>\n
Arellano: Only in L.A. would a democratic socialist cite Ronald Reagan to try to score points off of a Democratic incumbent.<\/p>\n
Arellano: First question is about the undecided vote and really the people who voted for Spencer Pratt, the has been reality TV star who would\u2019ve had a good chance if he actually took his campaign seriously instead of going around different parts of L.A. mooing \u201cBass-uuuura.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arellano: Interesting format for the debate \u2014 a big table, with three moderators seated between Raman on the left and Raman on the right.<\/p>\n
Ali: No personal attacks. That\u2019s a rule. Let\u2019s see what happens.<\/p>\n
Lopez: Yeah good point Lorraine. We\u2019re half the audience.<\/p>\n
Ali: Ready to hear how they will fix my city<\/p>\n
Ali: At least we\u2019re doing our part.<\/p>\n
Arellano: To your point, Lorraine, a grand total of 117 people are tuned into KNBC\u2019s YouTube livestream as the debate is about to start. Maybe Angelenos are instead streaming Ben Affleck\u2019s execrable Netflix film treatment of a fictional L.A. mayor\u2019s race?<\/p>\n
Ali: The stakes are high for both contenders, yet I wonder how many Angelenos will be watching.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s surprising the number of otherwise politically aware folks who had no idea the debate was taking place tonight until I mentioned it. Then they were irked to find it airing on network TV: \u201cWho still has cable?!\u201d Apparently, venturing onto Telemundo or NBC\u2019s live feed is a bridge too far. But it shouldn\u2019t be.<\/p>\n
Raman is still a mystery to many, even though she\u2019s polling ahead. Tonight, she needs to definitively show who she is beyond The Candidate Who Is Not Karen Bass. Bass has to defend her record, of course, but also contend with the electorate\u2019s insatiable need for change \u2014 even if they know very little about what that change may bring.<\/p>\n
As for the rest of us? Tune in! The future of L.A. requires your attention.<\/p>\n
Lopez: Picking up on Gustavo\u2019s framing of the debate as Round 3, we\u2019re talking about two pugilists who used to fight for the same club, more or less, and now enter the ring looking to take each other out. So it\u2019s personal, and could indeed get nasty.<\/p>\n
Raman\u2019s job in the debate is a little easier, in some ways. Though I don\u2019t put much stock in polls, she\u2019s ahead on points by virtue of Bass\u2019 high negative rating alone. And yet, think of the pressure on Raman to seal the deal.<\/p>\n
If the challenger doesn\u2019t prevail tonight and go on to win the election next month, she could be setting herself up for a lonely political future, having alienated more than a few former allies in her quest to evict the mayor from City Hall.<\/p>\n
For Bass, the stakes are just as high. A 21-year political career is on the line.<\/p>\n
I hope that along with the punches and counter-punches, we get some inspiration, too, and a workable game plan for making a great but troubled city a better place to call home, even if the Dodgers end up breaking our hearts.<\/p>\n
Arellano: Will the Third Bass-Raman debate be a classic \u2014 or a dud?<\/p>\n
Ali-Frazier. Morales-Barrera. Liddell-Couture. Trilogies are hallowed in the worlds of boxing and mixed-martial arts as case studies of evenly matched rivals to wallop each other in the first two matches, creating the setting for a final showdown and chance at eternal bragging rights \u2014 and usually, a title.<\/p>\n
Will tonight\u2019s bout between L.A. mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Nithya Raman, scheduled to air at 7 p.m. on KNBC, rise to those rarified levels?<\/p>\n
The makings of a classic are there. Bass was the wily incumbent during her primary face-off with Raman who let fellow mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt land most of the attacks against their shared opponent. That left Raman uttering loopy word salads when she wasn\u2019t crying conspiracy between the two. But the council member nevertheless made it into the general election against Bass, and dominated their second debate, hosted in August by the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn.<\/p>\n
All of a sudden, Bass was a staggering champion lunging at a revived Raman, who swung and stung and ducked the way only a hungry up-and-comer can.<\/p>\n
The two go into their rubber match each promoting polls that they claim show voters back them, while letting proxies launch attack ads that promise to get uglier and more ubiquitous as Election Day nears. Expect Bass at tonight\u2019s debate to try and assert her dominance early with equal part offense against Raman and defense of her record. Expect Raman, whom City Hall opponents have long trashed as conflict-averse, to focus on a message of possibility and positivity while holding her ground and striking back \u2014 and hard \u2014 when necessary.<\/p>\n
Will tonight cement the Bass-Raman trilogy as an electoral classic \u2014 or end it on a deflating note? One thing\u2019s for sure: the two need to leave everything on the debate stage if either wants to win and get that much closer to become L.A.\u2019s Madam Mayor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Times columnists Gustavo Arellano, Steve Lopez and Lorraine Ali are chatting about Tuesday night\u2019s Los Angeles mayoral debate…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":495475,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[192604,1794,12858,22232,17627,21649,2303,48,52,51,47,50,49,22169,94023,104769,192605,80054,23611,141030,8074],"class_list":["post-495474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-los-angeles","tag-ali-frazier","tag-attack","tag-bass","tag-chat","tag-classic","tag-columnist","tag-l-a","tag-la","tag-la-headlines","tag-la-news","tag-los-angeles","tag-los-angeles-headlines","tag-los-angeles-news","tag-match","tag-mayoral-debate","tag-mixed-martial-art","tag-morales-barrera","tag-nithya-raman","tag-tonight","tag-trilogy","tag-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/495474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=495474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/495474\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/495475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=495474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=495474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=495474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}