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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman traded jabs over their records on homelessness and policing in an at-times fiery debate on Wednesday, Aug. 19. It comes less than two months out from when ballots go out for the midterms.
Bass and Raman repeatedly challenged each other’s claims during the debate. Early on, Bass said Raman doesn’t show up to work, leading the councilmember to defend her record by citing her duties on external boards and responsibilities as a mother.
Bass and Raman also addressed topics such as city safety, single-family housing, small businesses, and more.
Here are several takeaways from the debate presented by the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association.
Bass, Raman face hypothetical: Would they forcibly remove this homeless person?
Both Bass and Raman were asked a detailed hypothetical scenario: A veteran who is homeless — who has “serious mental illness,” is an alcoholic and has refused services like the Inside Safe program and treatment — threatening a woman on the street. Should they be forcibly removed?
Raman said the available options are involuntary conservatorship or arrest and placement in a mental health facility. The councilmember said everyone deserves to feel safe walking the streets of Los Angeles.
Bass said she favors involuntary hospitalization over conservatorship, which she described as too slow. She said long-term hospitalization can keep people from harming themselves or others.
Bass calls for city control in homelessness response, Raman criticizes Inside Safe
Bass said one of her top priorities regarding homelessness is transforming “the entire system.”
“The city needs to be in control,” Bass said. “Right now, one of the fundamental dysfunctional features of the system is it’s governed by the city, it’s governed by the county, and it’s governed by LAHSA.”
LAHSA is the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, which leads the Los Angeles Continuum of Care. Nationwide, Continuums of Care carry out various responsibilities related to addressing homelessness in their specific areas. A federal agency said it was suspending funding to LAHSA earlier this year, following another major change for the agency — Los Angeles County’s decision to create a new department on addressing homelessness, redirecting resources away from LAHSA.
Raman criticized the effectiveness of Bass’ Inside Safe program, which is intended to move people off the streets and from encampments into housing. The Los Angeles Times reported that Inside Safe participants were back on the streets, with figures climbing over several years. The councilmember said she’d audit every dollar and track its performance regarding homelessness, later saying
The estimated number of people who are homeless in Los Angeles increased by 3.4% after two years of previous decreases, according to the 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count. It’s worth noting that the Los Angeles Times reported that an “accounting quirk” contributed to the 3.4% figure. Raman pointed to a different figure coming from the 2026 count: An approximately 8% rise in unsheltered homelessness in Los Angeles.
During the discussion of how to address a person who is homeless and refusing to accept housing, Raman made a remark about Bass’ record.
“I do just want to say so many of these responses are about plans for the future,” Raman said. “You’ve been the mayor for four years, and the results have not changed. The results are visible on our streets.”
In debate about police staffing, Raman questions LAPD leadership
One topic throughout the night was about the Los Angeles Police Department, including staffing and hiring. An executive directive issued last September put the figures into context: the LAPD had about 2 officers per 1,000 residents. In an interview with NBC Los Angeles in April, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said that while the department is hiring 350-360 people, it is losing 600 due to regular attrition.
Raman called for a citywide response to handle the many calls for service police are responding to.
She said that Bass has a “patchwork system” of unarmed response, describing it as a waste of money, not citywide and not integrated with 911. The latter is key to taking a “significant call load off LAPD,” according to Raman. Bass refuted some of Raman’s claims, but did say more resources are needed to expand this effort even more.
Raman was asked whether she’d fire McDonnell and replace him if elected mayor.
Though she didn’t directly state yes or no, Raman said his response to federal immigration enforcement sweeps in Los Angeles “has met the moment.” Raman said that the LAPD was seen as protecting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. She also pointed to McDonnell’s reported comments earlier this year that he wouldn’t enforce a ban on facial covering.
“This is a moment where immigrants in the city are under attack, and I feel like we do need police leadership that respects that and honors that, and I think we can find that leadership,” she said.
LA mayor race polls: Fake poll hits race
The debate on Aug. 19 comes just days after the Los Angeles Times reported that a poll showing Bass leading by nearly 12 percentage points over Raman was actually fake. More polls will likely be released as the November election gets closer.
Since the primary election in June — in which Raman edged out former reality TV star Spencer Pratt for a spot in the runoff election — Bass has faced outcry from some Los Angelenos due to the massive, cold-storage warehouse fire that burned for days in Boyle Heights. The blaze left residents with a foul odor, an influx of reported pests, and concerned about air quality, the latter of which Raman called the mayor out on in a July interview.
Meanwhile, Bass’ campaign has called into question Raman’s record on housing and has highlighted the mayor’s work in the Boyle Heights fire recovery.
The association held a mayoral debate that the pair attended earlier this year ahead of the June primaries.
When is the LA mayor election?
The election for LA mayor will be held on Nov. 3.
How long has Karen Bass been mayor?
Bass was elected as the mayor of Los Angeles in 2022. Two years earlier, Raman was elected to Los Angeles City Council, defeating an incumbent.
Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at pbarraza@usatodayco.com.