LA Mayoral Candidates Clash in Raman's District as Polls Show Dead Heat

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman campaigned in Encino on Friday, days before voters decide the city's next leader.

A Wednesday poll by Berkley IGS and the Los Angeles Times shows the race is a statistical tie, with both candidates polling at 40 percent. The candidates visited Raman's home district to address residents who remain divided on her performance.

Bass supporters argue that the district is finally improving under Raman's watch and should not go backward. Roy Nwaisser, an Encino resident who backs Bass, said, "We still have work to do on homelessness and public safety, but for the first time in years, Encino is moving in the right direction. We cannot afford to go backwards. That is why I support Karen Bass for mayor." Jodi Francisco, another Bass supporter, expressed concern about Raman's stance on police and her overall experience.

Raman supporters counter that her district is the only area showing tangible progress. Laure Stevens, an Encino resident backing Raman, stated, "Nithya Raman in her district four has been the only one who has made that kind of progress. The rest of the city is not seeing that. We were promised something four years ago, that we would see progress. The only place we have seen it is in CD4, under the leadership of Nithya Raman." Amos Marvel, a fellow resident, cited specific actions like installing speed bumps near Reseda High School as evidence of her effectiveness.

The two candidates trade blame regarding recent crime and homeless encampments. Bass said she intervened to help Raman's constituents, citing a surge in crime and burglaries. "There was a surge of crime in this area, and you called me. I called up Chief McDonnell right away and said, 'Do everything we can. Increase patrols. Visibility. Bring out mounted patrols. Do everything you can, because I believe when crime occurs, you want to aggressively stamp it out,'" Bass said. Raman denies that the mayor's actions drove the improvements in her district.

Bass took credit for a 49 percent reduction in homelessness in Raman's district, attributing it to Inside Safe operations. She also criticized Raman's record on housing, noting that Raman's district built the 14th least affordable housing in the city. "I think that one of the things that is also consistent, which is very dangerous in our city, is the inability to tell the truth," Bass said.

Raman argued that she created the systems for tracking encampments and beds that the mayor's office lacked. "In this mayor's office, there's no map of encampments, tracking of beds. I did that, not the mayor. If Angelenos are tired of a mayor who is not doing their job, I'm ready to take it on," Raman said. She emphasized that her fiercest critics in the district are those who oppose building more housing to make the city affordable for working families.