Nithya Raman Calls For LAPD Chief’s Removal, Clashes With Bass
WASHINGTON, DC -Los Angeles City Councilmember and mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has called for Police Chief Jim McDonnell to be replaced over the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) handling of immigration raids, while Mayor Karen Bass has warned that removing him before the 2028 Olympics could throw the force into “disarray.”
The two clashed on October 13 in the only televised head-to-head debate of the mayoral runoff, hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo 52 in Universal City, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Raman said the LAPD appeared to be protecting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, creating “fear in the heart of immigrant communities here”.
She acknowledged that replacing McDonnell would not be a unilateral decision by the mayor and would require the involvement of the city’s civilian Police Commission. Under Los Angeles city rules, the commission has the authority to remove the police chief, while the City Council can also initiate removal proceedings under specified conditions. Raman did not commit to a timeline for a change in leadership.
“It is not a unilateral decision by the mayor… It’s not something I can immediately set a timeline on,” Raman said.
Bass strongly opposed the proposal, questioning Raman’s understanding of the process of selecting a police chief.
“I don’t think you have any idea what it takes to identify a police chief,” she said.
“Now is not the time to turn the city over to Nithya Raman,” Bass added.
The debate also touched on the handling of the Palisades fire, with Raman accusing Bass of being “missing in action” during the disaster and saying City Hall was facing “a crisis of trust”.
Bass responded: “I am so profoundly sorry that I was not in my city when my city needed me.”
The candidates also sparred over an Instagram video from Raman’s campaign that used the words “fascist liars”. Raman said the video had been mis-edited and was taken down. Bass told her, “You are not ready for prime time”.
Post-debate assessments were mixed, with Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez giving Bass the edge. Raman’s odds on Kalshi rose to 57 per cent, against Bass’s 43 per cent. While Bass led the June primary 34 per cent to 29 per cent, a September poll put Raman ahead 39 per cent to 28 per cent, with about a third of voters undecided.
Both candidates have raised about $2.5 million for the November 3 runoff. Outside groups have spent millions backing each candidate. If elected, Raman would become Los Angeles’ first Indian-American mayor. The city will host the 2028 Summer Olympics. (IANS)
