Nithya Raman Challenges Karen Bass Over Debates As Mayoral Race Heats Up

India-West News Desk

LOS ANGELES, CA – Nithya Raman is pressing Mayor Karen Bass to take their increasingly combative Los Angeles mayoral contest to more television debates, arguing that voters deserve a fuller discussion of the city’s problems as the two candidates trade increasingly personal attacks.

Raman, a Los Angeles City Council member challenging Bass in the November 3 mayoral election, criticized the mayor on September 8 for declining invitations to several televised debates. Raman’s campaign said she has agreed to participate in debates proposed by NBC4 and Telemundo 52, CBS2 and KNX, ABC7 and Univision 34, KTLA5 and CNN.

Bass has agreed to one televised debate on October 12 that will be hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo 52, according to Raman’s campaign.

“Los Angeles residents are confronting enormous challenges: homelessness, housing costs, public safety, affordability, deteriorating infrastructure and basic city services that too often fail to deliver,” Raman’s campaign said. “They deserve a serious, substantive and transparent conversation about the candidates’ records, their competing ideas and the choices facing this city.”

Bass’ campaign responded by turning the criticism back on Raman. “Mayor Bass is running the city to make LA safer and more affordable,” it said, arguing that Raman “does not show up for the job taxpayers are paying her to do” and is using her council position to campaign rather than address the city’s problems.

Stack said Bass had already agreed to numerous forums and debates that would be available through television, radio or livestreams, including the NBC4 and Telemundo 52 debate.

At their August debate in Sherman Oaks, Bass repeatedly attacked Raman over her attendance record on the City Council, saying she had missed nearly 3,000 votes since taking office. Bass’ campaign subsequently launched NoShowNithya.com, a website devoted to Raman’s voting record. The campaign says its figures are based on City Clerk records.

Raman’s campaign described the attendance attack as “desperate” and said it was “ironic coming from a mayor who was missing during our city’s most devastating emergencies,” an apparent reference to Bass’ handling of the Eaton fire.