Mayor Karen Bass Defends Record and Aims for Second Term Amid Runoff

In the upcoming November 3 election, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is campaigning for a second term after being pushed into a runoff by Councilmember Nithya Raman, a former supporter. Bass points to the rapid approval of affordable-housing units, including a new West Los Angeles building, as her signature accomplishment. She admits that leaving the country during the January 2025 Palisades fire was her biggest mistake, noting that fire officials did not issue a higher-level warning.

The mayor explains that LAPD staffing has stalled at about 8,500 officers due to a broken hiring process and council funding blocks, despite her efforts to recruit and raise officer pay. She also argues that the city should run its own homelessness agency after county supervisors moved $300 million out of the joint authority. Finally, Bass opposes Senate Bill 79, saying housing growth should be shaped by local community input rather than a statewide mandate.