California Post endorses Karen Bass for LA mayor

It’s true, LA: Neither candidate has earned your vote in the race for mayor.

Mayor Karen Bass mismanaged the Palisades wildfire, and she broke her promise to reduce homelessness.

That’s right: Bass campaigned in the primary on the fact that the number of homeless people in the city had fallen for two years. After the primary, we learned that it is rising again.

But socialist City Councilwoman Nithya Raman is an extremist who will make things even worse.

Raman still hates the police, for example, just as much as she did when she called to defund them in 2020.

She recently made a video calling LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell a “fascist.” She deleted it — too late.

She promised to fire McDonnell. Then she changed her mind. Again.

She praised former LAPD Chief Daryl Gates, then apologized. When CNN asked her to name a police chief she liked, she was at a loss for words.

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Raman also backtracked on Measure ULA, the mis-named “mansion tax” that is holding back new housing.

In 2020, Raman was the first member of the LA City Council elected by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

The DSA wants the city to seize private property, and to stop clearing homeless encampments.
Raman won’t say where she agrees with the DSA, which endorsed her.

But her record speaks for itself.

Raman voted against clearing homeless encampments near schools, for example.

She has also done a poor job for her constituents.

She missed thousands of City Council votes. Her excuse: She had work to do outside, elsewhere.

She even missed meetings of the City Council committee on homelessness, which she chaired.

Most bizarrely of all, Raman brought hatred and antisemitism into the mayor’s race.

She defended appearing on podcasts hosted by bigots like Hasan Piker.

LA needs a builder, not a wrecking ball.

And let’s not forget the fact that not one member of the City Council has said they want their colleague to be mayor.

We understand that Angelenos face a tough choice, a radical in Raman and Mayor Bass, who was not here for the 2025 fire.

But in Bass we also have a public official who has experience, who we hope has learned from her failings, and who will work to get this city back to where it needs to be.

We want LA to be vibrant, to offer opportunity, to support businesses, to be united, and to be the shining light of the West Coast.

Raman cannot be trusted to be the custodian and leader of LA. Her policies are divisive and radical, and will push this city backward at a time when we cannot afford it.

The California Post reluctantly supports a vote for Karen Bass for mayor.