Nithya Raman dodges LAPD chief deadline as Karen Bass blasts rivals flip-flops in fiery LA mayor debate

Nithya Raman was back in the hot seat Tuesday night over her pledge to fire LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, refusing to say when she’d pull the trigger as a top ally of Mayor Karen Bass blasted her for misleading voters.Pressed directly by The California Post for a timeline, Raman again declined to give a clear answer.She took just two questions from reporters afterward, while Bass had City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez field questions on her behalf.Rodriguez wasted no time tearing into the challenger over her shifting statements about McDonnell and a since-deleted social media video portraying the police chief and mayor as “fascist liars.” The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story “That’s nonsense,” Rodriguez fired back when The California Post and other reporters raised Raman’s claim that removing McDonnell would require cooperation from the Police Commission and City Council.“It clearly means that she has no idea the power of the mayor’s office,” Rodriguez said.“On one hand, she says she’s gonna replace the police chief, then she says, ‘Well, it’s not part of my 100-day agenda, and he hasn’t met the moment, but his term expires in 2030, so maybe I’ll do it by then.’ What is the answer?”Rodriguez accused Raman of telling different audiences what they wanted to hear.“She’s intentionally, I believe, trying to mislead the public.”Inside NBC4’s Universal City studios, Bass appeared relaxed and confident as the candidates faced off before an in-person audience.Raman, referring to prepared notes, invoked Ronald Reagan’s famous question, “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” She accused Bass of being “MIA” during the city’s biggest crises and argued that Angelenos were struggling with homelessness, housing...