Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, age 72, is campaigning for another term in the upcoming November 3 election. Initially, Bass faced the prospect of a runoff due to a challenge from City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who had previously supported her. Bass made history as the city’s first female mayor in 2022 by defeating billionaire developer Rick Caruso. Her administration has focused on reducing homelessness and strengthening the Los Angeles Police Department.
Accomplishments and Challenges
During an interview with The Times, Bass discussed the achievements and challenges she has faced as mayor. She highlighted affordable housing as a significant accomplishment, pointing to a building under construction in West Los Angeles as an example. Under her leadership, the city has expedited approval for affordable housing projects, resulting in more units built than in previous years.
“Really, the accomplishment was changing the rules and expediting affordable housing.”
Handling Criticism
Bass acknowledged her mistake in being out of the country during the January Palisades fire. Despite warnings about the fire risk, she was unaware of the severity until her return. She expressed regret for not being present during a crisis but noted the absence of an emergency alert system in city and county warnings.
She mentioned that even the former fire chief, Kristin Crowley, did not anticipate a severe fire event, as Santa Ana winds are common in the region. Following her comments on the handling of the Palisades fire response, Crowley filed a lawsuit against Bass.
“The bottom line is, I wasn’t here when the city needed me. That’s a pain point for me.”
Political Climate
Bass addressed her opponent, Nithya Raman’s decision to run against her, despite previously endorsing her. Bass expressed surprise and indicated she was blindsided by the move. She also criticized Raman’s failure to support her constituents effectively, noting that some residents had sought assistance from her instead of their local councilmember.
Police Staffing and Challenges
The mayor discussed efforts to bolster police staffing, aiming to restore the Los Angeles Police Department to 9,500 officers, from the current count of around 8,500. Bass identified bureaucratic obstacles in recruitment processes as a major challenge, resulting in delays that discouraged potential recruits from pursuing careers with the LAPD.
“We did a big recruitment campaign, had over a thousand recruits. Then I found out the city’s hiring process was so fundamentally broken.”
Bass also addressed recent police pay raises to boost retention, stating they were necessary to compete with other departments.
Approach to Homelessness
Bass’s efforts to tackle homelessness include advocating for collaboration with L.A. County, which relocated $300 million away from their joint agency, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. She proposed establishing a standalone city agency to enhance the focus on homelessness.
She also tackled issues like public drug use, especially near schools and residential areas. Bass emphasized the need for more treatment facilities within county-controlled drug programs.
Legislative Stance and Criticism
Regarding Senate Bill 79, which proposed allowing taller, denser buildings near transit stops, Bass explained her opposition. She advocates for building housing with community input rather than blanket legislation by state law.
“I believe in building housing with communities. Which means, if you work with communities, they can come up with what is reasonable.”
Responding to critiques labeling her a micromanager, Bass defended her approach by emphasizing proactive involvement in stalled processes, such as police hiring.
Personal Journey
Bass revealed that her commitment to public service and activism has been lifelong, dating back to her middle school years. She has been involved in political campaigns and social movements since her youth.
Reflecting on her path, Bass noted that her decision to leave Congress was fueled by motivation to address pressing local issues, particularly homelessness.
“My entire life, since being a kid, has been dedicated to service. Public office is just the last phase of my life.”
As Bass wrapped up the interview, she added, “Getting people off the streets and saving lives” as her top accomplishment.
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