LOS ANGELES — Both L.A. mayoral candidates picked up big endorsements this week.
Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman are heading toward the Nov. 3 election amid an increasingly active mayoral race, with both picking up endorsements and sharpening their attacks on each other’s records.
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Unite Here Local 11, which represents more than 32,000 hospitality workers in Southern California and Arizona, endorsed Raman Tuesday.
“We need a mayor who will stand with the working people who keep this city running and who isn’t afraid to take on powerful corporate interests when they threaten our communities,” Unite Here Local 11 co-president Ada Briceño said in a statement.
Bass, meanwhile, announced Tuesday that she had received the endorsement of Spanish-language publication La Opinión.
“La Opinión is an institution in our city, and I’m proud to receive their endorsement for the work we have been doing to make LA safer and more affordable,” Bass said in a statement.
The endorsements followed an attack by the Bass campaign Monday accusing Raman of missing nearly 3,000 votes during her time on the City Council. Bass’ campaign launched a website, NoShowNithya.com, highlighting the absences and criticizing Raman’s attendance record.
Raman’s campaign called the allegations a “desperate” attack and said it was “ironic coming from a mayor who was missing during our city’s most devastating emergencies.”
The endorsements came ahead of a mayoral forum on Thursday night. It was meant to be nonpartisan environmental and climate forum.
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Bass and Raman were expected to discuss environmental justice, extreme heat, air pollution, oil drilling, rising energy costs, housing affordability, public safety, emergency response and community health, according to organizers.
The forum is being organized by a coalition of environmental justice, climate, labor, public health and community organizations, including the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters, SCOPE LA, Sierra Club, Los Angeles Neighborhood Sustainability Alliance, Communities for a Better Environment and Clean and Healthy California.
Bass and Raman previously faced off Aug. 19 in a 90-minute debate conducted by the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council and Sherman Oaks/Encino Chamber of Commerce.
The candidates sparred over homelessness, housing and public safety, with Bass questioning Raman’s record during six years on the City Council and Raman criticizing the mayor’s handling of city services and homelessness.
Raman touted a 49% decrease in unsheltered homelessness in her Fourth Council District and criticized the cost and effectiveness of Bass’ Inside Safe homelessness program. Bass defended the program and argued that Los Angeles needs to overhaul a homelessness system divided among the city, county and Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
The candidates also clashed over policing. Raman defended her opposition to a 2023 pay raise for Los Angeles Police Department officers, arguing the contract contributed to the city’s financial problems, while Bass criticized Raman for previously supporting efforts to “defund the police.” Both candidates have supported expanding unarmed crisis-response programs.
Housing and the entertainment industry were also points of disagreement. Bass highlighted efforts to fast-track housing construction and support local film production, while Raman argued the city needs to do more to keep entertainment jobs in Los Angeles.
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City News Service contributed to this report.