Nithya Raman offers mixed comments on firing Los Angeles police chief

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has delivered mixed statements regarding whether she would replace Police Chief Jim McDonnell before his term ends in 2030, according to the New York Post. Speaking during an interview with ABC 7, Raman stated that replacing the police chief is not on her 100-day agenda if she defeats incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. She added that her focus is instead on restoring trust between law enforcement and the public, while noted that McDonnell has not met the moment. [1][2]

The comments follow questions surrounding her political platform during the mayoral campaign, as reported by the New York Post, ABC7 Los Angeles, NBC Los Angeles, and the Westside Current. Reports from NBC Los Angeles and the Westside Current noted that Raman recently denied calling Mayor Bass or the police chief fascists or fascist liars, with her campaign deleting a video associated with the issue. [1][2][3][4]

Raman has served as the Los Angeles city councilmember for the 4th district since 2020. She is an urban planner and activist who is a member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America. Raman earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and a master's degree in urban planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. [5][7]