Nithya Raman refuses timeline for firing Los Angeles police chief

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman declined to give a timeline for firing LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell during a debate on Tuesday night, the New York Post reported. Raman faced criticism over her pledge to remove the police chief, while an ally of incumbent Mayor Karen Bass accused her of misleading voters. When asked directly by The California Post for a date, Raman refused to give a clear answer and took only two questions from reporters after the event. [1]

City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez fielded questions on behalf of Bass after the debate, according to the New York Post. Yahoo reported that Bass has also criticized Raman for making inconsistent comments regarding McDonnell. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Raman previously stated that replacing the LAPD chief was not on her agenda for her first 100 days in office. [1][2][9]

CityWatch LA reported that Raman wants McDonnell removed as LAPD chief. Raman is an urban planner and activist who has served as the Los Angeles city councilmember for the 4th district since 2020. She defeated incumbent councilmember David Ryu in 2020 and won re-election in 2024. [3][4]

Bass has served as the 43rd mayor of Los Angeles since 2022. She previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2022 and in the California State Assembly from 2004 to 2010. [5]