Los Angeles mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Nithya Raman presented their environmental strategies at a forum hosted by LAist and several advocacy groups two months ahead of the general election.
Bass described advances made since her 2022 election, including a shift away from coal power and growth in electric bus fleets and clean-energy employment. She stressed the need to direct future efforts toward neighborhoods facing the heaviest pollution burdens, such as South Los Angeles and Boyle Heights.
Raman argued that environmental initiatives have lost momentum under the current administration and require greater funding and staffing. She cited slowed work on clean-energy transitions, water resilience, oil-well closures and street safety as evidence that climate priorities have not received sufficient attention.
Both candidates acknowledged shortcomings in disaster response. Raman pointed to unclear leadership after the Palisades Fire and the short tenure of the appointed recovery coordinator, while Bass defended her team’s actions and blamed insurance and banking delays for hindering resident returns.
The Lineage warehouse fire in Boyle Heights drew criticism from Raman over public statements on air quality. Bass said she had relied on data from health and air-quality agencies that later proved inaccurate and called for stronger penalties on industrial operators.
On several points the candidates aligned. Both supported expanding the city’s electric-vehicle fleet, improving transit and bicycle infrastructure, increasing cooling options for unhoused residents during heat waves, and making utility rebates more accessible in lower-income areas.
The forum underscored shared goals around environmental justice and emergency planning even as the candidates differed on the pace and emphasis of current efforts, according to LAist reporting.
This report is based on coverage by LAist: https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/how-will-next-la-mayor-take-on-environmental-challenges