Los Angeles City Council

With polls showing a tight contest days before the Nov. 3 election, LA City Councilmember Nithya Raman has detailed plans to challenge incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Her platform includes moving the city's homelessness budget away from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, giving the city controller broad audit power, and cutting encampments by half before the 2028 Olympics. On housing, she pledges a "shot clock" for permits, self-certification for simple projects, new high-rise zones, and a Office of Tenant Protections. On public safety, Raman would expand unarmed crisis response teams and has signaled she would replace LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell.

Bass, in office since 2022, has faced scrutiny over wildfire response, federal immigration enforcement, and homelessness policy, issues likely to shape how voters weigh the race's outcome.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faces City Councilmember Nithya Raman in Tuesday's election, with housing affordability as the central issue. Bass touts more than 10,000 income-restricted apartments built during her term, driven largely by her Executive Directive One permitting reform, though analysts note much of that progress stems from pre-existing Proposition HHH funding and that overall housing production has lagged. Raman, running as a pro-development YIMBY candidate, criticizes Bass for rolling back ED 1 near single-family zones and opposing a state density law, while Bass warns that looser rules risk displacing low-income residents.

Both candidates back lower rent-control caps and reforming the city's "mansion tax," but diverge sharply on zoning and development approach heading into the vote.

A Los Angeles-area state Senate race between labor-backed West Hollywood City Councilmember John Erickson and business-supported media consultant Brian Goldsmith has become California's most expensive state Senate general election contest this cycle, driven by heavy outside spending. The district, covering Malibu, Santa Monica, the Pacific Palisades, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, carries a 12-year term limit as both seek to succeed termed-out Sen. Ben Allen.

Business groups have targeted Erickson with attack spending, while tech-linked donors and Goldsmith's own personal funds have boosted his campaign; labor groups opposing Goldsmith have spent far less. Nancy Pelosi recently endorsed Goldsmith. Ads focus on affordability, housing, public safety and partisan loyalty, reflecting a broader business-labor struggle over California Democratic Party direction.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is facing pushback from City Council members over how to allocate $75 million from the city's parking meter deal sale. Council approved the sale last month with funds earmarked for pensions, but Johnson's budget treats the $75 million as part of a supplemental pension payment rather than additional to it, as some alderpersons say was intended. Critics, including members of the Budget Accountability Coalition, are calling for a special Council meeting to resolve the issue, a change that would open a $75 million gap in Johnson's budget. The dispute adds fiscal pressure as Johnson seeks reelection in February against a growing field of challengers.

Encinitas is pursuing an agreement with the San Diego Rescue Mission to reserve up to 12 beds for its homeless residents at the South County Lighthouse shelter in National City, more than 30 miles away. The Encinitas City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 16 to pursue the deal after Vista signaled it wants full use of the Buena Creek Navigation Center, a shelter the two North County cities had shared since 2024. Encinitas Mayor Bruce Ehlers called the arrangement more financially responsible than the roughly $715,000 the city spent on its previous Vista beds, and said it is meant to be temporary until more North County shelter capacity exists.

National City Councilmember Jose Rodriguez opposes the plan, arguing wealthier Encinitas is shifting responsibility onto a financially strained community. National City Mayor Ron Morrison is less concerned, noting the 162-bed shelter already serves a regional population, including about 30 Encinitas residents over the past year. The Rescue Mission says it hopes to open a new Escondido shelter that would eventually absorb the reserved beds. The dispute reflects broader tension over how San Diego County communities share homelessness costs and resources.

Boyle Heights and Arts District residents are uniting to push Los Angeles officials to designate an anti-camping zone around Sixth Street PARC, the park under construction beneath the 6th Street Bridge that is slated to open next year. The Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council voted 13-1 to back a petition started by Arts District residents, joining the Arts District Little Tokyo Neighborhood Council and the downtown LA Residents Association in urging Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, Mayor Karen Bass, and city staff to establish the zone and a security plan.

Anti-camping zones, created under Los Angeles Municipal Code 41.18, prohibit sitting, lying, or sleeping in designated public areas and require council approval. Supporters note the city already approved a 41.18 zone for the bridge itself in 2024 and want it extended to the park below. Jurado said her office is reviewing the boundaries and called for broader dialogue on homelessness and safety. The push contrasts with recent moves elsewhere in LA, including Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez's repeal of 12 anti-camping zones in his district over concerns the ordinance hampers housing efforts.

Five challengers to Inglewood Mayor James Butts — Raina Carrillo, Fre'Drisha Dixon, Gloria Gray, Arturo Martinez and Joseph Soto — appeared at a candidate forum hosted by The LA Local, but Butts did not attend despite an empty chair held open for him onstage. Candidates criticized his 15-year tenure, calling for term limits, a forensic audit of city finances and evening City Council meetings instead of 2 p.m. sessions.

Challengers also faulted the city's handling of its video billboards, the financial arrangement with operator WOW Media, the declining Market Street corridor, parking permit fees, and Bryan Bostic's death in police custody. They offered competing fixes for housing affordability and event-day traffic and parking congestion near Inglewood's stadiums and venues.

Voting is underway in Inglewood's mayoral primary, running through Nov. 3; a runoff follows in spring unless one candidate wins a majority outright. Stadium and billboard interests have invested heavily in the race, which also features City Council, school board and ballot measure contests.