Bass campaign accuses Raman of skipping Jewish heritage event

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 5, 2026

Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and challenger Karen Raman clashed over attendance at a recent Jewish Heritage Month event amid a tight Los Angeles mayoral race, with polls showing the contest nearly tied depending on voter information. Meanwhile, campaign messaging controversies continue as supporters of both candidates face accusations of misleading claims, and the city prepares to expand community events ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

In the ongoing Los Angeles mayoral race, tensions have risen over accusations related to attendance at a recent Jewish Heritage Month event. The campaign of incumbent Mayor Karen Bass has accused challenger Karen Raman of skipping the event, which Raman’s team denied, stating that she was at City Hall during the occasion but left council chambers early due to illness. Raman’s camp added that she felt well enough later in the day to appear on host Hasan Piker’s show. However, a spokesperson for Bass expressed skepticism over the timing, calling into question Raman’s explanation.

Hasan Piker, the progressive commentator whose show Raman appeared on, criticized Bass for using his name to undermine Raman’s support among Jewish voters. Piker accused Bass of deploying divisive tactics similar to those used by former President Donald Trump by questioning why any Jewish person would support Democrats due to Piker’s role in Raman’s campaign. Despite previously backing Bass in the 2022 mayoral race, Piker confirmed he would support Raman in the current contest.

A recent poll commissioned by a group supporting Bass indicates a competitive race with a narrow lead for Raman. The FM3 Research survey, conducted between September 21 and 28 among 809 likely Los Angeles voters, showed Raman leading Bass by four percentage points, 39% to 35%, with 25% of voters still undecided. When provided with more detailed information about the candidates, Bass’s support increased to 40%, overtaking Raman’s 39%, with 21% undecided. The poll highlighted that undecided voters are predominantly Republicans, conservatives, older adults, homeowners, Democratic women over 50, and those without a college degree. Nella McOsker, president of the Central City Association, which supported the poll, described the race as statistically tied, noting that reliable voting blocs tend to swing toward Bass when given comprehensive candidate information. This poll contrasts with a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey released earlier, which showed Raman with a stronger lead over Bass, 39% to 28%.

Meanwhile, allegations have also surfaced regarding campaign messaging from supporters of Raman. Streets for All, a transportation advocacy group backing Raman, produced a campaign video criticizing Bass for rising trash fees in Los Angeles and accusing her of nearly bankrupting the city. However, the advertisement omits a key fact: Raman voted in favor of several trash fee increases last year, while two of her City Council peers opposed some of those hikes. Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who supports Bass, characterized the ad as misleading, asserting that it falsely implies Raman opposed the fee increases when she did not. Defending the ad, Michael Schneider of the Streets for All campaign argued that the fee hikes were necessary to offset poor fiscal decisions by the mayor, including support for an expensive $2.6 billion Convention Center upgrade.

The residential trash fee increased significantly last year, rising from $24.33 to $55.95 per month for small apartment buildings and from $36.32 to $55.95 for single-family homes. City budget officials noted that these fees had not been adjusted for 17 years, leading to a gap between user charges and the actual cost of garbage collection, which the city budget had to cover.

On a lighter note, Los Angeles is preparing for the 2028 Summer Olympics with plans to expand its successful “Kick It in the Park” viewing party concept, which drew 45,000 fans during the 2026 World Cup. The events, supported by the mayor’s Office of Major Events, received positive feedback from attendees. Officials aim to increase the number of daily viewing parties from three during the World Cup to as many as 15 during the Olympics. Proposed locations span across the city, including MacArthur Park, the Greek Theatre, Koreatown, and the Watts Towers, with efforts to disperse crowds away from Olympic venues to manage congestion. City planners are actively coordinating to include large screen broadcasts, food vendors, and live performances as part of the festivities.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.