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Pratt Seizes Momentum After Los Angeles Mayoral Debate on Wildfires and Public Safety

Online reaction suggests a boost for the outsider in a race still wide open before the June 2 primary.

Overview

  • Following Wednesday's televised debate on NBC4 and Telemundo 52, an NBC4 online poll showed about 88% of respondents naming Spencer Pratt the winner.
  • The candidates clashed over the 2025 Palisades fire, with Pratt alleging empty reservoirs and a denied $17 million request for fire engines, while Mayor Karen Bass said the reservoir serves drinking water and blamed staffing decisions by the former fire chief.
  • Bass cited a reported 17.5% drop in street homelessness through her Inside Safe program, as coverage noted many participants later returned to the streets, and all three contenders agreed people should move indoors when shelter beds are available.
  • On policing, Pratt said he would aim for 12,500 LAPD officers over about ten years, Bass pushed to rebuild a force now below 8,700 after approving raises to slow attrition, and Nithya Raman argued for holding current staffing and opposed the pay hikes.
  • With earlier polling showing Bass leading in the mid‑20s and a large undecided group, the next televised forum on May 13 and the June 2 top‑two primary could reshape which two advance to a possible November runoff.