Is it time to ring the alarm yet?
Isn’t it fair to ponder whether or not Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ bid for re-election in 2026 is already “dead on arrival” as she arguably continues to miserably disappoint her progressive base that made her the first female Mayor of Los Angeles?
It seems Mayor Bass has sided with her political intuition and ambition by acquiescing to the powerful Los Angeles Police Department union by choosing to veto legislation that would have allowed the voters to decide whether to expand the Los Angeles Chief of Police’s powers, including firing officers for misconduct in the upcoming elections this November.
The proposal authored by Councilman Tim McOsker, which was introduced earlier this year, would have given the Chief of Police the power to fire officers directly for misconduct, including those involved in physical abuse and assault, those who refuse to cooperate in an investigation, and other disciplinary levels of misconduct.
The proposal touted by proponents argued that the measure would have served as the perfect opportunity to reform LAPD’s broken disciplinary system – a department that has far too long suffered from allegations of substantiated police misconduct and abuse by empowering the voters of Los Angeles to play a vital role in shaping the future of the department.
How did Mayor Bass fumble this opportunity so horribly?
Well one shouldn’t look any further than Mayor Bass’ initial campaign for mayor when the powerful Los Angeles Police Protective League spent over $3 million in supporting her primary opponent, billionaire developer Rick Caruso. In shaping her decision to veto the proposed ballot measure, which also drew criticism from LAPD’s upper brass who warned the proposition would create a two-tiered disciplinary system, with some offenses resulting in termination by the chief and others to a disciplinary panel known as the Board of Rights.
The question begs to ask will this reasoning resonate with Bass’ progressive base who gave her a clear mandate to change the way the LAPD functions in the aftermath of the controversial George Floyd killings at the hands of Minnesota police officers which led to a nationwide outcry for Police reform across the United States?
Keep in mind it was Bass’ push for the passage of the George Floyd Policing Act, which she authored while in Congress, which led to pundits believing she supported police reform.
From The Hill:
“Bass, who shepherded a sweeping police reform bill through the House this month, has been front and center in the Democrats’ response to the May 25 police killing of George Floyd and subsequent nationwide protests against police brutality.
Instead of pushing for immediate passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, Bass took time to personally meet with the powerful Fraternal Order of Police, the police chiefs association and other key stakeholders whose potential opposition could have derailed the legislation.”
So what happened? Was that a ruse to get her elected mayor of Los Angeles since everyone knew Mark Ridley-Thomas would be convicted on multiple public corruption charges?
Will Karen Bass’ veto of LAPD disciplinary ballot measure embolden progressive candidates to challenge her in her re-election bid in 2026 by using her failure to bring any meaningful reform to the Los Angeles Police Department as the catalyst in making Bass a one term mayor?
I can’t speak for anyone else but if I’m a progressive candidate possibly seeking to unseat Mayor Bass then this veto in itself adds to the argument that she isn’t as progressive as she claims to be especially when it comes to police reform.
At this point can Angelenos take Bass at her word?
In her veto opposing the LAPD disciplinary ballot measure, the mayor issued a letter stating that she wanted to work with the council, officers and the department and community stakeholders to ensure fairness for all.
Unfortunately the problem still exists that these proposed changes must be approved by voters and the earliest these changes can be voted on is in 2026 when Bass herself will face her own re-election bid .
Are we to believe that Bass will support any meaningful LAPD disciplinary reform at the risk of losing her own re-election bid?
Are we foolish enough to believe that the Los Angeles Police Protective League will support any proposition placed in front of voters that doesn’t overly favor their rank and file members?
Unfortunately, no perfect solution seems viable for Mayor Bass in 2026 and until she exercises her right to offend the Los Angeles Police Protective League it appears that the same progressives who were vital allies and partners to her historical election will prove to be her toughest critics/opponents when she seeks re-election in 2026.
Marvin McCoy is a recurring opinion writer for 2UrbanGirls.com and SouthBayExaminer.com.