Los Angeles mayoral race turns to film‑production slump as candidates clash on city issues

Four of the five major candidates for Los Angeles mayor – incumbent Karen Bass, councilwoman Nithya Raman, businessman Adam Miller and community advocate Rae Huang – will appear at a mayoral forum hosted by Los Angeles Valley College and the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce. The forum replaces a canceled televised debate and will focus on homelessness, housing affordability, public safety, transportation, government accountability and preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games.

The campaign has also elevated the city’s film‑production crisis to a headline issue. Since 2018, shooting days have fallen by half, the industry has lost about 57,000 jobs and more than 80 production‑service businesses have closed. Raman has criticized Mayor Bass’s handling of the slump and pledged to keep Los Angeles the world’s film and TV capital. Bass defended her record on reducing encampments and expanding housing, while other candidates, including reality‑TV personality Spencer Pratt, have offered plans to streamline permitting and cut bureaucratic red tape.

Industry advocates argue that mayoral leadership can influence city‑level reforms that could help retain productions, even though major tax‑credit decisions lie with the state and federal governments.