Did Karen Bass Expand Film Incentives? Nithya Raman Campaign Flags ‘Whopper’ Claim

Nithya Raman‘s campaign is calling out L.A. Mayor Karen Bass for taking credit for expanding the state film and TV incentive in a recent TV ad.

In the ad, Bass looks to the camera and says: “With the film industry struggling, I cut fees and expanded film and TV tax credits… saving thousands of Hollywood jobs.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom led the effort to double the state’s film incentive to $750 million last year, in response to a dramatic downturn in L.A. production since 2022. Entertainment jobs have become a key issue in the race for mayor, with each candidate accusing the other of not doing enough to support the industry.

On Thursday, Raman’s spokesperson argued that Bass was falsely claiming credit for legislation that was approved in Sacramento.

“We’re used to some whoppers from Mayor Bass, but this may be one of her biggest,” said the spokesperson, Liz Garcia. “She’s looking voters in the eye and taking credit for expanding film tax credits enacted at the state level. Meanwhile, Los Angeles has lost 40,000 entertainment jobs on her watch. The Mayor should spend less time taking credit for Sacramento’s work and more time answering for her failure to protect the jobs and productions that make L.A. the entertainment capital of the world.”

Rick Chavez Zbur, the author of the bill that expanded the state incentive, is supporting Bass for re-election. He attended the NBC4 debate last week between Bass and Raman, and defended Bass’ record on the issue.

“Bass was up advocating for it the whole of last year and this year,” Zbur said, adding that Raman was “nowhere” on the issue. “She did not focus on it. She was not up in Sacramento. She didn’t support it. She didn’t do anything. So this is a Johnny-come-lately issue for her.”

Raman rolled out a plan for Hollywood on April 21, which included pushing for unlimited state tax credits. Bass followed suit on May 1, saying that she, too, supported uncapped tax credits.

The issue came up only briefly in the NBC4 debate, as Raman accused Bass of having been delinquent on the issue.

“This mayor only started talking about this tax credit after I entered the race,” she said. “I feel an urgency about this issue, a real urgency, and Angelenos need that urgency from their mayor.”

Bass shot back: “That’s completely untrue. I was involved in advocating for the state tax credit and involved in advocating for the federal tax credit. What we have done with the industry, we’ve done in partnership with the industry. So when you thought I didn’t do anything on the tax credit, I was busy advocating in Sacramento and also participating with the industry here.”

The Writers Guild of America West has endorsed Raman, whose husband is a TV writer. Bass has the support of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the Hollywood Teamsters, the American Federation of Musicians Local 47, and Laborers Local 300.