L.A. mayoral candidate Bass clarifies home burglary 'has not changed' policy views on crime

California Democratic Rep. Karen Bass, a candidate for mayor of Los Angeles, said her home being burglarized hasn't changed her views on crime policy.

In a mayoral debate earlier this year, Bass had rated her feeling of personal safety at 10 on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the "most safe." Then, in mid-September, after two guns were stolen from her home in a break-in, she changed her answer to a five.

"I did feel safe, until my safety was shattered like so many Angelenos," Bass told local TV station Fox 11.

In an interview this past weekend, Bass clarified that her experience as a crime victim and new personal sense of insecurity has not altered her policy views on public safety issues.

"It has not changed my policy," Bass told Just the News at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation gala. "My plan has always been that we need to get police on the streets immediately, get them from behind the desk. Nothing has changed my plans of public safety. When I said I felt safe [in the mayoral debate], I was referring to my very specific neighborhood.

"Now, needless to say, that is shattered. But my plan for public safety remains the same: Get police on the street in neighborhoods that want police and other neighborhoods that want other solutions such as crime prevention, intervention programs, invest in that, and we do need to hire officers because we've had high attrition. Nothing has changed in my policies."

Bass is facing businessman Rick Caruso, a Republican-turned-Democrat, in the election. Bass was asked to describe her final pitch to voters in the homestretch of the campaign.

"I'm a lifelong, pro-choice Democrat," she responded. "So the choice between the two of us is crystal clear. I've spent my life fighting on behalf of Angelenos. He's spent his life developing malls and high-end apartment buildings. L.A. needs housing that is affordable. We have enough luxury housing."