Nithya Raman | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2022 | |
| Assistant President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council | |
| Assumed office January 28, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Blumenfield |
| Member of theLos Angeles City Council from the4th district | |
| Assumed office December 14, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | David Ryu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1981-07-28)July 28, 1981 (age 44) |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Political party | Democratic,Democratic Socialists of America |
| Spouse | Vali Chandrasekaran |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Harvard University (BS) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MUP) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Campaign website |
Nithya V. Raman (born July 28, 1981)[1] is an Americanurban planner, activist, and politician serving as theLos Angeles City Councilmember for the4th District since 2020. Raman, a member of theDemocratic Party and theDemocratic Socialists of America, defeated incumbent CouncilmemberDavid Ryu in 2020.[2][3][4]
Nithya Raman was born into aMalayali family inKerala,India, and moved toLouisiana at 6 years old.[5] She earned a bachelor's degree in political theory fromHarvard University then amaster's degree in urban planning fromMIT.[6]
After living in the United States for many years, Raman returned to her home country of India and founded the research firm Transparent Chennai. The firm's goal was to improve sanitation in the city ofChennai.[7] Prior to entering politics, Raman founded and headed a homelessness nonprofit in Los Angeles and was the executive director ofTime's Up Entertainment.[7][8] Raman became a naturalized American citizen at the age of 22.[9]
Raman declared her candidacy for the Los Angeles City Council in 2019, citing the issue of homelessness as being central to her decision to run.[10] Raman's candidacy was largely fueled by grassroots volunteers, whom she claims knocked on more than 70,000 doors before the March primary.[11] Ground Game LA, which formed following formerGreen Party-endorsed candidate Jessica Salans' defeat byMitch O'Farrell in the13th district in 2017, was credited with helping her campaign win.[12]
Raman's platform included proposed reforms to Los Angeles' housing and homelessness policy, "a new approach to public safety," and a climate change plan that she claims will get Los Angeles tocarbon neutrality by 2030.[13][14][15] She has signed the Participatory Budget Pledge, an initiative put forward byBlack Lives Matter LA which expresses a commitment to "holding a participatory budgeting process each budget cycle I hold elected office."[16]
In the March 3, 2020 primary, Raman faced incumbentDavid Ryu and screenwriter Sarah Kate Levy.[17] Ryu received 32,298 votes (44.4%), Raman received 31,502 votes (40.8%), and Sarah Kate Levy received 10,860 votes (14.1%).[18] Because no candidate received over fifty percent of the vote, Raman and Ryu advanced to the runoff election, scheduled for November 3, 2020.
In the November 2020 runoff election, Raman defeated Ryu by a 52.87% to 47.13% margin.[19] She will serve a four-year term as member of the City Council. Raman's victory was described as a "political earthquake" by theLos Angeles Times.[20]
In 2024, Raman was challenged by Ethan Weaver, a Deputy City Attorney who received support from local landlords, business groups, and police and firefighter unions, and Levon Baronian. She won the election in the primary in March 2024, skipping a November runoff by winning 50.6% of the vote outright, versus 38.6% for Weaver, her nearest opponent.[21]
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In April 2021, Raman proposed amendments to a draft ordinance on tenant harassment. The amendments classified cash buyout offers and threats to report false information to law enforcement as forms of harassment, and included a rent adjustment penalty, which would prevent landlords who violate the ordinance from raising a unit's rent.[22] The ordinance was passed in June 2021.[23]
In June 2021, Raman was served with a recall notice after only six months in office.[24] TheLos Angeles Times referred to the notice as part of a "recall fever" striking California, as at least 68 other active recalls were then ongoing in the state, including the recall of GovernorGavin Newsom.[25] In September 2021 the recall campaign collapsed when proponents announced that they were unable to collect the required number of signatures within the allotted time.[26]
On February 1, 2022, Raman was appointed to the board of theSouth Coast Air Quality Management District byMayor of Los AngelesEric Garcetti. She replaced councilmemberJoe Buscaino. She pledged to prioritize public health and environmental justice from that position.[27]
In 2021 and 2022, Raman was one of three councilmembers to vote against L.A.M.C. Section41.18, a city ordinance thatbanned homeless encampments within 500 feet of schools and daycare centers.[28] 41.18 was adopted by the City Council by a vote of 11–3, over the objections of activists who protested the measure in the Council chamber.[29] In remarks in a City Council meeting, Raman argued that the measure "creates a district by district arms-race, where people will get pushed around from district to district instead of having a citywide strategy that prioritizes intervention in encampments by need, by safety, by fire risk, by all of the things that we are claiming to be so concerned about. In the end, this will just push people around again. It's not going to solve homelessness or get anybody into housing."[30]
Aleaked recording between Council PresidentNury Martinez, CouncilmembersKevin de León andGil Cedillo, as well asLos Angeles County Federation of Labor PresidentRon Herrera revealed the group's plan to use redistricting to oust Raman. Speaking of Raman, Cedillo stated that "There's certain people who don't merit us rescuing them...She's not our ally, she's not going to help us" and de León proposed to put her district "in a blender, chop it up left or right."[31] The group planned to split theKoreatown neighborhood, a voting bloc for Raman, so that minority voters in her renters' district would be divided and she would face a tougher reelection.[32][33] After the conversation was leaked, Raman introduced a measure to ask voters to change the city charter so that redistricting would be handled by an independent commission.[34][35]
In June 2023, during a protest led byUNITE HERE Local 11, theLos Angeles Police Department arrested Raman after she refused to disperse.[36]
On February 3, 2024, Raman was censured by the Los Angeles chapter of theDemocratic Socialists of America for seeking and accepting an endorsement by the Los Angeles chapter of the Zionist lobby group Democrats for Israel. However, she maintained her endorsement by the DSA Los Angeles chapter.[37]
Raman identified herself as a "homelessness nonprofit leader" when she first ran for office in 2020. In 2024Karen Bass, the Mayor of Los Angeles, endorsed Nithya Raman's campaign for reelection, and her work onhomeless issues.
Raman has made her work on homelessness a cornerstone of her reelection campaign, drawing praise from advocates, nonprofit groups and many of her colleagues.[38]
In Raman's view the situation of the homeless is directly linked to the housing shortage.[39] Specifically responding to citizen complaints about the homeless encampments in theCahuenga area of Hollywood, she acknowledged the difficulty of finding a room indoors acceptable to the homeless, later stating, "We do not have the shelter resources we need for our homeless population."[40]
City officials here have limited discretion. Since theMartin v. Boise (2018) decision by theNinth Circuit, the involuntary clearing homeless encampments by municipalities in its jurisdiction may be considered "cruel and unusual punishment" and thus unconstitutional.[41]
"Bass and Raman have embraced a similar strategy: Send outreach workers and other specialists... to make offers of motel rooms, hotel rooms and other types of temporary housing... ." The homeless may then either voluntarily accept or reject such offers. Raman claims success in clearing encampments in Los Feliz, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, among a dozen other spots in her district.[42]
In 2024, amid a housing shortage in L.A., Raman proposed to permit mid-sized apartment buildings near public transit stations in some neighborhoods zoned exclusively for single-family houses.[43] The proposal was rejected by a 10–5 margin in the City Council, instead pursuing larger apartment buildings in already dense urban areas.[43]
In response to theSeptember 2022 Armenia–Azerbaijan clashes, Raman stated "I stand with theArmenian community in Los Angeles, and with Armenians worldwide, in strongly condemningAzerbaijan's unprovoked military attacks against civilians. I have the privilege to represent a vast, vibrant Armenian community in the Fourth District, so many of whom have welcomed me as their representative with open arms — and I deeply share in their sadness and anger. This senseless violence must end, and I join in loudly calling for Congress to halt all military aid to Azerbaijan."[44]
Raman has condemned Azerbaijan's2022–2023 blockade of the Republic of Artsakh, stating that "This is not an isolated incident and is a reflection of Azerbaijan's systematic policies that are forcing indigenous Armenians out of their ancestral homeland. Azerbaijan will continue to engage in acts of war against Artsakh and Armenia until the international community holds it responsible for its actions against the only thriving democracy in the region. We have the responsibility to ensure the safety of these peaceful nations from their hostile neighbors. I urge the Biden Administration to use all available diplomatic tools, including withholding financial support, to end the blockade."[45]
Raman was born inIndia and emigrated to theUnited States with her family at the age of six.[46]
Raman resides in theSilver Lake neighborhood ofLos Angeles. She is married to televisionscreenwriter Vali Chandrasekaran, a fellow Harvard alumnus. The two have twins: Karna and Kaveri.[47]
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | ||
| David Ryu (incumbent) | 32,298 | 44.4 | ||
| Nithya Raman | 31,502 | 40.8 | ||
| Sarah Kate Levy | 10,860 | 14.1 | ||
| Total votes | 72,219 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Nithya Raman | 70,317 | 52.87 | ||
| David Ryu (incumbent) | 62,682 | 47.13 | ||
| Total votes | 132,999 | 100.00 | ||
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theLos Angeles City Council from the4th district 2020–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Assistant President Pro Tempore of theLos Angeles City Council 2025–present | |
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