Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman is facing scrutiny over the recent increase in homelessness, with critics arguing she shares responsibility with Mayor Karen Bass. Despite building her career on addressing the issue, homelessness in Los Angeles has seen a 3.4% rise this year after a brief two-year dip.
Raman, who chairs the City Council Committee on Housing and Homelessness, has drawn criticism for canceling meetings in the spring to focus on her mayoral campaign. During that period, she proposed a plan to "eliminate" homeless encampments, a goal she did not achieve during her nearly six years on the City Council. Her proposed solutions do not involve law enforcement, aligning with past stances on police funding. The core of her policy centers on building more shelters within the same budget, a strategy questioned by critics who point to the city and county's $3 billion annual expenditure on a "housing first" policy that is viewed as unsuccessful.
Furthermore, Raman and her colleagues continue to allocate approximately $300 million annually to the LA Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). This agency faces significant challenges, including a decision by LA County to disengage from it in 2025 and a suspension of federal grant funding by the Trump administration due to alleged financial mismanagement and conflicts of interest.
Allies of Raman within the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have also put forth proposals, including a manifesto that advocates for ending enforcement against homeless encampments and opposes policies that criminalize homelessness or create forms of incarceration through temporary housing. Their manifesto also calls for the expropriation of privately owned housing and the implementation of a vacancy tax on unoccupied properties.
Mayor Karen Bass, whose campaign focused on reducing homelessness, is under particular pressure. The article suggests Bass attempted to deflect blame by referencing President Donald Trump, despite previous photo opportunities with him. However, the analysis posits that Raman should not be absolved of responsibility, suggesting that both leaders share blame for the persistent homeless crisis in Los Angeles.