LA Councilwoman Nithya Raman Missed Palisades Fire Recovery Vote for Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony
Raman's absence during a key vote on aid for wildfire victims has become a point of contention in her mayoral campaign.
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman reportedly missed a crucial vote on aid for victims of the Palisades Fire on February 18, 2025, to attend a Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony honoring actress Mindy Kaling. The event saw Kaling receive her star on the iconic strip.
Raman, a candidate in the Los Angeles mayoral race, was quoted as congratulating Kaling at the ceremony, stating, "I’ve watched in awe and with pride as you’ve made your mark on the global stage, and when I heard you were about to make a physical mark on the city of Los Angeles, as the only South Asian representing this City I knew I had to be here to congratulate you personally," according to the Westside Current.
Meanwhile, at City Hall, the council addressed a 40-item agenda that included measures specifically addressing the aftermath of the January wildfires. Among these were proposals introduced by Councilwoman Traci Park, which sought to provide additional annual and visitor parking permits for individuals displaced by the fires and to waive city fees for those rebuilding structures destroyed in the blaze. These measures passed unanimously among the council members present.
Raman was one of four council members absent for at least some of the fire-related votes. Her campaign defended her absence, with spokeswoman Liz Garcia stating that it did not affect the outcome of the votes. Garcia emphasized Raman's commitment to fire recovery efforts, noting that Raman has introduced multiple council measures and released a detailed Palisades Recovery Plan. "As mayor, she would work closely with Councilmember Park and the community to help residents rebuild and return home as quickly as possible," Garcia added.
Raman's attendance record has become a significant issue in her mayoral campaign against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. The Bass campaign has frequently criticized Raman for missed votes, launching a website dubbed "No Show Nithya" and claiming Raman has missed thousands of council votes since joining the council. Raman has previously cited scheduling conflicts with outside board assignments as reasons for some absences.
Councilmember Park, whose district includes the area affected by the Palisades Fire, has also publicly expressed frustration with Raman. "Nithya Raman never once offered to help, ever," Park stated in response to Raman's pledge to assist with rebuilding efforts.
The controversy arises as recent polling indicates Raman has gained momentum in the mayoral race. A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, showed Raman leading Bass by 11 points, with 39% of likely voters supporting Raman and 28% supporting Bass. However, 33% of likely voters remain undecided. The Bass campaign has contested these poll results, suggesting they are an outlier compared to other surveys indicating a closer race.