Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman sidestepped direct questions regarding her ties to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA-LA) and the potential implications of the group's platform for the city. At a press conference called to address the city's homelessness crisis, Raman was pressed on why she had not held a press conference for the DSA-LA endorsement, unlike those for union endorsements, and whether the group's "extreme left-wing ideology" would benefit Los Angeles.
Instead of directly answering, Raman emphasized her political independence and focus on delivering results for Angelenos. "I am running for mayor, and I’ve made my positions very clear, and at points, I have broken with any organization that has supported me in the past when I have felt that policies need to be reconsidered or considered differently in order to deliver results for Angelenos," Raman stated. When pressed again about the DSA-LA's ideology, she responded, "Well, I’m running for mayor, so I believe my policies and my agenda will help the city."
DSA-LA endorsed Raman on September 2, following a vote among chapter members. The group's platform includes proposals such as redirecting police funding, repealing portions of the city's anti-camping law, and exploring measures like eminent domain to move housing out of the private market.
The press conference, which Raman held alongside LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, also focused on criticizing Mayor Karen Bass's handling of the homelessness crisis and oversight of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). Raman accused Bass of not adequately addressing the issue and vowed to increase accountability within the city's homelessness bureaucracy.
When questioned about why the reforms she now advocates as a mayoral candidate had not been implemented during her tenure chairing the City Council committee overseeing homelessness, Raman pointed to her district-specific successes and the limitations of a council member's authority. "In my district, where I had the most direct operational control over our homelessness response, I delivered real results," she said, adding that citywide efforts were constrained by the mayor's ultimate control over departments.
Raman also addressed questions about her and Bass's past involvement with LAHSA, asserting that she had "been working for years to build City Hall’s ability to manage its own homelessness dollars." The questioning concluded shortly after, with Raman's team indicating she had a prior engagement.