Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman voted against a proposal to ban homeless encampments at six Westside locations, a move that contradicts her previous statements to voters and has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents and residents.
The vote occurred days before the Nov. 3 election, in which Raman faces incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Raman, a city councilwoman, opposed a measure introduced by Westside Councilwoman Traci Park that sought to restrict camping in parks, beach dunes, and pedestrian tunnels. The measure ultimately passed the city council with an 11-4 vote, with Raman among the four dissenting votes.
During a campaign event in May, Raman had told an audience, "When I’m mayor, if the council wants to create new [no camping] zones, I’m not going to stand in the way," according to the Los Angeles Times. Westside Councilwoman Traci Park criticized Raman's vote, stating, "Once again, Nithya Raman voted against my efforts to protect our kids and public spaces from dangerous encampments. Her voting record speaks louder than her campaign promises."
Former Los Angeles Councilman Joe Buscaino, who helped shape the city's anti-camping law, defended the measure as a critical tool for protecting neighborhoods. "It works because it lets each councilmember decide what’s right for their community. The best way to govern as mayor is to trust councilmembers and give them real tools to address quality of life concerns, not stand in their way," Buscaino said.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League also criticized Raman, calling her stance a "say-anything-to-get-elected flip-flop campaign."
The proposal targeted specific areas in Park's Westside district, including Vista del Mar Park, Dockweiler Beach sand dunes, Asilomar View Park, Temescal Canyon Park, and two pedestrian tunnels under Pacific Coast Highway. These restrictions fall under Municipal Code Section 41.18, the city's anti-camping ordinance.
Raman has expressed a differing view on the ordinance, arguing that it merely displaces encampments without addressing the root causes of homelessness. "My imagination for how we address homelessness in L.A. goes beyond just thinking about which block an encampment should be on. It is about how we actually get encampments indoors," Raman has stated.
However, some residents, like Venice mother Erin Ashford, have expressed frustration with Raman's stance, particularly regarding encampments near schools. Ashford recounted her child experiencing nightmares after encountering encampments near Westminster Elementary School. She criticized Raman's past remarks questioning the safety benefits of banning encampments within 500 feet of schools, stating, "Have her visit our house and try to explain to our kids that zombies aren’t trying to get them."
Nico Ruderman, a Venice Neighborhood Council member, echoed these concerns, pointing out the contradiction between Raman's campaign promises and her voting record. "She has repeatedly spoken against the law, and Traci Park’s proposal to expand it sat unheard in the committee she chaired. Both her votes and her actions contradict what she’s telling voters," Ruderman said.
A spokesperson for Mayor Bass's campaign also weighed in, stating that Raman's voting record contradicts her public statements on encampment restrictions near schools and daycares. The Bass campaign added that Raman "doesn’t think a kid is safer if a tent is 500 feet away from a school, and she would undo our progress cleaning up encampments throughout the city."
The New York Post reached out to Raman's campaign for comment.