LAPD Union Launches Attack Ad Against Councilwoman Nithya Raman Over Homelessness Stance

The Los Angeles Police Protective League, a police union, has released a new attack ad targeting Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman, a mayoral candidate, criticizing her record on homelessness and her stance on encampments near schools.

The 30-second advertisement, titled “Nithya Raman Won’t Keep Our Kids Safe,” features a young girl walking past homeless encampments. The ad juxtaposes images of encampments with audio clips of Raman’s past comments on the city's 500-foot anti-camping buffer zone.

In the ad, the girl states, “Walking to school shouldn’t be scary. Bad things can happen. I see things I’m not supposed to. So I keep my head down so I don’t have to look, or step on a needle.” The ad’s narrative is built around Raman’s previous statements suggesting that a child's safety is not necessarily improved by the mere presence of a homeless encampment 500 feet away from a school.

Raman, who has opposed expanding the city’s anti-camping restrictions, argues that displacing encampments does not solve homelessness and emphasizes the need for increased shelter and housing resources. The police union claims Raman has voted against banning homeless encampments at over 500 locations near schools, parks, and daycares more than 75 times.

This is not the first time Raman’s approach to homelessness has drawn scrutiny. Previously, The Post reported that more than 130 matters accumulated after Housing and Homelessness Committee meetings were canceled over a five-week period in April and May. Additionally, a $62.6 million homeless initiative championed by Raman reportedly housed only three households by June 25, falling significantly short of its goal to move approximately 2,000 individuals into permanent housing.

Raman has consistently voted against city measures that restrict encampments within 500 feet of schools and parks. In a 2022 statement, she acknowledged concerns about encampments near schools but maintained that creating more restricted zones would not address the root causes of homelessness.

Further complicating her public image, The Post also reported that Raman plans to replace her 1,879-square-foot home in Silver Lake with a 3,528-square-foot house, including a spa and a two-car garage. This decision has drawn criticism from those who view housing affordability as central to her political identity.

Raman’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the new attack ad.