LA City Councilmember Nithya Raman Shares Her Decision to Run for Mayor at the Last Minute
Los Angeles Councilmember Nithya Raman Challenges Mayor Karen Bass in Upcoming Election
The race for mayor of Los Angeles has intensified as City Councilmember Nithya Raman announced her candidacy during a press conference on Saturday, just hours before the filing deadline. The primary election is set for June 2.
Raman voiced her concerns about the city’s current challenges in an exclusive interview with NBC4, describing Los Angeles as being in a "moment of turmoil." "I have been very, very frustrated with Los Angeles for the last few months," she stated. "I can’t get a streetlight fixed for a year unless I put discretionary funds into it. We haven’t paved a single mile of streets in LA over this last year."
Raman emphasized that the city is failing to deliver essential services while it has been entrusted by the public with significant funds to address complex crises, including housing and homelessness. "We’re at a moment where we’re not delivering on the basics. I feel like Los Angeles is really in a moment of turmoil, right now," she added.
Previously, Raman had waited to see if critical discussions about the city’s future would emerge in the mayoral race. However, she felt those conversations were lacking. "Let’s talk about the future of Los Angeles and what it deserves. Ultimately, I just didn’t see that conversation happening," she remarked.
The fourth district representative, who has been on the city council since 2020, noted that she feels compelled to bring about change across the city. "Right now, I feel a call from Los Angeles for change across the entire city. I feel a sense of frustration and even despondency," she expressed.
In response to Raman’s announcement, Douglas Herman, a campaign advisor for Bass, criticized her stance on homelessness. "The last thing Los Angeles needs is a politician who opposed cleaning up homeless encampments and efforts to make our city safer," Herman stated. He highlighted Bass’s track record, citing the first sustained decrease in street homelessness and a 60-year low in homicides.
In other recent developments in the mayoral race, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath announced she will not run for mayor following months of personal reflection. Additionally, former LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner ended his campaign after the tragic loss of his daughter. Billionaire developer Rick Caruson, who was Bass’s opponent in the last election, has reaffirmed his decision not to enter the race.
