Nithya Raman

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Nithya Raman
Raman in 2022
Member of the Los Angeles City Council
from the 4th district
Assumed office
December 14, 2020
Preceded byDavid Ryu
Personal details
BornKerala, India
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseVali Chandrasekaran
Children2
Residence(s)Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California
EducationHarvard University (BS)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS)
WebsiteCampaign website

Nithya V. Raman is an American urban planner, activist, and politician serving as the Los Angeles City Councilmember for the 4th District since 2020. Raman, a member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America, defeated incumbent Councilmember David Ryu in 2020.[1][2]

Early life and education

Nithya Raman was born in Kerala, India, and moved to Louisiana at 6 years old.[3] She earned a bachelor's degree in political theory from Harvard University then a master's degree in urban planning from MIT.[4]

Career

After living in the United States for many years, Raman returned to her home country of India and founded the research firm Transparent Chennai. The firm's goal was to improve sanitation in the city of Chennai.[5] Prior to entering politics, Raman founded and headed a homelessness nonprofit in Los Angeles and was the executive director of Time's Up Entertainment.[5][6]

Los Angeles City Council (2020—)

Election

Raman declared her candidacy for the Los Angeles City Council in 2019, citing the issue of homelessness as being central to her decision to run.[7] Raman's candidacy was largely fueled by grassroots volunteers, who she claims knocked on more than 70,000 doors before the March primary.[8] Ground Game LA, which formed following former Green Party-endorsed candidate Jessica Salans' defeat by Mitch O'Farrell in the 13th district in 2017, was credited with helping her campaign win.[9]

Raman's platform included proposed reforms to Los Angeles' housing and homelessness policy, "a new approach to public safety," and a climate change plan that she claims will get Los Angeles to carbon neutrality by 2030.[10][11][12] She has signed the Participatory Budget Pledge, an initiative put forward by Black Lives Matter LA which expresses a commitment to "holding a participatory budgeting process each budget cycle I hold elected office."[13]

In the March 3, 2020 primary, Raman faced incumbent David Ryu and screenwriter Sarah Kate Levy.[14] Ryu received 32,298 votes (44.4%), Raman received 31,502 votes (40.8%), and Sarah Kate Levy received 10,860 votes (14.1%).[15] Because no candidate received over fifty percent of the vote, Raman and Ryu advanced to the runoff election, scheduled for November 3, 2020.

In the November 2020 runoff election, Raman defeated Ryu by a 52.87% to 47.13% margin.[16] She will serve a four-year term as member of the City Council. Raman's victory was described as a "political earthquake" by the Los Angeles Times.[17]

Tenure

In April 2021, Raman proposed amendments to a draft ordinance on tenant harassment. The amendments classified cash buyout offers and threats to report false information to law enforcement as forms of harassment, and included a rent adjustment penalty, which would prevent landlords who violate the ordinance from raising a unit's rent.[18] The ordinance was passed in June 2021.[19]

In June 2021, Raman was served with a recall notice after only six months in office.[20] The Los Angeles Times referred to the notice as part of a "recall fever" striking California, as at least 68 other active recalls were then ongoing in the state, including the recall of Governor Gavin Newsom.[21] In September 2021 the recall campaign collapsed when proponents announced that they were unable to collect the required number of signatures within the allotted time.[22]

On February 1, 2022, Raman was appointed to the board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District by Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti. She replaced councilmember Joe Buscaino. She pledged to prioritize public health and environmental justice from that position.[23]

In 2021 and 2022, Raman was one of three councilmembers to vote against 41.18, a city ordinance that banned homeless encampments within 500 feet of schools and daycare centers.[24] 41.18 was adopted by the City Council by a vote of 11-3, over the objections of activists who protested the measure in the Council chamber.[25] In remarks in a City Council meeting, Raman argued that the measure "creates a district by district arms-race, where people will get pushed around from district to district instead of having a citywide strategy that prioritizes intervention in encampments by need, by safety, by fire risk, by all of the things that we are claiming to be so concerned about. In the end, this will just push people around again. It’s not going to solve homelessness or get anybody into housing."[26]

A leaked recording between Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmembers Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo, as well as Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera revealed the group's plan to use redistricting to oust Raman. Speaking of Raman, Cedillo stated that "There's certain people who don't merit us rescuing them...She's not our ally, she's not going to help us" and de León proposed to put her district "in a blender, chop it up left or right."[27] The group planned to split the Koreatown neighborhood, a voting block for Raman, so that minority voters in her renters' district would be divided and she would face a tougher reelection.[28][29] After the conversation was leaked, Raman introduced a measure to ask voters to change the city charter so that redistricting would be handled by an independent commission.[30][31]

Personal life

Raman was born in India and emigrated to the United States with her family at the age of six.[32]

Raman resides in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. She is married to television screenwriter Vali Chandrasekaran, a fellow Harvard alumnus. The two have twins: Karna and Kaveri.[33]

Electoral history

Los Angeles City Council District 4, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan David Ryu (incumbent) 32,298 44.4%
Nonpartisan Nithya Raman 31,502 40.8%
Nonpartisan Sarah Kate Levy 10,860 14.1%
Total votes 72,219 100%
General election
Nonpartisan Nithya Raman[34] 70,317 52.87%
Nonpartisan David Ryu (incumbent)[35] 62,682 47.13%
Total votes 132,999 100%

See also

References

  1. ^ ""The System That We Have to Respond to Homelessness Is Not One That Was Designed to Help People."". jacobinmag.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  2. ^ "He ran as a City Hall reformer. His rivals say he's fallen short on homelessness". Los Angeles Times. January 27, 2020.
  3. ^ "'അഭിമാനം ഈ പെൺകൊടികൾ'; ഒരാഴ്ചയ്ക്കിടെ ലോകമാധ്യമങ്ങളുടെ തലക്കെട്ടിൽ നിറഞ്ഞ മൂന്ന് മലയാളി വനിതകൾ". News18 (in Malayalam). November 12, 2020.
  4. ^ Specter, Emma (October 29, 2020). "Meet Nithya Raman, the L.A. City Council Candidate Who Is Trying to Solve the City's Homelessness Crisis". Vogue. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Pinheiro, Erin Hickey (30 January 2020). "Who's Running Against Ryu? Nithya Raman". Los Feliz Ledger. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  6. ^ Hipes, Patrick (August 16, 2019). "Time's Up Entertainment Executive Director Nithya Raman Exits Post".
  7. ^ "I'm running for LA City Council in District 4. Here's why". Twitter. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Incumbent David Ryu could face November runoff in race for LA City Council's District 4 seat". Los Angeles Daily News. March 3, 2020.
  9. ^ Denkmann, Libby (11 November 2020). "How Nithya Raman And Other Progressive Campaigns Beat The LA Establishment — And What's Next". LAist. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  10. ^ "Housing and Homelessness Platform". Nithya for the City. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  11. ^ "A New Approach to Public Safety in LA". Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  12. ^ Raman, Nithya. "What Future Are We Building in LA?". Nithya For the City. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Participatory Budget Pledge". 6 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  14. ^ Los Feliz Ledger - "Who's Running Against David Ryu? Profile on Challenger Sarah Kate Levy"
  15. ^ "Official LA County vote tally" (PDF). Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder / County Clerk. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  16. ^ "Election Results".
  17. ^ "Nithya Raman inspires progressives as she holds significant lead in L.A. council race". Los Angeles Times. 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  18. ^ Draughorne, Kenan. "Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance Amended Before Council Meeting". MSN News.
  19. ^ "LA City Council adopts ordinance aimed to stop landlords from harassing tenants". Fox 11 Los Angeles. City News Service. June 23, 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Raman recall moving forward". The Eastsider. June 11, 2021.
  21. ^ Wick, Julia (June 11, 2021). "Recall fever strikes California as angry voters take on politicians in large numbers". Los Angeles Times.
  22. ^ Zahniser, David (17 September 2021). "Recall bid targeting L.A. City Councilwoman Nithya Raman collapses". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  23. ^ Linton, Joe (2022-02-01). "Councilmember Nithya Raman Appointed to So Cal Air Quality Board". Streetsblog Los Angeles. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  24. ^ https://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2020/20-1376-S1_caf_8-2-22.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  25. ^ "L.A. cracks down on homeless encampments near schools, over protesters' jeers". Los Angeles Times. 2022-08-02. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
  26. ^ "COUNCILMEMBER NITHYA RAMAN REMARKS FROM TODAY'S LA CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON REVISED CITY ORDINANCE 41.18". LA City Council District 4. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  27. ^ "'This commission has f—ing gone rogue'". Los Angeles Times. October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  28. ^ "Councilmembers planned to divide Koreatown, according to leaked discussion". KCBS-TV. October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  29. ^ Walker, Alissa (October 13, 2022). "Why Is the Los Angeles City Council So Afraid of Renters?". Curbed. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  30. ^ Cowan, Jill; Hubler, Shawn (October 12, 2022). "Los Angeles City Councilwoman Resigns Amid Uproar Over Racist Remarks". New York Times. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  31. ^ Chiotakis, Steve (October 12, 2022). "Nithya Raman wants to stop self-interested political manipulation". KCRW. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  32. ^ Rohit, Parimal M. "Nithya Raman Campaigns for LA City Council, Hoping to Eradicate Homelessness, Broaden Political Umbrella". India West.
  33. ^ Raghunathan, Nimmi (December 11, 2020). "Nithya Raman: An Indian American Progressive Makes History in Los Angeles". India West.
  34. ^ "Nithya Raman inspires progressives as she holds significant lead in L.A. Council race". Los Angeles Times. 5 November 2020.
  35. ^ "The Battle Between Nithya Raman and David Ryu is a Glimpse at the Future of L.A. Politics". 13 October 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by Los Angeles City Council member,
4th district
December 14, 2020 – present 		Incumbent
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