Los Angeles’ homelessness machine just ate one of its own.
Councilmember Nithya Raman, who represents Council District 4, was stripped of her chairmanship of the City Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee Tuesday after a 13-1 vote to dissolve the panel.
And the sharpest attack on her leadership came from a fellow Democrat.
Imelda Padilla, a Democrat and candidate for Los Angeles City Council District 6 who served on Raman’s committee, did not mince words.
“The months that I served on that committee under your leadership were the most unproductive time I’ve had on council. You ran it like a lecture hall at a university, not a place of government decision making.”
Then Padilla delivered the line that cuts straight to the heart of the fight.
“You were removed because of your inability to lead and get things done. The homeless crisis does not need a chair that is all talk and no action.”
The committee was dissolved Aug. 11 as part of a restructuring introduced by Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who represents Council District 8, and who removed Raman as chair.
Raman, however, claimed the move was political retaliation tied to her mayoral campaign.
“Mayor Bass’ top City Council ally removed me as Chair of the Housing and Homelessness Committee,” Raman said on Instagram. “The Mayor may be trying to punish me for challenging her.”
Padilla had more ammunition.
“Over 100 motions not scheduled, canceled meetings and leaving when controversial votes came around; unacceptable. Now you are being dishonest about how homelessness was reduced in your district: it was Inside Safe.”
Los Angeles has more homeless people today than it did when Mayor Karen Bass took office.
That makes the political finger-pointing especially striking.
Los Angeles has spent years throwing committees, programs and political muscle at homelessness, yet the city now has more homeless people than when Bass entered office.
Bass’ campaign joined the pile-on.
Alex Stack, a spokesperson for the Bass campaign, accused Raman of canceling meetings, missing votes and failing to deliver more housing or get people off the streets.
“Nithya Raman canceled committee meetings for weeks, didn’t show up to votes, and failed to deliver on building more housing or getting people off the streets.”
Stack also attacked Raman’s signature program.
“Her signature program has been a failure, spending over $60 million for nearly a year but only filling three apartments.”
The political backdrop is hard to miss.
The 15-member Los Angeles City Council has 10 Democrats, four democratic socialists and one Independent.
There are no Republicans.
Yet the city’s left-dominated political establishment is now publicly battling over who failed to tackle a homelessness crisis that remains worse than it was when Bass took office.
Raman will not, at least, be taking a financial hit from losing the chair.
All 15 council members receive the same base salary regardless of committee assignments or leadership positions.
The pay is approximately $245,255 annually and is tied directly to the salary of California Superior Court judges.
