Nithya Raman Axed From Homelessness Committee Leadership, Alleges Political Payback From Bass Allies

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman is accusing city leaders of political retaliation after losing her position as chair of the City Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee, adding another layer of tension to her battle against Mayor Karen Bass.

Raman had led the Housing and Homelessness Committee since 2023. But that changed last week when the committee was split into separate housing and homelessness panels, neither of which Raman will chair.

Bass’ campaign argues Raman has only herself to blame.

“It’s not surprising. 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,” Bass campaign spokesman Alex Stack told The Daily Signal.

“Her signature program has been a failure, spending over $60 million for nearly a year but only filling 3 apartments.”

Raman, however, says the decision was political.

In a video posted to social media, Raman accused Bass and her allies of retaliating against her for challenging the administration’s homelessness spending and running against the incumbent mayor.

“The Mayor may be trying to punish me for challenging her, but Angelenos are the ones who pay the price for these political games,” she wrote on X.

In an article by NBC Los Angeles, City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson denied the retaliation claims, explaining that the Housing and Homelessness Committee was being divided into two separate panels to allow the council to better address pressing policy questions surrounding each issue.

“It was very, very disappointing to see her reach to the bottom of the barrel politically,” said Harris-Dawson about Raman’s accusations.

The Daily Signal reached out to Raman’s campaign but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

The shake-up only adds to the messiness of the mayoral race, where homelessness is becoming a major point of attack for both candidates.

Raman has criticized Bass over the city’s homelessness spending and pushed for greater oversight, while Bass’ campaign is now pointing right back at Raman’s record as chair of the committee responsible for housing and homelessness.

Both candidates are trying to convince Angelenos that the other has failed to deliver on one of the city’s biggest problems.