LA Council Removes Nithya Raman as Housing Committee Chair

Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson is splitting the Housing and Homelessness Committee into two separate entities, a move that removes Nithya Raman from her leadership role as chair. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado is expected to lead the new homelessness committee. The restructuring occurs as Raman challenges Mayor Karen Bass for reelection in November.

Raman alleges the removal is political retaliation and a punishment for her mayoral bid. She accused Bass of blocking audits of the Inside Safe initiative and failing to staff the Bureau of Homelessness Oversight. Raman highlighted a nearly 50% decrease in street homelessness within her own district as evidence of her effectiveness.

Spokesperson Alex Stack defended the move, citing Raman's poor performance. Stack alleged that Raman canceled multiple committee meetings and oversaw a subsidy program that spent over $60 million while filling only three apartments. The Raman campaign disputed these figures, stating funds are not spent until leases are signed. Meanwhile, Bass continues to promote her own strategies, recently unveiling a tiny home community in Sun Valley to reduce reliance on motels for interim housing.