Nithya Raman removed as Los Angeles homelessness committee chair

Nithya Raman has been removed as chair of the Los Angeles City Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee, effective September 1. Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, an ally of Mayor Karen Bass, implemented the change by splitting the committee into two separate entities.

Harris-Dawson defended the decision by stating that Raman failed to lead with the necessary urgency, noting that the committee was behind on more than 100 issues. Raman has characterized the removal as a political “hit job” resulting from her decision to challenge Mayor Bass in the mayoral race.

The leadership shift highlights growing policy friction regarding the city’s homelessness response. Raman has criticized Mayor Bass’s “Inside Safe” program—which transitions individuals from encampments into interim housing—as being unsustainable and overly expensive, with average costs reaching approximately $82,000 per person annually. Despite recent city efforts, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority reported that the unsheltered population recently increased by 7.9% following two years of declines.