Los Angeles Homelessness Committee Leadership Change Amidst Mayoral Race

The Los Angeles City Council is undergoing a reshuffle in committee leadership. Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson has decided to split the current Housing and Homelessness Committee into two separate entities. Current chair Nithya Raman, a mayoral candidate challenging incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, will not lead either new committee, according to insider sources.

Harris-Dawson, closely aligned with Mayor Bass, plans to announce the change soon. He has not commented publicly on the decision. Zev Yaroslavsky, a former city official, remarked that the timing appears politically motivated due to Raman’s challenge against Bass.

Raman’s campaign has not responded to inquiries following the announcement, previously covered by the California Post. Alex Stack, a spokesperson for Mayor Bass’ campaign, criticized Raman’s performance. He cited her program, aimed at housing the homeless via subsidies, as a $60 million failure, which only managed to fill a few apartments. Stack accused Raman of neglecting committee duties and failing to deliver effective solutions for homelessness.

This shift comes during a critical phase of the mayoral race focused on homelessness. The unsheltered homeless population in Los Angeles has risen, reversing two years of decline. Within Raman’s district, the homeless count on the streets fell by 49%. Raman attributes this to her efforts, contrasting the citywide increase.

Mayor Bass contends that her initiative, Inside Safe, played a key role in reducing homelessness in Raman’s district. She argues that budget cuts at federal and state levels impacted the overall increase in homelessness across the city. Bass has criticized Raman’s overall contribution as committee chair, emphasizing the city’s broader efforts under her administration.

Raman disputes these claims, noting limited operations under the Inside Safe program in her area. She blames the mayor’s office for obstructing her committee’s work and stresses the mayor’s ultimate responsibility for execution and results.

The discussion surrounding these changes highlights differing approaches and narratives from both mayoral candidates regarding homelessness in Los Angeles.