Courage California endorses Councilmember Nithya Raman for re-election to keep Los Angeles on the right track for progress.
Councilmember Nithya Raman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 4 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Councilmember Raman has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, California Working Families Party, Abundant Housing LA, ACCE Action, and Fund Her. She has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, LA Supervisor Hilda Solis, LA Supervisor Holly Mitchell, LA City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, and Assm. Isaac Bryan.
Top issues: Homelessness and affordable housing, mental health support, renters’ rights, environmental protections and pollution reduction, cycling infrastructure, government transparency, reproductive justice, and parks improvement.
Key initiatives: Councilmember Raman has successfully supported emergency financial resources, the carbon-free standard for new construction, an expansion of bike lane infrastructure, the establishment of Los Angeles as an abortion care safe haven, new investments in Griffith Park and the Los Angeles Zoo, and the expansion of tenants’ rights, including eviction protections and relocation assistance. A dedicated advocate of housing reform, Councilmember Raman has increased the shelter capacity in her district, opened a hotel shelter in the community, secured an Encampment Resolution Grant from Gov. Newsom to move people indoors, expanded mental health and substance abuse support, and collaborated with Mayor Bass to support unhoused constituents. After her election in 2020, District 4 underwent the most significant change of any council seat, with Councilmember Raman receiving a 40% shift in her constituency after redistricting, a Council-led process that was the subject of much controversy. In response, she has introduced a ballot measure to allow voters to establish a fully independent redistricting commission. She has been a proactive, consistent, and progressive advocate for her constituents.
Governance and community leadership experience: Councilmember Raman has served in this seat since 2020, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote over the incumbent. Her victory constituted the most votes—over 70,000—that any council candidate has received in the city’s history.
Prior to her election to the City Council, Councilmember Raman was an urban planner and spent time working in India on initiatives to improve access to water, shelter, and economic mobility. After moving to Los Angeles, she co-founded SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, a local neighborhood-based organization formed in response to the city’s inaction on homelessness. She also served as co-chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council’s Homelessness Committee for several years. Raman recently served as executive director of Time’s Up Entertainment, the women’s rights movement furthering equity and safety for women in the entertainment industry. Raman’s relationships in entertainment are strong, and her campaign has partnered with artists and performers to further its organizing efforts.
Other background: Councilmember Raman was born in India and raised in Massachusetts after her family immigrated to the United States. She is a graduate of Harvard and MIT.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Councilmember Nithya Raman, Levon Baronian, and Ethan Weaver. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Raman’s campaign has raised $260,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Ethan Weaver
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Weaver’s campaign has raised $141,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
The District
City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 4 includes the communities of The Hills, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Reseda, Van Nuys, Studio City, Cahuenga Pass, Los Feliz, and portions of Los Angeles.
Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Courage California endorses Councilmember Nithya Raman for re-election to keep Los Angeles on the right track for progress.
Councilmember Nithya Raman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 4 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Councilmember Raman has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, California Working Families Party, Abundant Housing LA, ACCE Action, and Fund Her. She has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, LA Supervisor Hilda Solis, LA Supervisor Holly Mitchell, LA City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, and Assm. Isaac Bryan.
Top issues: Homelessness and affordable housing, mental health support, renters’ rights, environmental protections and pollution reduction, cycling infrastructure, government transparency, reproductive justice, and parks improvement.
Key initiatives: Councilmember Raman has successfully supported emergency financial resources, the carbon-free standard for new construction, an expansion of bike lane infrastructure, the establishment of Los Angeles as an abortion care safe haven, new investments in Griffith Park and the Los Angeles Zoo, and the expansion of tenants’ rights, including eviction protections and relocation assistance. A dedicated advocate of housing reform, Councilmember Raman has increased the shelter capacity in her district, opened a hotel shelter in the community, secured an Encampment Resolution Grant from Gov. Newsom to move people indoors, expanded mental health and substance abuse support, and collaborated with Mayor Bass to support unhoused constituents. After her election in 2020, District 4 underwent the most significant change of any council seat, with Councilmember Raman receiving a 40% shift in her constituency after redistricting, a Council-led process that was the subject of much controversy. In response, she has introduced a ballot measure to allow voters to establish a fully independent redistricting commission. She has been a proactive, consistent, and progressive advocate for her constituents.
Governance and community leadership experience: Councilmember Raman has served in this seat since 2020, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote over the incumbent. Her victory constituted the most votes—over 70,000—that any council candidate has received in the city’s history.
Prior to her election to the City Council, Councilmember Raman was an urban planner and spent time working in India on initiatives to improve access to water, shelter, and economic mobility. After moving to Los Angeles, she co-founded SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, a local neighborhood-based organization formed in response to the city’s inaction on homelessness. She also served as co-chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council’s Homelessness Committee for several years. Raman recently served as executive director of Time’s Up Entertainment, the women’s rights movement furthering equity and safety for women in the entertainment industry. Raman’s relationships in entertainment are strong, and her campaign has partnered with artists and performers to further its organizing efforts.
Other background: Councilmember Raman was born in India and raised in Massachusetts after her family immigrated to the United States. She is a graduate of Harvard and MIT.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Councilmember Nithya Raman, Levon Baronian, and Ethan Weaver. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Raman’s campaign has raised $260,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Ethan Weaver
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Weaver’s campaign has raised $141,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
The District
City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 4 includes the communities of The Hills, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Reseda, Van Nuys, Studio City, Cahuenga Pass, Los Feliz, and portions of Los Angeles.
Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.