Nithya Raman vows to overhaul Los Angeles housing policy in mayoral race

In a recent interview, mayoral hopeful Nithya Raman outlined a plan to accelerate housing production in Los Angeles, targeting bureaucratic delays and demanding earlier coordination with the Department of Water and Power. She argues that expanding the supply of homes is the only way to make rent control effective and protect existing renters. Raman, who helped craft a stricter rent-stabilization formula last year, blames incumbent Mayor Karen Bass for lacking urgency, noting the absence of a deputy mayor for housing and the city’s legal challenges to fully funded affordable projects.

She emphasizes a gradual approach to densifying single-family neighborhoods, leveraging accessory dwelling units and modest mid-rise construction near transit hubs. Raman also calls for data on landlord consolidation and stresses the need for public-funded housing to keep families from leaving the city. Her campaign positions her as a bridge between tenant-rights advocates and pro-development forces, aiming to reshape LA’s housing politics.