Venice tenants face eviction as mayoral hopeful pushes costly affordable-housing scheme
Longtime residents of a city-owned building in Venice may be forced out to make way for a controversial affordable-housing project backed by mayoral candidate Nithya Raman.
Mayor-candidate Nithya Raman’s affordable-housing proposal for Venice would demolish a city-owned fourplex and construct 120 units, including space for formerly homeless residents and low-income families. Current occupants, including Mary Alice Crowe, who has lived there for 43 years, and Allan Phillips, a 35-year resident, say the plan would displace them from homes they consider their lifelong community. The developers have filed a separate suit to remove the tenants ahead of a pending injunction, arguing that $42.5 million in taxpayer money is at risk if delays continue.
A hearing on the eviction request is set for Wednesday, with the project needing full financing by September 2027. Councilwoman Traci Park highlighted the contradiction of tenant-advocacy rhetoric versus court actions, while city attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto previously deemed the $133 million plan unaffordable and unauthorized.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights tensions between affordable-housing goals, taxpayer funding, and the rights of long-time low-income renters.
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