Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nitya Raman’s recent campaign video, which presents her as a potential savior of Hollywood and references her well-known husband, has garnered significant attention—both in views and criticism.
“Just look around,” Raman states in the video, amidst the quiet studio grounds. “These places used to be bustling, but now they’re so still.”
She described the current film industry crisis as “personal,” specifically calling out her husband, Valli Chandrasekaran, a notable television writer, and warned that families throughout Los Angeles are facing job losses as production declines.
Yet, despite the urgency of her message, Raman’s past efforts on the City Council haven’t primarily targeted the film and television industry.
Over her five-plus years on the Los Angeles City Council, Raman has not introduced any legislation aimed at aiding the industry, according to city records.
When the council discussed several measures affecting permitting and production earlier this year, she withdrew from voting on four of them, citing issues stemming from her husband’s profession.
Moreover, Raman also opposed initiatives aimed at enhancing production accessibility in various parts of Los Angeles.
Just last week, she was against establishing a no-camping enforcement area in Venice, a lively zone just blocks away from the beach.
The release of her video has also drawn scrutiny from industry professionals.
Carl Mulstein, a veteran deal broker in Hollywood, pointed out that the video raises questions—like where it was shot.
It seems to have been filmed at a studio in Burbank, which is an interesting note considering her candidacy for the city of Los Angeles.
“We both thought, ‘That’s the Disney lot in Burbank,’ while she’s campaigning for the city of Los Angeles,” Mulstein mentioned.
He added that Burbank boasts a well-resourced police and fire department and has no gross receipts tax. Also, unlike parts of LA, it does not have visible homelessness.
While Mulstein believes her core message might not be flawed, he questions the timing and context.
“Everything she says is accurate…but is it the right message for now?” he pondered.
He also pointed out the slow nature of the industry’s decline, noting it wasn’t an overnight shift.
“This has been a gradual process,” he emphasized.
Furthermore, he highlighted confusion around current policy discussions; many solutions, particularly tax credits, are largely outside of the city’s jurisdiction.
“Talking about tax credits doesn’t relate to the city—it’s a state concern,” he clarified.
Despite these challenges, Mulstein acknowledged that the industry is advancing. While traditional production may be reducing, new sectors like digital and social media content are on the rise, providing opportunities even as many conventional jobs fade away.
The economic implications are severe.
Los Angeles County has already seen over 40,000 film and television jobs disappear in recent years, with projections suggesting a drop from about 142,000 jobs to roughly 100,000 by 2024’s end.
Film production is sharply declining. The number of large-scale projects that initiated filming in 2024 fell by nearly 30% from 2022, with an additional 13% decrease anticipated the following year.
In fact, manufacturing activity in Los Angeles has dipped to rates not seen in decades, excluding the pandemic period.
The impact extends well beyond the studios.
Many workers, once comfortably situated in stable middle-class positions, are now struggling financially, losing healthcare, and even relocating out of state. Small businesses tied to production, from catering to prop rental companies, are facing hardships or closing altogether.
“It might sound dramatic, but it really has led to personal financial ruin for many of us,” remarked one affected business owner.
Raman’s campaign argues that the city’s policies contribute to these issues.
“Los Angeles is losing Hollywood,” she asserted. “Not because the industry wants to leave but because we’re making it too challenging to stay.”
Her strategy proposes creating a dedicated film office in the mayor’s office and improving permitting processes, reducing fees for independent productions, easing filming limitations, and advocating for state and federal tax credits.
Yet, these plans are colliding with the realities of her Council record and the constraints of city governance.
A spokesperson for current Mayor Karen Bass responded, telling the Post:
“In her five years on the City Council, Nithya Raman has not authored a single bill to support the film industry—zero. And when opportunities arose, she recused herself multiple times. That’s not the type of leadership the film industry requires. Mayor Bass implemented the state’s first film and television tax credit and successfully expanded it to $750 million while also taking steps to cut red tape and enhance access to filming locations.” She further mentioned initiatives aimed at making filmmaking in LA more cost-effective.
Raman officially entered the mayoral race on the final day of candidate registration in February, joining what had seemed like a relatively settled competition.
The election will occur in two phases: a primary in June, followed by a runoff in November if no candidate secures over 50% of the votes.
