A leftist organization in Los Angeles has put forth a surprising 40-page proposal aimed at transforming the city into a unique socialist model.
The Democratic Socialist Party of America’s Los Angeles chapter plans to seize private property through innovative means, take control of local grocery stores, replace law enforcement with unarmed social workers, and shut down prisons.
Their lengthy agenda includes eliminating Airbnb, acquiring golf courses for public housing, permitting noncitizen immigrants to participate in local elections, promoting social justice in school curricula, and eliminating fossil fuel usage by 2035.
The group, with 3,500 members, has successfully supported several local council candidates and previously endorsed DSA member Nithya Raman, who is currently campaigning for mayor. They criticize the Democratic establishment for betraying capitalist principles and aim to empower “working-class power” through what they term “socialist mass organizations.”
This manifesto, which contains over 9,000 words, was published in 2025 and offers insights into the policies that Mayoral Candidate Raman may advocate, targeting a so-called “status quo coalition” composed of elected officials, real estate developers, billionaires, nonprofits, and some union leaders viewed as having abandoned workers.
They believe that local elections and grassroots organizing could lead to significant changes within six to eight years.
“We stand on the brink of the economic, climate and moral crisis that will define this generation,” the manifesto warns, underscoring a choice between socialism or chaos.
Here’s a not exhaustive, but quite comprehensive overview of their demands:
- Foreclosure of privately owned housing – Use eminent domain to convert private property into public housing.
- Take over municipal corporations and city-owned businesses; Target vital industries such as grocery stores and restaurants.
- Abolish the men’s central prison without creating a replacement facility.
- Transition to 100% renewable energy by 2035 – Phase out fossil fuels within 11 years.
- Make all public transportation free (including buses, trains, and bike-share programs).
- Publicly acquire and manage all energy systems – Full public ownership of utilities.
- Reclaim both private and public golf courses for housing or park space.
- Separate public pension investments from war-related industries and fossil fuel companies.
- Replace armed police with unarmed personnel for traffic management and mental health situations.
- Cease all contracts between public entities and companies benefitting from war or fossil fuels.
- Ban all short-term rentals without a host (like Airbnb).
- Disbar and permanently disqualify any police officers found guilty of murder.
- Allow noncitizens to vote in all local elections.
- Impose a vacancy tax on unoccupied houses.
- Institute universal rent control statewide.
- Automatic rent freezes and eviction moratoriums during any emergency situation.
- Decriminalize all drug use and fund safe injection sites.
- Restore voting rights to all former felons.
- Abolish all forms of testing related to child development programs.
