Nithya Raman has been somewhat evasive about whether she would align with the progressive agenda of the Democratic Socialists of America if she becomes the mayor of Los Angeles. This comes as the police union in the city expresses concern that she and her radical supporters aim to implement these policies from City Hall.
Tom Saggau, spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Protective League—which represents nearly 8,700 LAPD officers—has accused her of having a concealed agenda, claiming she has agreed to “co-govern” with DSA-LA, which is a reason for their endorsement of her candidacy.
“They’re wolves in sheep’s clothing, experts in misinformation and distraction. They aim to establish a socialist regime in Los Angeles,” Saggau stated. “Raman and her allies want to shift the focus away from the actual policy demands outlined on the socialists’ website.”
The California Post reached out to Raman’s campaign last week, inquiring if she would support 16 specific policy proposals from the DSA-LA, which include reducing police funding, shutting down jails, and further decriminalizing drug use.
A follow-up was sent on Thursday, but no response came from Raman’s campaign, even with the Los Angeles election looming just over six weeks away, where she is running against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
Among the DSA-LA’s proposals is replacing police officers with unarmed staff for certain tasks—such as traffic enforcement and responding to mental health emergencies. The organization also opposes the city’s anti-camping law that bans homeless encampments within 500 feet of schools, a position that has drawn fire for Raman as a city council member.
Other proposals include calls to “expropriate privately owned housing,” increasing public ownership of businesses and services, including grocery stores and internet access, making public transport free, enforcing universal rent control, and taxing landlords of vacant properties.
Furthermore, they aim to limit short-term rentals and expand voting rights in local elections to non-citizen residents.
Raman has had a longstanding relationship with the DSA. The organization supported her initial City Council campaign in 2020 and identifies her as a dues-paying member in their voter materials. They also endorsed her re-election in 2024 and are backing her current mayoral bid.
In May, Raman softened her stance on the “defund the police” movement during a CNN interview, but just days later, she avoided directly answering a question about her views on this topic.
Recently, she voted against $100,000 in funding for LAPD’s participation in the Joint Regional Intelligence Center, which provides vital information on terrorism and other criminal threats. However, she also supported funding that would cover LAPD training in de-escalation techniques for new recruits.
Surveys conducted by the LAPPL revealed that voters were alarmed by the policies championed by DSA-LA. Many participants admitted that they were previously unaware of the DSA’s platform. Saggau noted that the DSA’s demand to “expropriate privately owned housing” prompted particularly intense reactions from focus group members.
“When people realize that ‘expropriate’ could mean losing their home, it gets serious,” Saggau remarked, noting particularly strong responses from participants with ancestral ties to property seizures.
City Councilwoman Traci Park, representing a significant portion of LA’s Westside, indicated that her motivation to run for office was, in part, her predecessor’s support for defunding the police.
Mike Bonin had backed several initiatives aligned with DSA-LA’s agenda, often collaborating with Raman on proposals aimed at reducing LAPD staffing and funding, as well as opposing the city’s anti-camping law.
“The DSA has already shown how they can make our city unlivable,” Park cautioned voters heading to the polls. Susan Collins, who led a recall effort against Raman, pointed out that DSA-backed measures can pressure property owners without outright government seizures, pushing people out of their homes and businesses.
DSA-LA’s plan to relax parts of Los Angeles Municipal Code 41.18, which restricts certain behaviors in public spaces, also raised concerns among focus group respondents. Saggau commented that many were confused about Raman’s stance on this code.
Nico Ruderman, a member of the Venice Neighborhood Council involved in the recall effort against Mike Bonin, expressed that Westside residents have already suffered from policies similar to those promoted by DSA-LA. He recounted incidents during Bonin’s time in office, including drug-related crises and the presence of encampments near schools.
Ruderman criticized Raman for opposing a strict anti-camping buffer around educational institutions and called attention to the DSA-LA’s objective of “co-governance” with elected officials. This involves formal strategy meetings regarding policy campaigns.
“We’ve already seen these policies play out in our neighborhoods,” Ruderman said. “Raman and DSA want to take these ideas to the mayor’s office.” He labeled “co-governing” for what it is—essentially taking directives from the DSA while formulating city policy.
The LAPPL is gearing up to highlight the DSA’s agenda as a central theme in the ongoing mayoral race, especially as the November 3 election approaches. They’ve put together a seven-page voter guide summarizing the DSA-LA’s key points about housing, business, homelessness, policing, and drug policies.
“These are the significant issues,” Saggau noted. “It’s hard to narrow down from the extensive array of concerns.” Saggau also indicated that upcoming ads will feature homeowners voicing opposition to DSA’s proposals. One homeowner, during filming, reacted by questioning why his family’s long-established business could be affected.
“What do you mean my family built this business and they can just take it?” was a sentiment echoed during discussions. Saggau criticized the DSA’s approach to funding programs, remarking, “They embrace every tax. They’re the party of free services with someone always needing to foot the bill.”
The DSA-LA did not respond to requests for comment.
