Democratic Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman announced that she will challenge Democratic Mayor Karen Bass for her role as Mayor of Los Angeles.
“I have deep respect for Mayor Bass. We’ve worked closely together on my biggest priorities and her biggest priorities, and there’s significant alignment there,” Raman told The Los Angeles Times. “But over the last few months in particular, I’ve really begun to feel like unless we have some big changes in how we do things in Los Angeles, that the things we count on are not going to function anymore.”
Raman noted that Bass is “an icon.”
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), of which Raman is a part, has also released a “Program for Los Angeles.”
“To strengthen the position of a new socialist leadership in LA County, DSA-LA needs to demonstrate our legitimacy– by growing and building a base that is consistently running winning campaigns,” the Program explains. “These campaigns should include the electoral campaigns, where we run candidates to take strategic office, and non-electoral campaigns, where our base can agitate for transformational reforms that can be enacted by candidates that we elect and who are committed to our Program.”
The group’s initiatives target law enforcement, jails, and climate efforts, and also seeks to fund universal healthcare and decriminalize drug use.
Meanwhile, a separate Los Angeles City Councilmember, Curren Price, will stand trial in a case surrounding embezzlement of government funds, perjury, and a conflict of interest.
“This is a significant step toward holding L.A. Councilmember Curren Price accountable for years of alleged corruption,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. “Our Public Integrity Division has been prepared to go to trial since the charges were originally filed. The rules are clear: elected officials cannot enrich themselves at the expense of their constituents, cannot lie on disclosure forms, and cannot vote on matters in which they have a conflict of interest.”
