Nithya Raman: Indian-origin LA mayoral candidate blasted in dramatic ad over stance on homelessness - Watch

A Los Angeles police union has issued a sharp critique of mayoral candidate Nithya Raman regarding her approach to homelessness, unveiling a new attack advertisement that emphasizes homeless encampments situated adjacent to schools as a central issue in the mayoral campaign.

Nithya Raman's $62.6 million initiative housed only three families, sparking criticism as she criticizes anti-encampment policies. (AFP)The Los Angeles Police Protective League unveiled the 30-second advertisement on Thursday, which depicts a young girl passing by homeless encampments while Raman's previous statements concerning the city's 500-foot anti-camping buffer zone are presented.

The advertisement entitled “Nithya Raman Won't Keep Our Kids Safe” depicts a young child traversing past encampments housing unhoused people, serving as a visual response to Raman's previous statements wherein she asserted that a child's safety would not be enhanced “because a tent is 500-feet away from a school.”

“Walking to school shouldn’t be scary. Bad things can happen. I see things I’m not supposed to. So I keep my head down so I don’t have to look, or step on a needle,” the girl in the ad says while walking.

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The advertisement is against Raman's earlier assertions that a child's safety would not necessarily be enhanced merely by virtue of a homeless encampment being situated 500 feet distant from a school. Raman has consistently opposed the expansion of the city's anti-camping ordinances, contending that the relocation of encampments fails to resolve homelessness and that the city requires enhanced shelter and housing infrastructure.

The police union asserted that Raman has cast more than 75 votes in opposition to prohibiting homeless encampments at over 500 locations proximate to schools, parks, childcare facilities, and other vulnerable sites. According to MyNewsLA, Raman's campaign did not provide an immediate response to a request for commentary.

According to The Post, more than 130 matters accumulated following the cancellation of every Housing and Homelessness Committee meeting throughout a five-week period spanning April and May.

A $62.6 million homeless initiative championed by Raman encountered significant difficulties, successfully housing merely three households by June 25 despite an objective to relocate approximately 2,000 people into permanent housing, according to city records examined by The Post.

She has persistently objected to municipal policies designed to limit encampments within 500 feet of schools and parks.

In a 2022 statement, Raman expressed her opposition to encampments adjacent to schools but contended that the establishment of supplementary restricted zones would not adequately address the fundamental underlying issues.

According to recent The Post report, Raman intends to demolish her 1,879-square-foot residence in Silver Lake and construct a substantially larger 3,528-square-foot dwelling featuring a spa facility and two-car garage.

This expansion, representing an 88% increase in square footage, has generated considerable controversy for a public official who has positioned housing affordability as a cornerstone of her political platform.

Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More