LA Mayoral Hopeful Raman Votes Against Venice Anti-Camping Crackdown

Raman's stance signals her approach to one of LA's most contentious homelessness issues.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 9:20pm

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A solitary shopping cart sits abandoned on a dimly lit sidewalk, casting long shadows in the warm, golden light of a setting sun, evoking a sense of urban melancholy and the persistent challenges of homelessness.The ongoing struggle to address homelessness in Los Angeles is reflected in the abandoned remnants of encampments that dot the city's streets.Los Angeles Today

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman voted against a proposal to establish an anti-camping zone in the Venice neighborhood, a move that signals her approach to the city's homelessness crisis. The motion, introduced by Councilmember Traci Park, sought to restrict sitting, sleeping, and storing property near designated 'sensitive' areas in Venice, which has seen persistent encampments and public safety concerns. Raman, who has consistently opposed expansions of the city's anti-camping law, argued that enforcement-based approaches merely shift encampments between neighborhoods rather than resolving homelessness.

Why it matters

Raman's vote against the anti-camping crackdown in Venice highlights her divergent approach to tackling homelessness compared to other city leaders. As a mayoral candidate, her stance on this issue will be closely watched by voters grappling with one of LA's most pressing and divisive problems.

The details

The proposed anti-camping zone would have applied Los Angeles Municipal Code 41.18, which restricts sitting, sleeping, or storing property near designated 'sensitive' areas like schools and parks. City officials cited ongoing public safety risks and impacts on pedestrian access in the area, which has seen repeated encampment fires and other incidents. Rather than defer to the district's representative, Raman joined three other council members in voting against the measure, which ultimately passed 11-4.

  • The motion was introduced and voted on by the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
  • Mayor Karen Bass's 'Inside Safe' operation to move over 100 people from encampments in the area occurred earlier.

The players

Nithya Raman

A Los Angeles mayoral candidate who voted against the anti-camping crackdown in Venice, signaling her approach to the city's homelessness crisis.

Traci Park

A Los Angeles City Councilmember who introduced the motion to establish an anti-camping zone in Venice.

Hugo Soto-Martínez

A Los Angeles City Councilmember who voted against the anti-camping crackdown in Venice.

Eunisses Hernandez

A Los Angeles City Councilmember who voted against the anti-camping crackdown in Venice.

Ysabel Jurado

A Los Angeles City Councilmember who voted against the anti-camping crackdown in Venice.

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What they’re saying

“Keeping children safe is so important to me, especially as the mother of 10-year-old twins who walk to school every day.”

— Nithya Raman, Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate

“Rather than spending resources to move encampments down the street... my focus has been on building a citywide homelessness response system that works to quickly and safely move people indoors.”

— Nithya Raman, Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate

What’s next

The Los Angeles City Council's decision on the anti-camping crackdown in Venice will likely continue to be a focal point in the mayoral race, as Raman's stance contrasts with other candidates' approaches to addressing homelessness.

The takeaway

Raman's vote against the anti-camping measure in Venice underscores her divergent approach to tackling homelessness, favoring citywide solutions focused on outreach and housing over enforcement-based tactics that merely displace encampments. This position will shape the debate around one of LA's most pressing and divisive issues in the mayoral race.