17 Facts About Nithya Raman

Nithya V Raman was born on July 28,1981 and is an Indian American urban planner, activist, and politician serving as the Los Angeles City Councilmember for the 4th District since 2020.

Nithya Raman was born in Kerala, India, and moved to Louisiana at 6 years old.

Nithya Raman earned a bachelor's degree in political theory from Harvard University then a master's degree in urban planning from MIT.

Nithya Raman declared her candidacy for the Los Angeles City Council in 2019, citing the issue of homelessness as being central to her decision to run.

Nithya Raman's platform included proposed reforms to Los Angeles' housing and homelessness policy, "a new approach to public safety," and a climate change plan that she claims will get Los Angeles to carbon neutrality by 2030.

Ryu received 32,298 votes, Nithya Raman received 31,502 votes, and Sarah Kate Levy received 10,860 votes.

Nithya Raman will serve a four-year term as member of the City Council.

Nithya Raman's victory was described as a "political earthquake" by the Los Angeles Times.

In 2024, Nithya Raman was challenged by Ethan Weaver, a Deputy City Attorney who received support from local landlords, business groups, and police and firefighter unions, and Levon Baronian.

In June 2021, Nithya Raman was served with a recall notice after only six months in office.

On February 1,2022, Nithya Raman was appointed to the board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District by Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti.

Nithya Raman pledged to prioritize public health and environmental justice from that position.

On February 3,2024, Nithya Raman was censured by the Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America for seeking and accepting an endorsement by the Los Angeles chapter of the Zionist lobby group Democrats for Israel.

Nithya Raman identified herself as a "homelessness nonprofit leader" when she first ran for office in 2020.

Nithya Raman has made her work on homelessness a cornerstone of her reelection campaign, drawing praise from advocates, nonprofit groups and many of her colleagues.

Nithya Raman was born in India and emigrated to the United States with her family at the age of six.

Nithya Raman is married to television screenwriter Vali Chandrasekaran, a fellow Harvard alumnus.