Political Shakeup in L.A.: Council Members Reassigned Amid Tensions

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Good morning and welcome to L.A. on the Record, our City Hall newsletter. David Zahniser and Noah Goldberg provide the latest updates on city and county government.

Council Leadership Change

Recently, Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson made a controversial decision. He removed Councilmember Nithya Raman from her role as chair of the city’s housing and homelessness committee. This move comes as Raman campaigns to unseat Mayor Karen Bass.

Raman accused Harris-Dawson, a Bass supporter, of retaliating. In a video titled “Bass’ Ally Removed Me as Chair”, Raman claims the decision was retribution. She had previously suggested City Controller Kenneth Mejia audit the mayor’s homeless programs. Raman stated, “Mayor Bass and her allies are protecting a broken status quo that isn’t serving Los Angeles’ residents.”

Harris-Dawson stated the decision aims to improve committee functionality, not punish Raman. He explained, “If I intended to punish her, I would have done it right after she announced her mayoral campaign.”

The council president divided Raman’s committee into two: one for housing, the other for homelessness. He argued that the issues are too large for a single committee. Harris-Dawson and Raman had discussed this idea, disagreeing on merging the topics.

Reshuffling and New Roles

Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, representing Skid Row, will lead the homelessness and health committee. She will also join the housing committee, chaired by Councilmember Imelda Padilla. Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez will head the economic development committee after his reelection.

Monica Rodriguez, who criticized Harris-Dawson’s leadership last year, will lead the parks committee, a key focus for her. These new assignments could bolster Harris-Dawson’s support during future votes on his presidency, though he dismisses any direct correlation.

Effective next month, Raman will still serve on the homelessness committee but not as chair. She will lead the immigration and civil rights committee and join the public safety committee.

Broadening Roles and Responsibilities

Raman shared that committee chairs have greater authority, allowing them to set agendas and push departments to respond.

“Committee members can achieve results, regardless of their chair status,” remarked Harris-Dawson.

Jurado expressed frustration with the accuracy of the homeless count in her district, which saw a 23% rise in unsheltered homelessness. Improper tallying of residents at a Skid Row shelter by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) altered citywide statistics. Many echoed Jurado’s dissatisfaction.

Harris-Dawson also questioned the count’s accuracy in his South L.A. district. LAHSA reported a 127% rise in unsheltered homelessness, including a specific census tract with a marked increase from 19 to 277 individuals.

Upcoming Debate

The Sherman Oaks mayoral debate last spring between Bass and Raman was personal. They debated topics like homelessness, police hiring, and leadership styles.

With the Nov. 3 runoff approaching, Bass and Raman will have another debate on Wednesday, moderated by Fox11’s Phil Shuman.

Legal Actions and Issues

An order from U.S. District Judge David O. Carter blocked the Trump administration from controlling federal homelessness funds in L.A. County. The Department of Housing and Urban Development was accused of acting unlawfully.

Federal officials criticized LAHSA, describing it as corrupt, which LAHSA disputed.

The mayor’s Inside Safe homelessness program revisits locations previously served. Four out of five operations were in areas previously targeted.

City leaders ordered Lineage to remove rotten food from its Boyle Heights warehouse after a fire. Lineage claimed nearly complete removal.

The City Council finalized an agreement addressing costs during the 2028 Summer Olympic Games, despite concerns over financial risks.

Despite test runs, the Automated People Mover faces uncertainty, amid a bond rating downgrade and legal disputes.

City Controller Kenneth Mejia plans to audit LA28 spending.