Nithya Raman could bring Zohran Mamdani’s failing policies to LA

LA City Councilwoman Nithya Raman is a socialist with many of the same views as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani — and could bring his toxic policies to LA, if she wins in November.

From the day Mamdani won the mayoral primary, which virtually assured his election, I told people we would hear about him every day henceforth. And so we have. Most of what we have heard is horrible public policy. 

Raman will bring those policies to California — and if she doesn’t, she will face pressure from fellow socialists nationwide, who demand no less.

Raman has tried to stay away from discussions of her actual policies throughout the campaign. During the primary, she was overshadowed by her two opponents, Spencer Pratt and Mayor Karen Bass.  

It was a no-risk race for her, as she has another two years in her current term, and one more four-year term available.

With the latest homeless count showing that the problem is getting worse, LA voters face a choice between two incumbents who promised to deal with the problem, but failed.

And so the biggest political issue is which one of these two horrible choices to vote for in November. 

The election could easily turn on Pratt voters. Though many would like to sit this one out, that is not an option. As pathetic as Bass has been as mayor, having Raman take the helm of the city would be many times worse. 

Let’s just refer to her guiding light and brother-in-arms, Mamdani.  

Mamdani has damaged not only the image of NYC, but of the nation, by inserting himself into national policy discussions and international issues. 

His threat to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he has no authority to do so was remarkably childish and apparently driven by antisemitism. Mamdani was embarrassed and finally backed down. But he made a video attacking Netanyahu that drew tens of millions of views.

Raman saw that she would have carte blanche to execute similar dangerous actions, with no political price paid.

Then there is Mamdani’s atrocious behavior over his new tax on unoccupied second homes.

While the tax was supposed to apply to some 10,000 residences, Mamdani published a list of nearly 1 million names and addresses. He put property owners in danger and made clear that the city intends to go after properties worth much less than the original $5 million threshold.

People are starting to sell their properties. Many who live elsewhere in the city are looking to leave a place they love — where they already pay taxes, support local businesses, and employ locals to maintain their homes. 

Who knows what schemes Raman might produce when armed with Mamdani’s example? Would-be governor Xavier Becerra would be no more effective at stopping her than Kathy Hochul has been at stopping Mamdani in New York.

Then there are Mamdani’s government-run grocery stores.

One major reason there is a lack of grocery stores in New York City is that the city imposes restrictive, socialist policies that keep willing competitors from operating within the city limits. Those grocery stories that comply with the restrictions typically have high costs, and therefore charge higher prices.

In the five boroughs of NYC, there are no Walmarts and only five Costcos. With a comparative population, LA County has 28 Costco stores and 30 Walmarts.  

Socialists typically create a problem, then offer “solutions” that make the problem worse. Thus Mamdani is promising prices 30% below the competition — but with no explanation. The only way is to exempt the government-run stores from rent and taxes. He will then bury the financial losses in his multibillion-dollar city budget. Those who suffer most will be small business owners who operate bodegas on tiny margins to support their families.  

Raman might not operate failing grocery stores. But Mamdani’s example could inspire her to buy even more hotels than California has already bought, and turn them into perpetual homes for drug-addicted homeless people living off the largesse of local taxpayers. 

Whatever one thinks of Karen Bass, having socialists control the two largest cities in America would be extremely risky — for LA, for California, and for America. 

Bruce Bialosky, a former presidential appointee, is a certified public accountant specializing in taxes.  

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters