DeepSummary
The podcast episode features an interview with Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman and Professor Peter Dreier. They discuss Raman's progressive agenda, including her work on renter protections, addressing homelessness, promoting affordable housing, and combating climate change. However, she now faces significant opposition and millions of dollars in spending from corporate interests, landlords, and police unions who aim to defeat her in the upcoming election.
Raman highlights her achievements, such as implementing universal just-cause eviction protections for renters, housing hundreds of homeless individuals, and passing legislation to ensure new buildings are carbon-free. She emphasizes the challenges faced in addressing these complex issues and the need for comprehensive solutions. Dreier commends Raman for turning progressive ideas into common sense and paving the way for future generations.
The interview delves into the opposition Raman faces, with corporate landlords like Douglas Emmett and Kilroy Realty financing campaigns against her. The police union is also spending heavily to oppose her due to her vote against a contract granting significant raises to LAPD officers. Raman remains optimistic about the vision for a better Los Angeles and the support she receives from residents who believe in that vision.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has championed progressive causes like renter protections, addressing homelessness, promoting affordable housing, and combating climate change.
- Raman faces significant opposition and millions in spending from corporate interests, landlords, and police unions aiming to defeat her in the upcoming election.
- Raman has achieved notable successes, such as implementing universal just-cause eviction protections for renters and housing hundreds of homeless individuals.
- Her work has inspired and influenced other progressive candidates and movements in Los Angeles, building a broader coalition.
- Despite the challenges, Raman remains optimistic about her vision for a better Los Angeles and the support she receives from residents.
- The opposition underestimates Raman's determination and the resilience of the progressive movement in Los Angeles.
- The episode highlights the tensions between progressive and corporate interests in shaping the future of Los Angeles.
- Raman's reelection is seen as a pivotal battle in the broader struggle for progressive policies and representation in the city.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Between that and all the money, we're working really hard. But this election is scary.“ by Nithya Raman
- “What they don't realize is that Nithya is a big fan of developers, but those developers have to build affordable housing and they don't want to do that.“ by Peter Dreier
- “So they don't know what a good boxer Nikki is, and they don't know that the progressive movement in Los Angeles is quite nimble.“ by Peter Dreier
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Episode Information
What's Next, Los Angeles? with Mike Bonin
Mike Bonin
2/21/24
Councilmember Raman has fought for renters, solutions to homelessness, strategies to combat climate change, and smart, effective programs to promote public safety. She has made significant progress — and now she is being punished for it. Special interests are spending a fortune to defeat her, reverse progress, and kneecap the progressive movement. She joins Mike and Peter Dreier to discuss their article in The Nation this week, reporting on the campaign against her. Their article, "Los Angeles Death Match", (the online title "LA’s Corporate Class Wants to Reverse Progressive Gains"), focuses on the combined assault of corporate landlords, the police and firefighters associations, and right-wingers are fighting like hell to defeat her. She talks about her love for LA, tackling big challenges, and fighting the bullshit.
The Nation: Los Angeles Death Match
Raman's re-election website: https://www.nithya2024.com/