A new housing politics is taking shape on the left

Nithya Raman's recent surge in the LA mayoral primary campaign has placed the issue of housing reform front and center. LA's housing crisis is emblematic of a national problem - sky-high home prices with little available affordable housing. To combat this, Raman advocates building more housing by allowing increased density near transit in neighborhoods currently zoned for single-family homes.

However, her Democratic opponent Karen Bass and the mayor's office have staunchly resisted these density increases, prioritizing their own political interests.

Raman argues this resistance stems from the city's entrenched opposition to any significant change in its housing policies. She believes that to address LA's dire affordability crisis, the city must loosen zoning restrictions and permit more midsize apartment buildings in wealthier neighborhoods. While this represents a radical departure from the status quo, Raman says it's necessary to provide the city's residents with more affordable options.

Interestingly, Raman's campaign stance on rent control presents a paradox. She supported a tougher rent stabilization framework last year, but acknowledges it may have unintended consequences of reducing the supply of rental units. Raman sees these competing priorities as inextricably linked - without building more housing, rent prices will continue to skyrocket and displace low-income renters even further.

If Raman becomes mayor, she intends to overhaul LA's antiquated permitting system by setting clear deadlines for department responses, bringing utility companies on board early, and improving communication between agencies. Her ultimate goal is to break down the city's barriers to new housing construction and make housing more affordable.

Her candidacy may presage a national trend where progressive mayors challenge entrenched interests to prioritize housing reform - a pivotal moment for an American housing system in desperate need of change.