At an Aug. 30 forum at the Islamic Center of Southern California, Nithya Raman said she thinks more Muslims should be appointed to commissions in the city, though she did not commit to a specific number of appointments.
“I don’t think it’s a question of a number,” Raman said. “I think that it is a commitment to include Muslim Angelenos in commissions that have real policy making power and weight in the city and I want to make that commitment to you today that I will include Muslims in those commission appointments.”
Although she did not commit to a number of appointments she said she would be “happy to do that research and come back to you with a number in the future” and thinks commissions on issues including infrastructure and public safety are both “essential places where Muslim voices need to be included.”
Raman spoke to a room of about 75 people at the Islamic Center of Southern California in Koreatown in the forum moderated by Salam Al-Marayati, the president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
Al-Marayati discussed with Raman her proposed Israel-Hamas ceasefire resolution that was proposed before the Los Angeles City Council in June 2024.
“Our tax dollars should not be going to funding a genocide and that we are able to stand up and speak that truth here in the city of Los Angeles,” Raman said. “…I think there is increasing agreement that we can both speak up against the actions of the Israeli government and ensure that we have a city that keeps Jewish people safe, that keeps Muslims safe, that keeps every single resident of Los Angeles safe.”
When Al-Marayati said that “there is a perception that LA is not as progressive as New York City,” Raman pushed back.
“I just wanted to say I think Los Angeles has some of the most progressive big hearted values of any city I’ve ever been in,” Raman said. “Those who say it’s not as progressive as New York, I don’t know lets show ‘em.”