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A SHELTER WITH BAGGAGE - In 2020, the City of Los Angeles, under then-Mayor Eric Garcetti and then-Councilmember David Ryu, proposed and built a homeless shelter in the Los Feliz area within Griffith Park. To soften public perception, the facility was labeled a "Bridge Home" shelter, intended as a temporary solution where individuals would stay no more than 180 days before transitioning to permanent housing. The City Council explicitly stated that this shelter was never meant to be permanent, approving a three-year operational permit (2020-2023) at a cost of $2.2 million per year, payable to People Assisting the Homeless (PATH).
Unfulfilled Promises and Rising Safety Concerns
Years of safety concerns surrounding the shelter, documented through extensive community reports and photographic evidence, were consistently brought to the attention of District 4 Councilmember Nithya Raman. In response, she proposed an “Ambassador Program” in January 2023 to address security concerns near the shelter. However, the program never materialized.
On February 29, 2024, Los Feliz residents gathered at Friendship Auditorium in Griffith Park to hear Raman’s Master Plan for the area. The atmosphere was positive until a community member asked when the Riverside Bridge Home (RBH) shelter—already operating beyond its initial three-year term—would be closed to make way for the plan’s implementation. Raman deflected responsibility, claiming that Mayor Karen Bass controlled the shelter, though she agreed it should be removed. She refused to answer further questions.
Meanwhile, Los Feliz experienced a dramatic rise in crime, yet Raman repeatedly avoided addressing public safety issues related to the shelter. Instead, she focused on promoting the Master Plan. On March 5, 2024, Raman was re-elected.
Reversal on the Shelter’s Fate
Four months after securing re-election, Raman reversed her stance, advocating for another permit extension for the shelter. During her campaign, she blamed the shelter’s existence on the Mayor and assured residents of her commitment to the Master Plan. Yet, once re-elected, Raman pivoted to supporting the RBH shelter’s continued operation—directly contradicting her prior pledge to replace it with a senior-focused community center.
Community members persistently voiced opposition to the shelter’s extension through public comments to the Recreation and Parks (RAP) Commission. Nonetheless, on July 8, 2024, the permit was renewed at an increased cost of $3.2 million, all of which went to PATH rather than RAP. Despite promising an Ambassador Program a year earlier, Raman’s office failed to secure a vendor to implement it.
A No-Bid Contract Raises Ethical Concerns
On October 11, 2024, Raman introduced a City Council motion to award $42,000 to the Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Atwater Village, Homeless Coalition (SELAH) for "outreach and support services" to unhoused individuals at the shelter. The motion bypassed competitive bidding, ensuring no other, potentially more qualified organization could apply for the contract. Raman’s motion was approved in City Council on October 20, 2024.
Additionally, the motion redirected $79,882 from the City's Housing budget into Raman’s discretionary fund. Notably, this same amount had been allocated in December 2023 for Ambassador Services through a contract with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA)—a contract that was never executed. Instead of utilizing the pre-existing funding and structure, Raman funneled money to SELAH in a closed-door deal, avoiding oversight and accountability.
Conflict of Interest and Misuse of Public Funds
SELAH, founded in 2017 by five individuals, including Raman, primarily provides food, hygiene kits, and assistance with ID replacements and EBT applications. Nowhere on SELAH's website does it mention safety services, which was the stated purpose of the Ambassador Program.
On December 31, 2024, SELAH cashed the $42,000 check. Raman either allocated taxpayer funds to an organization unqualified for security services or duplicated efforts already covered by PATH’s multi-million-dollar contract. In either scenario, she directed public funds to a nonprofit she co-founded without transparency or accountability.
Neglect of Council District Needs
Public records reveal that Raman has not prioritized community improvements with her discretionary funds. Streets remain poorly lit, the historic Mulholland Fountain has been repeatedly vandalized since the shelter’s opening, and the public pool remains closed. Despite ample opportunity to allocate funding to these issues, Raman has spent two-thirds of her discretionary budget on homelessness services while Los Feliz has seen a 400% increase in its unhoused population. Disturbingly, only 8% of the shelter’s residents have transitioned to permanent housing.
Call to Action
Why is Councilmember Raman diverting taxpayer money to a nonprofit she co-founded while the neighborhoods she represents deteriorate? How is awarding public funds to SELAH not a blatant conflict of interest? Similar actions have led to investigations of other Councilmembers, such as Curren Price—shouldn’t Raman be held to the same standard?
If these facts concern you, call (323) 685-6846.
We are a group advocating for the realization of the south Griffith Park Master Plan, including the restoration of the Mulholland Fountain and the development of a long-promised new Community Center. Your engagement is crucial to reclaiming our neighborhood!
(Cameron Flanagan is a trained therapist of 20+ years, a volunteer with homeless and LA City agencies. Fell into politics after forming Neighborhood Council 22 years ago with dedicated folks.)
