"LA's Next Corruption Scandal" by Daniel Guss
DSA-LA demands "co-governing" to get its endorsement. Nithya Raman got it twice. Here are the questions she, they - and other city officials - refuse to answer.
While California’s residents and businesses flee to better, safer and more prosperous states, Southern California has cultivated two misanthropic growth industries: homelessness and government corruption.
Los Angeles leads the nation in both.
While the Los Angeles Times remains on life support solely composed of the largesse and whim of its owner, Patrick Soon-Shiong, it remains preoccupied with trying to convince us that democracy cannot survive without it rather than going out and proving it.
In my last column, I touched upon the recent censure of LA City Councilmember Nithya Raman by the Democratic Socialists of America - Los Angeles (DSA-LA) for what it says is her failure to live up to its requirement of any political candidate it endorses: if elected, the politician shall “co-govern with the chapter to realize the Democratic Socialist Program (DSP)…”
I have highlighted that excerpt in green, below. You can read DSA-LA’s entire censure of Raman here.
While there is extensive content online about “co-governing,” it is in essence the literal sharing of a sworn, elected official’s power.
My question is, is it legal?
In theory, and then certainly in practice, each instance could be construed as a Penal Code § 68 bribery violation, for starters:
With Raman chairing LA City Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee, and sitting on its Transportation and its Energy and Environment Committees, DSA-LA’s influence — and perhaps it’s actual roles — in their policies, becomes clearer.
Having received DSA-LA’s endorsement for a second term, Raman appears to be a willing participant in this “co-governing” arrangement.
Since Raman continues to refuse to respond to questions, I have advised her (and other city officials) that ignored questions may be published so that the public can decide for itself what, if anything, this means.
Before I share those questions, let’s review Raman’s Oath of Office:
It appears that Raman, having twice satisfied DSA-LA’s requirement to “co-govern” in exchange for its endorsements, may have repeatedly violated her oath of office and perhaps Penal Code § 68, at a minimum.
Here are this column’s questions that Raman has refused to address:
A similar set of questions about the apparent agreement between Raman and DSA-LA was posed to LA City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, LA City Council president Paul Krekorian and other elected officials who DSA-LA has endorsed, with no responses as of this morning. DSA-LA has not responded either.
Raman faces a primary challenge in March from Deputy LA City Attorney Ethan Weaver, who has also not responded to an inquiry.
It remains unclear whether this is a crime and, if so, whether it should be addressed by the LA County District Attorney, the California Attorney General or the U.S. Department of Justice.
This column is looking into it further.
Where are you, LA Times?
(Daniel Guss, MBA, is a multi-award-winning journalist. In June ‘23, he won the LA Press Club’s “Online Journalist of the Year” and “Best Activism Journalism” awards. He has been City Editor for the Mayor Sam network, and a featured contributor for CityWatchLA, KFI AM-640, iHeartMedia, 790-KABC, Cumulus Media, KCRW 89.9 FM, KRLA 870 AM, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Magazine, Movieline Magazine, Emmy Magazine, Los Angeles Business Journal, Pasadena Star-News, Los Angeles Downtown News and the Los Angeles Times in its sports, opinion, entertainment and Sunday Magazine sections among other publishers.)