Raman Criticizes Bass Housing Record Amid L.A. Affordability Crisis

Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has publicly challenged Mayor Karen Bass' claims of success in accelerating homebuilding, asserting that the incumbent has not adequately addressed the city's severe housing crisis. Raman, a Democrat running to unseat Bass in the upcoming November mayoral election, stated that "tens of thousands of Angelenos who are struggling to afford rent will agree that Mayor Bass has not done enough to address the housing crisis in this city." This critique follows Mayor Bass' defense of her administration's housing record and her promotion of initiatives designed to streamline the approval process for tens of thousands of affordable housing units. These initiatives include a significant rezoning program aiming to facilitate the creation of nearly 500,000 new homes by 2029, updates to rent stabilization regulations, and simplified building application reviews. In response, Mayor Bass' office defended her administration's focus on "slashing red tape and accelerating the building of affordable housing in Los Angeles" after decades of perceived inaction. The exchange occurs in the context of the 2026 Realtor.com® Metro Report Cards, which assigned Los Angeles an 'F' grade. The report identified L.A. as the worst major metropolitan area in the nation for housing affordability and homebuilding, awarding it the lowest combined score among the 100 largest U.S. cities. California's most populous metro received a score of 12 out of a possible 100 points, with its affordability component scoring a mere 0.9. The report detailed that a median earner in Los Angeles would need to allocate approximately 85% of their income towards monthly mortgage payments for a median-priced home of $1.12 million, assuming a 10% down payment and a 6.5% 30-year fixed mortgage. This financial burden effectively places homeownership beyond the reach of most residents, excluding the wealthiest segment of the population. Raman expressed no surprise at the city's failing grade, emphasizing the difficulty Angelenos face in building new housing. The Realtor.com® Metro Report Cards evaluate cities based on a comprehensive set of metrics, including housing costs, income levels, mortgage rates, and the pace of new construction. Los Angeles' consistently high housing prices, coupled with stagnant wage growth for many residents, have exacerbated the affordability gap. Mayor Bass' administration has prioritized increasing housing supply and making housing more accessible, but critics like Raman argue that the pace and scale of these efforts are insufficient to meet the overwhelming demand and address the systemic issues contributing to the crisis. The upcoming mayoral election is expected to feature housing policy as a central theme, with voters likely weighing the candidates' proposed solutions against the current challenging economic realities.