Nithya Raman’s thousands of missed votes — why they matter

The first rule of politics is to be present. And Nithya Raman has been noted for her absences from City Council on crucial issues and votes.

Earlier this year, as The California Post reported, Raman missed several consecutive weeks of meetings of the City Council Homelessness and Housing Committee, which she chaired at the time. 

Her excuse: There were scheduling clashes with the Budget Committee.

But when Mayor Karen Bass told Raman in last month’s debate that she had “missed several thousand votes because you don’t show up to work,” Raman had trouble explaining herself.

“Yeah, I mean, we all miss days of council,” she said. 

She tried blaming Bass, saying that the mayor had appointed her to “external boards” that conflict with City Council meetings.

She also blamed child care, and illness.

But those weren’t to blame when Raman missed a 2025 vote on the Palisades Fire recovery.

On that occasion, Raman skipped the City Council meeting to attend the unveiling of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for actress Mindy Kaling.

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Raman cited their shared South Asian heritage as her reason for attending. It couldn’t have hurt that Kaling is also one of Raman’s campaign donors.

Raman did, eventually, visit Pacific Palisades, and release a plan for rebuilding. 

But when you wait to show up until you’re running for mayor, people may be a little skeptical.

Her colleague on the City Council, Traci Park, didn’t mince words: “Nithya Raman never once offered to help, ever,” she declared.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

No one can make every single vote, or every meeting. But you have to be there when it counts. 

Karen Bass learned that the hard way, when she found herself in Africa during the Palisades Fire.

Most people have family commitments, and outside interests. None of that allows us to skip work at will.

The job of mayor is not one for politicians who want to “phone it in.”

And the danger of an absentee executive is that special interests take control of the agenda.

The country learned that the hard way, when President Joe Biden barely showed up to work. The “autopen” took over.

Raman is backed by the radicals in the Democratic Socialists of America. They know exactly what they want to do with power.

And they’ll be in charge — especially if Raman can’t be bothered to show up.