Full Breakdown
Nithya Raman’s Crosswalk Announcement Draws Online Ridicule
8/28/2026, 10:28:22 PM
Core Event: Nine-Month Crosswalk Project Becomes Social Media Target
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, posted on X that a crosswalk at Sunset Drive and Bates Street in Los Feliz had been completed. The project, initiated after a request from the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council in late 2025, involved painting seven yellow stripes over a roadway that remained visibly cracked. Critics highlighted the nine-month timeline and the fact that the work amounted to a basic street-maintenance task rather than a substantive safety upgrade.
Background & Context: Mayoral Bid and Infrastructure Emphasis
Raman represents Los Angeles’ 4th Council District, which includes Los Feliz, and has made street-safety and transportation improvements a hallmark of her council tenure. She is currently a mayoral hopeful, having placed second to incumbent Karen Bass in the June primary. The crosswalk announcement was framed as part of her broader push for safer streets ahead of the upcoming election.
Official Statements & Responses
Raman’s own announcement emphasized the council’s responsiveness to neighborhood concerns. The councilmember’s office did not provide additional comment to reporters.
Criticism & Opposition
Conservative commentator Richard Grenell mocked the effort, suggesting the work merely painted over existing cracks and took an excessive amount of time. Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin initially questioned the authenticity of the post before joining the criticism.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Los Feliz Neighborhood Council alerted our office in late 2025 to the need for a crosswalk at Sunset Dr. and Bates St., which has just been completed!” — Angeles Councilmember Nithya Raman
