Tonight: Sherman Oaks CD4 Forum With David Ryu And Nithya Raman

SHERMAN OAKS, CA — Ahead of the 2020 election, the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council will host a forum between Nithya Raman and incumbent David Ryu, the candidates for Council District 4. Both candidates will touch on relevant issues in the community and share how they plan to address them.

The event will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will be hosted on Zoom. Community members can ask questions and share what they feel are the biggest issues facing the area via this SurveyMonkey before the forum.

The race for CD4 promises to be closely contested on November 3. In the March primary, Ryu took home 44.4% of the vote to Raman's 40.8%.

“Councilmember Ryu is proud of earning the most votes in the March 3 primary for CD4 and for building a powerful coalition, including neighborhood leaders, tenant activists, labor leaders and the Democratic Party," Ryu said in a statement after the tally was announced. "Councilmember Ryu’s broad support reflects his strong record of fighting for working families.”

Nithya Raman is an urban planner who was an outspoken advocate on the homelessness crisis while working for the City Administrative Officer in Los Angeles. Before announcing her candidacy for Council District 4, she served as executive director of Time's Up Entertainment,

“I’m so proud that our own Nithya Raman is among the many women who’ve seized this historic moment by running for office," Rebecca Goldman, interim CEO of Time's Up, said in 2019 upon Raman's departure. "Under Nithya’s leadership, Time’s Up Entertainment has grown to be a force to be reckoned with and we’re greatly indebted to her integrity, strategic thinking, and fearlessness."

"While we’re sad to see her go, we’re thrilled to see Nithya bring those talents to bear as she runs for City Council," she continued. "Time’s Up continues to be inspired by Nithya’s leadership and have no doubt she will continue the work of fighting for women’s power, safety, and equity.”

Raman has been endorsed by the Working Families Party, Jane Fonda and Bike The Vote L.A. among others. Meanwhile, Ryu has received endorsements from organizations such as L.A. Times and the Sierra Club.

"The Sierra Club is glad to endorse Councilmember David Ryu in appreciation of his demonstrated commitment to protecting the environment,” said Carol Henning of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter. “We congratulate David on his fight for integrity in city government, his pursuit of lasting solutions to the crisis of homelessness in L.A. and his track record on environmental issues such as preserving open space and enhancing our city parks."