The mayoral campaign for Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has formally filed a complaint with the city Ethics Commission against an outside political group supporting Mayor Karen Bass. The action challenges a social media advertising campaign that deploys an interactive artificial intelligence phone line utilizing a voice falsely identified as Raman.
The advertisements, financed by the centrist political advocacy group Thrive LA, are styled to resemble traditional real estate promotions under the fictitious banner of “Nithya Raman Realty.” Certain visuals depict Raman holding a tent accompanied by the slogan “Keeping Tents on Our Streets.” The marketing materials are designed to critique Raman’s record on homelessness, arguing that she lacks toughness regarding encampments—a characterization Raman’s campaign disputes.
Callers dialing the telephone number featured in the ads reach an AI sound-alike voice proclaiming, “We’re bringing tent communities to your block. Would you prefer them outside your children’s school, the library, or right outside your home?” Raman’s campaign asserts that Thrive LA violated local campaign regulations by failing to properly report the automated telephone system on required spending disclosures and by imitating a candidate’s voice without clearly identifying the financial sponsor. The complaint argues that the failure to disclose the communication as an advertisement risks deceiving voters into believing the automated voice belongs to Raman herself.
Ana Teresa Dahan, executive director of Thrive LA, dismissed the complaint as false and absurd, maintaining that the organization’s ad expenditures have been fully disclosed in accordance with campaign finance laws. She defended the materials as protected political satire and confirmed that the group intends to continue running the advertisements through Election Day.
Dahan characterized the candidate’s response as a failure to withstand standard political scrutiny, questioning how Raman would manage broader administrative responsibilities if she cannot navigate a parody telephone line. Thrive LA describes itself as a centrist advocacy organization backed by local business and community leaders, having previously drawn criticism for anti-Raman advertisements during her 2024 city council reelection campaign.
Hurried debates over municipal homelessness policy have dominated the contest between incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and Raman leading up to the November 3 election. Raman has consistently voted against implementing no-camping zones proposed by colleagues in their respective districts, though she indicated she would not oppose such measures if elected mayor. Raman maintains that her objective is ending homelessness, arguing that current municipal strategies merely displace the population between neighborhoods. Conversely, Bass prioritized homelessness during her first term by launching the Inside Safe initiative to transfer unhoused individuals into interim housing options such as motels and hotels. While unsheltered homelessness initially declined during the first two years of the program, recent municipal counts indicate that numbers are rising again.
The contested advertisements circulated on Instagram feature videos of a recreational vehicle traversing Los Angeles bearing posters with Raman’s likeness. One poster displays a directional pointer labeled “Designated Poop Zone” alongside the text “Coming to a Neighborhood Near You!” Another poster displays the telephone number linked to the conversational AI system. The AI bot maintains a live dialogue with callers and does not clarify that it is an artificial entity unless explicitly questioned. When directly asked whether the voice belonged to Raman, the bot replied that it was a fictional intelligence as imaginary as its campaign promises.
According to the filed complaint, the advertisements contravene state legislation prohibiting the distribution of digitally fabricated candidate audio within 30 days of an election. Campaign representatives for Raman denounced the tactics as an illegal attempt by conservative allies of Karen Bass to manufacture words and conceal financial backers in an effort to mislead voters.
The city Ethics Commission did not immediately issue a response regarding the complaint. Independent expenditure committees are permitted to raise unlimited funds under campaign rules but are strictly prohibited from coordinating their operations directly with candidates. Municipal regulations dictate that any audio communication originating from an independent expenditure group must explicitly state at the beginning or end of the recording that it functions as a political advertisement.
When contacted regarding the requirements, the AI telephone system stated that the advertisement was funded by Thrive LA, employed artificial intelligence, and operated independently without coordination with any city candidate or committee. However, audio transcripts embedded within the formal complaint note that the automated line initially informed callers it could not disclose its financial sponsor when questioned.
Public sentiment regarding the candidates remains divided across local business communities. While several small business proprietors within Raman’s district report struggling with public safety concerns and encampments without adequate office support, official figures indicate that homelessness within Raman’s specific council district decreased by 49% over the past year. Raman contends that if elected mayor, she intends to replicate those district-level reductions across the entire city.
