An election victory and an appeal for cooperation
Raman, a city councilmember, is the first challenger to unseat a Los Angeles mayor in nearly a quarter century, according to LAist. Bass conceded on the morning of Nov. 5, 2026, with Raman holding 52% of the vote to her 48%. The final runoff tally gave Raman 599,833 votes, or 54.7%, and Bass 497,586 votes, or 45.3%, according to Associated Press results cited by Wikipedia.
When she takes office, Raman will become Los Angeles' first Asian-American, Indian-American and Hindu mayor, according to Wikipedia. LAist describes her as the city's first South Asian mayor. She belongs to the Democratic Socialists of America.
Alpern's column frames the victory as a rejection of both major parties and calls on Raman to listen to people who disagree with her. With the Olympics approaching, he urges her to make civility and mutual respect central to her leadership, including in dealings with political opponents.
Alpern says he wants Raman to succeed, while accusing some of her opponents of wanting her to fail for petty reasons. The column reflects his personal views. A physician, he spent 20 years on the Mar Vista Community Council working on planning and transportation and helped lead grassroots efforts for the Expo Line and an LAX connection to MetroRail.
Labor, small businesses and affordability
Among his eight recommendations, Alpern proposes bringing neighborhood council members and other grassroots representatives into union negotiations. He pairs his support for police, firefighters and other first responders with a warning about contracts the city cannot afford. He also urges Raman to give small-business leaders a place in her advisory circle and do more to address high rents and regulations he considers unnecessary.
For parking, he suggests allowing structures or parking floors every few blocks to reduce reliance on curbside spaces and improve access to homes and businesses. Businesses that make parking available after hours, he argues, should receive incentives to support nighttime activity.
Raman's council record includes a housing affordability measure. In November 2025, the council approved her motion limiting annual rent increases in rent-stabilized apartments to a maximum of 4%. Those apartments house nearly half of Los Angeles residents. According to Wikipedia, the measure was the first strengthening of the city's rent stabilization ordinance in 40 years.
Transit safety and the delayed LAX people mover
Alpern calls for public transit that is safe and convenient for riders of all ages, with reliable service and a security presence. He also urges Raman to press for completion of the LAX People Mover, including through state or federal legal action if necessary to hold underperforming contractors accountable.
The airport project faces unresolved technical and financial problems. The Orange County Register reported that, as of an Oct. 8, 2026 report, the $3.3 billion LAX Automated People Mover, known as SkyLink, had "multiple technical challenges" that put its Jan. 6, 2027 passenger-service target "at risk of further slippage."
Fitch Ratings moved the project's $1.2 billion in bonds into default territory in July 2026. Bondholders consolidated the deadline to Dec. 8, 2026, after which Los Angeles World Airports could replace contractor LINXS. A grand jury report also blamed the contractor for the project's problems.
Once finished, the 2.25-mile system is to link six stations across the airport and the Metro rail system, with all rental-car companies brought together at one off-site facility. It is eventually expected to eliminate up to 3,200 daily shuttle trips through the central terminal area.
In late September 2026, "blast incidents" at three locations along the guideway damaged the power rail and guide beam. Power-rail reassembly remained underway, without a confirmed timeline.
A proposed shift from high-speed rail to subways
Alpern says he once advocated for California High-Speed Rail but now regards it as a "bait and switch" that diverted transportation money from projects he considers more worthwhile. He asks Raman to work with Sacramento and the new Democratic congressional majority on accelerated funding for the Wilshire and Sepulveda subways while putting high-speed rail on hold.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority's latest business plan puts the full Phase I cost at $126 billion, or $231 billion without planned scope optimizations, according to CalMatters. The plan anticipates full buildout by 2040 and completion of the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment by 2033.
The project has lost roughly $4 billion in federal funding but is set to receive $1 billion a year from California's carbon market auction proceeds through 2045. CalMatters also reported that most of the legislation the authority sought in 2026 to keep the Merced-to-Bakersfield line on schedule did not advance. Its only priority proposal to become law was Senate Bill 1425, which allows the authority to issue permits to outside entities building on land it controls.
Energy costs and pollution
Alpern's energy proposals reflect his concerns about both refinery pollution and inflation. He argues that affordable energy is essential and suggests locating diesel refineries, AI facilities, and energy and water reservoirs inland, away from coastal and residential areas. He urges Raman to work with the governor to ensure California residents benefit financially from any profits those projects generate.
He also calls for solar power to become substantially cheaper and more energy-efficient. While arguing that diesel will remain necessary, he advocates a move away from fossil fuels through nuclear facilities located away from people, with stronger safety, monitoring and reliability safeguards.
Raman previously served on the South Coast Air Quality Management District board, beginning in February 2022 after an appointment by then-Mayor Eric Garcetti. Shortly after she announced her mayoral candidacy in February 2026, reports emerged that Bass had removed her from the board a month earlier.
Alpern closes by urging Raman to seek advice from economists, physicists and neighborhood leaders as she takes office.
