How Restaurants Became a Central Issue in Los Angeles Politics

Ahead of Tuesday’s closely contested mayoral primary, several candidates have included the hospitality sector in their platforms. Recent years have seen a succession of challenges for Los Angeles’s hospitality industry, such as Covid, Hollywood strikes, ICE activity, and wildfires.

In late 2024, Jeff Strauss, the chef and owner of Oy Bar in Studio City, California, encountered significant bureaucratic hurdles while trying to expand his business. To his surprise, an entire block, including his potential new site, was sold to a developer for affordable housing. Strauss commented on the speed of the block’s sale compared to his lengthy attempts to open a sandwich shop. He underscored the need for affordable housing but was disturbed by the conflicting interests. Instead of expanding, he pivoted to opening a grocery, leaving the future of his restaurant, known for pub-style Jewish American food, uncertain.

This sentiment is shared by numerous local restaurant owners. They have faced substantial setbacks from a series of events, including the pandemic, Hollywood strikes, wildfires, and ICE raids, all of which have considerably impacted their operations. With major tourism events on the horizon, such as the World Cup next month and the Summer Olympics in 2028, the struggles of Los Angeles’s lauded restaurant industry have become a significant topic as Tuesday’s mayoral primary approaches.

Nithya Raman, a Democratic candidate, has prominently highlighted restaurant issues in her campaign. The complicated and sluggish governance structure in Los Angeles County often hampers change, but candidates are reaching out to voters by positioning themselves as allies to transform the city from a hindrance into a supporter for small restaurants, allowing even the smallest businesses to benefit from the looming tourism wave.