Meeting briefing

Measure ULA, housing funds, and a fight over homelessness spending

3 min read Tuesday, June 16, 2026· 13 members at roll call

Residents defended Measure ULA and tenant protections before the Council debated federal housing cuts, LAHSA, and who pays for the region's homelessness response.

The Los Angeles City Council chamber during the June 16 meeting — Watch the official LA City Council meeting recording.

59Agenda items

13At roll call

1h 36mMeeting

~65mPublic comment

Agenda Items

ITEM 5 LA Alliance homelessness settlement progress · CF 23-1022-S30 Adopted 15–0 The Council accepted the latest progress report after members pressed the county to provide more mental-health and substance-use services inside city-funded housing.

ITEM 16 Measure ULA refunds for qualifying nonprofits · CF 26-0775 Continued to Jun 26 The proposal would refund ULA taxes paid by nonprofits that reinvest sale proceeds in housing or homelessness programs. The Council postponed consideration.

ITEM 57 Five-year ULA exemption for Palisades fire properties · CF 26-0774 Continued to Jun 17 The proposed ballot measure would create a temporary ULA tax exemption for residential properties affected by the January 2025 Palisades fire.

ITEM 58 Change ULA amendment and oversight rules · CF 23-0038-S15 Continued to Jun 17 The proposal would revise requirements for future ULA amendments and change eligibility rules for the House LA Citizens Oversight Committee.

ITEM 59 Oppose HUD action affecting homelessness funding · CF 26-0880 Adopted 14–0 The resolution opposed a federal housing action that members said could put vulnerable residents at risk while Los Angeles rethinks its relationship with LAHSA.

Meeting Timeline

38:18 Opening

Thirteen members at roll call, 59 items to sort

The Council opened with 13 members and quickly organized a 59-item agenda. It continued Item 1 to June 30, Item 16 to later in June, and the two ULA items numbered 57 and 58 to the next day's meeting. Members also held several housing and public-safety items for separate votes.

44:00 Public comment

Measure ULA and tenant legal aid dominate an hour at the microphone

Public comment ran for about 65 minutes. Although Items 57 and 58 had been continued and were no longer open for item-specific testimony, residents used general public comment to argue over whether Measure ULA should be changed. Supporters emphasized eviction defense, affordable housing, and tenant protections; a development representative urged reforms to preserve investment.

Many others pressed the city to execute delayed Stay Housed LA contracts, warning that the Eviction Defense Network could lose 66% of its staff and curtail hands-on legal help for tenants facing eviction.

“I'm encouraging you to take the reform measures that the Mend It, Don't End It coalition has recommended.”

Will Wright · American Institute of Architects, Los Angeles chapter · on Measure ULA

Matthew Jones, a Skid Row resident and LA CAN member, described ULA as part of the city's homelessness-prevention infrastructure and warned that interim housing alone cannot solve the shortage of permanent homes.

“It has helped thousands of people from falling into homelessness as well as provide real permanent affordable housing solutions.”

Matthew Jones · Skid Row resident and LA CAN member · on Measure ULA

Marla Castro tied the tax debate to displacement, arguing that reducing the measure's reach would take housing resources away from working-class communities.

“ULA has already generated $1 billion to keep people housed, and giving tax cuts to developers means working-class communities lose access to housing.”

Marla Castro · resident speaker · on housing stability and displacement

1:49:22 Decisions

Housing votes turn into a debate over who is responsible

The Council adopted the LA Alliance settlement progress report 15–0. Monica Rodriguez argued that county mental-health and substance-use services were still not reaching people in city-funded housing. Members later adopted, 14–0, a resolution opposing a federal HUD action affecting homelessness funding while openly debating LAHSA's future.

Item 16, concerning ULA refunds for qualifying nonprofits, was continued to June 26. Items 57 and 58, covering a Palisades fire exemption and ULA governance changes, were held for June 17.

2:04:40 Recognition & close

A Flag Day recognition, announcements, and adjournments

After motions and announcements, Councilmember Imelda Padilla recognized the 2916th Aviation Battalion at Fort Irwin and local Military Explorers for Flag Day. Members then gave adjournment remarks, and the meeting ended at recording position 2:13:49.

Sources: ▶ Watch full recording · Official agenda · CF 26-0775 · CF 26-0774 · CF 23-0038-S15 · CF 26-0880. Timeline markers are positions in the meeting recording (▶ jumps to that point). Quotes were checked against the recording's auto-generated caption track and should be verified against the audio before republication. Speaker names are as stated at the podium.