COUNCILMEMBER RAMAN INTRODUCES MOTION TO REFORM MEASURE ULA TO UNLOCK HOUSING PRODUCTION IN LOS ANGELES

For Immediate Release: January 23, 2026

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Councilmember Nithya Raman introduced a motion to reform Measure ULA and ensure that it continues to meet its stated goal: protecting tenants and building affordable housing. 

Measure ULA was approved by voters in November 2022 and established the ULA Tax to fund affordable housing projects and provide resources to tenants facing eviction and at risk of homelessness. This integral source of funding is facing real threats, including through proposed ballot measures sponsored by business groups and state legislative action, that threaten to significantly undercut revenues generated by the measure or to eliminate the tax entirely. 

Councilmember Raman’s legislation seeks to ensure that Angelenos are at the forefront of reforming Measure ULA locally to keep repressive statewide initiatives on all transfer and/or special taxes off the ballot, retain as much local revenue for critical services as possible, support Palisades residents impacted by recent wildfires, and spur housing production through targeted exemptions and technical corrections. 

Since going into effect in 2023, Measure ULA has raised more than $1 billion and helped stabilize tens of thousands of tenants while supporting the construction of hundreds of affordable homes. However, multifamily and mixed-use housing production has slowed down rather than sped up in the City of Los Angeles and traditional lenders are signaling significant skepticism, leading to a lack of investment. While overall project entitlements have marginally increased in the City, permitting numbers for new multifamily housing have been hit hard, and fewer projects on the ground are making it to completion through issued certificates of occupancy. Councilmember Raman’s legislative action seeks to correct an unintended policy impact and keep Measure ULA aligned with voters’ expectations and the needs of the City. 

“If Measure ULA is going to remain a durable source of funding for affordable housing and homelessness prevention, we need housing projects that actually get built and house families,” said Councilmember Raman. “A policy that unintentionally stalls housing production ultimately undermines the very goals voters asked us to achieve. This motion keeps Measure ULA true to its original intent while making targeted, responsible adjustments so it can continue to protect tenants, support wildfire recovery, spur housing production, and safeguard a critical funding source for the future.”

Councilmember Raman’s motion directs the City Attorney to prepare and present ballot measure language for the June 2, 2026 ballot, to amend the Measure ULA ordinance. The proposed changes include a fifteen-year exemption for newly constructed multifamily, commercial, and mixed-use projects, a temporary exemption for properties in fire-impacted areas, and technical amendments to provide clarity and flexibility for nonprofit developers to preserve affordable housing, prevent foreclosure, and keep projects financially viable when conditions change. 

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