Dozens of residents and advocates used the council's public-comment period to press elected officials to preserve and fully fund the ULA housing measure, which they said has provided emergency rental assistance and financed permanent affordable housing.
Karen Ramdrez, introduced herself as a community organizer and said ULA has been "transformational," citing the ballot measure's mobilization of more than $1 billion for affordability and claiming it helped keep "tens of thousands" of families housed. "Esta medida ULA es transformacional, pedimos que apoye la medida ULA," she said.
Other speakers reinforced the message: Alfonso Director Junior, identified as director of advocacy for Direct de Ley, told the council ULA expands access for vulnerable communities and urged leaders to "maximizar los fondos para nuestras viviendas permanentemente asequibles." Several commenters referenced a $425,000,000 program figure and described ULA-funded eviction-prevention programs that they said helped many tenants avoid displacement.
Advocates asked the council to resist proposals they said would weaken worker and tenant protections, to protect the fund from reallocation, and to continue outreach and legal-assistance programs financed by ULA. "Tenemos que proteger y mantener ULA, lo cual nos pertenece a nosotros para salvar y tener vivienda económica," said Ana Hoffman, a member of a community power collective.
The council did not take a specific vote on ULA during the public-comment period; speakers addressed the body as part of the general public-comment agenda and urged oversight and continued prioritization of funds in future budget and program decisions.