Hundreds testify to defend Measure ULA as council hears widespread public comment
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Summary
Dozens of speakers urged the City Council to protect Measure ULA — which has generated nearly $1 billion in revenue — urging continued funding for eviction prevention, rental assistance, and affordable housing construction while some airport workers warned motions could affect promised wage gains.
Dozens of Angelenos and organized groups filled the public comment period at Wednesday's Los Angeles City Council meeting to urge elected officials to protect Measure ULA and defend its programs for eviction prevention and affordable housing.
Speakers from SAGE, ACT LA, ACE and other neighborhood and worker groups described Measure ULA as a voter‑approved funding source that has raised close to $1 billion and enabled the Los Angeles Housing Department to approve major spending programs. "Measure ULA is working as intended," said Alfonso Derecho Junior, Advocacy Director at ACT LA. "The first goal of ULA is to increase access to permanently affordable housing for people in vulnerable communities."
Cynthia Strathman, Executive Director of SAGE, told council that ULA funds are "allowing projects that are underway to meet funding gaps and new projects to get underway" and called the measure a model for progressive wealth taxation. Multiple union and worker speakers warned against motions that could roll back recent wins on wages: Laura Esquivel, who identified herself as an airport worker, told council she was "not willing to lose what we have won" after a motion advanced that she said threatened the Olympic wage.
Several public speakers urged the council to respect the 2022 ballot decision that created Measure ULA and to resist lobbying by developers and anti‑tax groups. "We ask you to support Measure ULA and to stay with the people who voted for this measure," said a SAGE supporter.
There were also moments of high emotion and profane, aggressive testimony from several speakers who made allegations against council members and city processes; clerks and the council repeatedly reminded speakers to remain on topic and within the time limits.
What happens next: public pressure to protect ULA was placed on record. Council members noted the concern from speakers during deliberations on related budget and program items and asked staff for updated revenue and program status details for subsequent briefings.