Measure ULA

The Los Angeles City Council voted to remove a proposed ballot measure that would have canceled the 'mansion tax' on new apartment buildings for the first 10 years of construction. Advocates argue the tax, known as Measure ULA, has stifled housing development, while supporters claim it funds affordable housing programs. A city analysis found the exemption would have minimally impacted housing and revenue.

The L.A. City Council approved a $544-million spending plan for Measure ULA funds in the 2026 fiscal year, allocating $381 million for affordable housing and $163.3 million for homelessness prevention. The decision follows voters nearly having a chance to eliminate the 'mansion tax.'

The L.A. City Council approved a $544-million spending plan for Measure ULA funds in the 2026 fiscal year, allocating $381 million for affordable housing initiatives and $163.3 million for homelessness prevention programs.

A measure to eliminate Los Angeles' 'mansion tax' (Measure ULA) was removed from the November ballot after a deal in Sacramento led to a substitute measure that would raise the vote threshold for special taxes. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association celebrated the deal, while real estate groups expressed disappointment as existing transfer taxes remain unaffected.

The Los Angeles City Council voted to develop a ballot measure to reform the city's 'mansion tax' (Measure ULA), which taxes real estate sales over $5.3 million. Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson cited declining housing construction since the tax's 2023 implementation, while opponents argued it could reduce critical funding. A coalition, including the California Community Foundation, supports reforms to restart housing development while preserving the tax's revenue.

The Los Angeles City Council has instructed the City Attorney to draft a ballot measure that would exempt new apartment buildings from the Measure ULA tax, which funds affordable housing and homeless prevention efforts.

The Los Angeles City Council has instructed the City Attorney to draft a ballot measure to exempt new apartment buildings from the Measure ULA tax, which funds affordable housing and homeless prevention initiatives. The tax is currently applied to properties deemed 'mansion-sized.'

Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto has delayed signing a $177 million tenant aid contract for months, causing $17 million in emergency rental assistance to remain unused and threatening services for at-risk tenants. City leaders, including Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, are demanding explanations and a 30-day report on the delay, which Feldstein Soto attributes to a need for competitive bidding. Tenant aid providers warn that prolonged delays could force layoffs and halt eviction case support.

California's real estate transfer taxes in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Santa Monica, intended to fund affordable housing, have reduced housing production and revenues. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association's proposed 'Local Taxpayer Protection Act' aims to eliminate these taxes and raise approval thresholds for new funding, threatening local government finances.

A Los Angeles City Council committee voted to shelve a proposed ballot measure that would have cut the 'mansion tax' rate for multifamily and mixed-use properties from 5.5% to 2-3.5%. Instead, the committee advanced a narrower pilot program to reduce the tax for newly built affordable housing. The decision avoids voter approval for the broader tax cut but leaves open the possibility of a separate proposal to repeal the tax entirely.

The 2026 Los Angeles City Council District 11 race features incumbent Traci Park and candidate Faizah Malik. Both focus on housing, public safety, and community development. Malik advocates for affordable housing and sanctuary city policies, while Park emphasizes encampment relocations and wetlands restoration.