LA’s Reform Test: Faster Permits, Rent Aid, More Homes — June 19, 2026

LA’s Reform Test: Faster Permits, Rent Aid, More Homes — June 19, 2026

Los Angeles County’s SmallBiz Permit Express, Measure ULA tenant-aid delays, and Abundant Housing LA’s agenda all point at one reform test: whether L.A. can turn promises into faster permits, real checks, and enough homes. IN THIS EPISODE 1. [PDF] SmallBiz FAQ_Final - Department of Economic Opportunity [https://opportunity.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SmallBiz-FAQ_Final.pdf] Frequently Asked Questions PERMIT EXPRESS LA County SmallBiz LA County SmallBiz Permit Express is designed to support qualifying small businesses by providing expedited services for permits, entitlements, licenses, and inspections in Unincorporated LA County. This program aims to simplify and streamline the application process, making it easier and faster to obtain the necessary approvals needed… 2. Step Back — If L.A. has already set aside huge money for tenant aid, what actually has to happen before that money reaches renters or landlords — and who, specifically, is on the hook when the pipeline jams? BACKGROUND SOURCES * City attorney has left $177M tenant aid contract unsigned for months. LA leaders want to know why | LAist [https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-city-attorney-hydee-feldstein-soto-united-to-house-la-tenant-aid-contract] — LAist * Why is $177M in LA tenant aid being held up? City officials disagree on the reason | LAist [https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-city-council-tenant-aid-contracts-hydee-feldstein-soto-lafla-dispute] — LAist * LA Council to Review Delayed Contracts for Tenant Aid Services - MyNewsLA.com [https://mynewsla.com/government/2026/06/17/la-council-committee-to-weigh-in-on-delayed-contracts-for-tenant-aid-services-4/] — Contributing Editor * LACAHSA Board Approves $11.4M for Emergency Rental [https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/12/17/3207380/0/en/LACAHSA-Board-Approves-11-4M-for-Emergency-Rental-Assistance-Funding-Bringing-Total-Measure-A-Prevention-Investments-to-29-5M-in-2025.html] — Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency * LA County launches $2.1-million eviction diversion pilot program - ABC7 Los Angeles [https://abc7.com/post/la-county-launches-21-million-eviction-diversion-pilot-program/18986406/] — Abc7 * Statement on City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto's Delays in Finalizing Stay Housed LA Contracts - LAFLA: Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles [https://lafla.org/stories-events/statement-on-city-attorney-hydee-feldstein-sotos-delays-in-finalizing-stay-housed-la-contracts/] — laflacom 3. Policy Agenda - Abundant Housing LA [https://abundanthousingla.org/policyagenda] — Abundant Housing LA [](https://abundanthousingla.org/) Select Page # A PRO-HOUSING POLICY AGENDA FOR LA # The Time to Fix Housing is Now **For decades, we haven’t built enough homes to meet our needs. This has caused home prices and rents to skyrocket, creating financial pressure on households and putting homeownership… Daily TopFive for Los Angeles Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Los Angeles Politics and Urbanism Daily on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-la-daily-fix/id1895649590] or Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3yLZ4pkQq99iMI5WLo3HUg]. Feedback? Email la-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [la-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].

City Hall Puts Measure ULA Back on the Reform Track — June 18, 2026

Los Angeles City Council voted 9-5 to pursue a Measure ULA ballot change exempting new multifamily and mixed-use projects for 10 years, escalating the fight over whether the mansion tax is slowing housing production. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Council to Loosen Measure ULA as Housing Debate Intensify | La City Council | westsidecurrent.com [https://www.westsidecurrent.com/la_city_council/measure-ula-changes-move-forward-at-city-hall/article_7d74f538-8817-4ed1-9453-7e6eae57df46.html] — Westside Current # Council to Loosen Measure ULA as Housing Debate Intensify | La City Council | westsidecurrent.com Author: Current Staff Published: 2026-06-18T02:23:00+00:00 Source: westsidecurrent.com (westsidecurrent.com) Language: en ## Story Council to Loosen Measure ULA as Housing Debate Intensify | La City Council | westsidecurrent.com You have permission to edit this article. Edit Share This Photo… 2. Step Back — If City Hall now wants to loosen Measure ULA to stop scaring off housing deals, how much can the Council actually change on its own — and when does a voter-approved tax have to go back to voters? BACKGROUND SOURCES * Why LA might tweak its “mansion tax” - CalMatters [https://calmatters.org/housing/2026/01/measure-ula-raman-howard-jarvis-ballot/] — Ben Christopher * Council Report re ULA Exemptions - Final [https://cityclerk.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2025/25-0006-S86_misc_CA_1-16-26.pdf] — Athena Chenoweth * In about-face, LA council votes to pursue a ballot measure for ‘mansion tax’ reforms | LAist [https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/mansion-tax-housing-ballot-measure-city-council-vote-november] — LAist * Ballot measure puts LA's mansion tax on the chopping block [https://calmatters.org/housing/2026/04/proposition-realty-mansion-tax-jarvis/] — Ben Christopher * With Ballot Threat Looming, “Mend It, Don’t End It” Coalition Urges Reforms for Measure ULA - California Community Foundation [https://www.calfund.org/news-and-events/with-ballot-threat-looming-mend-it-dont-end-it-coalition-urges-reforms-for-measure-ula/] — Calfund 3. [PDF] ordinance no. - City Clerk - City of Los Angeles [https://cityclerk.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2016/16-1468_ord_draft_12-05-2019.pdf] ORDINANCE NO. An ordinance amending Sections 12.03, 12.22 and 12.33, and repealing portions of Section 12.24, of Chapter 1 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code for the purpose of regulating Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units in accordance with State law. THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section. 1. The following definitions are added to Section… 4. DELIVERING RESULTS IN 2024 - Mayor Karen Bass [https://mayor.lacity.gov/news/delivering-results-2024-comprehensive-homelessness-strategy-nearly-doubles-permanent-housing] — Los Angeles Mayor's Office  # DELIVERING RESULTS IN 2024: Comprehensive Homelessness Strategy Nearly Doubles Permanent Housing Move-Ins Since Mayor Bass Took Office, Thousands More People Moved Inside Than In 2022 [***En… 5. [PDF] Organizational Assessment of the Los Angeles Police Department [https://lapdonlinestrgeacc.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/lapdonlinemedia/RRA3827-1_PageProofMay30-697a900769814.pdf] — RAND Corporation Research Report Organizational Assessment of the Los Angeles Police Department Richard H. Donohue, Samuel Peterson, Bob Harrison, Shawn L. Hill, Danielle Sobol, Alejandro Roa Contreras RAND Justice Policy Program PR-A3827-1 June 2025 Prepared for the Los Angeles Police Foundation and the Los Angeles Police Department RAND’s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research… Daily TopFive for Los Angeles Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Los Angeles Politics and Urbanism Daily on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-la-daily-fix/id1895649590] or Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3yLZ4pkQq99iMI5WLo3HUg]. Feedback? Email la-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [la-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].

ULA’s Next Thresholds, and a Small-Biz Credit Workaround — June 17, 2026

Los Angeles Measure ULA thresholds are set to rise after June 30, as the city’s billion-dollar housing tax remains under scrutiny for tradeoffs; meanwhile, KAFLA and Jewish Free Loan Association offer immigrant-owned small businesses an SBA workaround. IN THIS EPISODE 1. A loan program seeks to help immigrant businesses shut out by the Trump administration| LA Local [https://thelalocal.org/neighborhoods/koreatown/sba-loans-immigrants-alternatives-koreatown/] — LA Local A loan program seeks to help immigrant businesses shut out by the Trump administration| LA Local The federal government under the Trump administration restricts SBA loans to immigrant business owners, shutting off an important resource to neighborhoods like Koreatown. (Brian Feinzimer/ For The LA Local) Credit: Brian Feinzimer | Jan 12th, 2026 The Trump administration’s decision to restrict a… 2. Step Back — Once Measure ULA money hits the city’s bank account, who actually decides where it goes — City Hall, housing departments, or the ULA oversight structure — and what safeguards keep it from turning into another slow, politically steered pot of money? BACKGROUND SOURCES * L.A.’s ‘Mansion Tax’ Reaches $1B in Revenue in Under Three Years – Commercial Observer [https://commercialobserver.com/2026/01/measure-ula-revenue-billion/] — Nick Trombola January 12, 2026 3:25 pm * L.A. Approves $425M Measure ULA Expenditure Plan – Commercial Observer [https://commercialobserver.com/2025/07/la-ula-expenditure-approval-fy-25/] — Nick Trombola July 3, 2025 12:52 pm * Funding Programs – LAHD [https://housing.lacity.gov/partners/funding-programs] — Lacity * Measure ULA supporters point to progress amid review of tax [https://spectrumlocalnews.com/ca/california/politics/2026/03/27/measure-ula-ad-hoc-committee-review] — Spectrumlocalnews * Measure to overturn LA’s ‘mansion tax’ heads to ballot. Here’s what voters should know for November | LAist [https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-mansion-tax-measure-ula-november-ballot-measure-overturn-howard-jarvis] — LAist 3. Real Property Transfer Tax and Measure ULA FAQ | Los Angeles Office of Finance [https://finance.lacity.gov/faq/measure-ula] — Los Angeles Office of Finance   # Real Property Transfer Tax and Measure ULA FAQ Sales Price Calculate tax Tax Due **Note**:… 4. The Unintended Consequences of Measure ULA [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBhJDy8fRQI] # The Unintended Consequences of Measure ULA ## UCLA Lewis Center 403 subscribers 4 likes ### Description 324 views Posted: 29 Apr 2025 Professor Michael Manville shares his recent research on whether Measure ULA has reduced higher-end real estate transactions in Los Angeles. Since Measure ULA was enacted, the odds of a Los Angeles property selling at a price above its tax threshold have fallen… 5. [PDF] Program Guidelines from ULA Coalition - United to House LA [https://unitedtohousela.com/app/uploads/2023/05/ULA-Coalition-Program-Guidelines.pdf] — United to House LA Abridged Program Guidelines for Measure ULA Funding Programs Drafted by Area Experts Throughout ULA Coalition June 2023 Full copies of guidelines available in appendix For general inquiries please contact: ●Joe Donlin, (jdonlin@saje.net); or ●Jackson Loop (jloop@scanph.org) INTRODUCTION Drafted by homeless service providers, affordable housing nonprofits, labor unions, and renters’ rights groups,… Daily TopFive for Los Angeles Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Los Angeles Politics and Urbanism Daily on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-la-daily-fix/id1895649590] or Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3yLZ4pkQq99iMI5WLo3HUg]. Feedback? Email la-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [la-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].

RAND puts Measure ULA’s tradeoffs in hard numbers — June 16, 2026

Measure ULA faces a RAND stress test: the tax has raised $1.2 billion, but researchers estimate it cut high-value sales 31%, reduced housing production by over 9,000 units, and cost local agencies $452 million. IN THIS EPISODE 1. The Effects of the Measure ULA (United to House LA) Transfer Tax on Economic Development and Municipal Finances in Los Angeles | RAND [https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA4928-1.html] — RAND Corporation  ## Site-wide navigation ### Topics #### Trending #### [Topics](/topics.html) ### Research Divisions RAND's divisions conduct research on a uniquely broad front for clients around the globe. #### U.S. research divisions #### International research divisions # The Effects of the Measure ULA (United to House LA)… 2. Step Back — Measure ULA was sold as a “mansion tax” to fund housing and homelessness work, but if big property sales are being delayed, avoided, or pushed outside L.A., how do we tell whether the tax is actually a net win for the city? BACKGROUND SOURCES * The Unintended Consequences of Measure ULA [https://lewis.ucla.edu/research/the-unintended-consequences-of-measure-ula/] — superadmin * Taxing Tomorrow: Measure ULA's Impact on Multifamily Housing Production and Potential Reforms [https://lewis.ucla.edu/research/taxing-tomorrow-measure-ulas-impact-on-multifamily-housing-production-and-potential-reforms/] — superadmin * The Effect of the Los Angeles Mansion Tax on Property Tax Revenue | Cato Institute [https://www.cato.org/research-briefs-economic-policy/effect-los-angeles-mansion-tax-property-tax-revenue] — Cato Institute * L.A.’s ULA Transfer Tax Further Hamstrings Investment: Report – Commercial Observer [https://commercialobserver.com/2026/06/la-ula-transfer-mansion-tax-investment-rand-housing/] — Greg Cornfield June 2, 2026 7:50 pm * Affordable housing [https://laist.com/brief/news/housing-homelessness/mayor-bass-says-affordable-housing-is-thriving-but-the-numbers-say-otherwise] — Laist * Study Estimates $177 Million Hit to Mansion Tax [https://therealdeal.com/la/2026/05/15/study-estimates-177-million-hit-to-mansion-tax/] — Kari Hamanaka Daily TopFive for Los Angeles Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Los Angeles Politics and Urbanism Daily on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-la-daily-fix/id1895649590] or Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3yLZ4pkQq99iMI5WLo3HUg]. Feedback? Email la-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [la-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].

LA’s Reform Ledger: Homelessness, Schools, ADU Red Tape — June 15, 2026

Los Angeles homelessness policy gets a data check as Inside Safe outcomes, City Attorney authority, LAUSD board choices, and ADU permitting delays show how reform promises collide with implementation, accountability, and timelines. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Inside Safe | Homelessness Dashboard [https://homelessdashboard.lacontroller.app/InsideSafe] — City of Los Angeles Controller Inside Safe is a Citywide housing-led strategy to move people experiencing homelessness into interim and permanent supportive housing. --- # Inside Safe - Overview Inside Safe data in this section is from the[LAHSA data dashboard (opens in new tab)](https://www.lahsa.org/data-refresh/home/datadashboard?id=59). ## Current Status of Clients Served ## Inside Safe… 2. Step Back — When Mayor Bass says L.A.’s homelessness strategy has “nearly doubled” permanent housing move-ins and moved thousands more people inside, what actually counts as success in the data — a motel room, a signed lease, staying housed — and who verifies that people aren’t just cycling back to the street? BACKGROUND SOURCES * L.A.’s $300 Million Homeless Program Sees Many Return to the Streets [https://www.governing.com/urban/l-a-s-300-million-homeless-program-sees-many-return-to-the-streets] — Governing * Homelessness Data & Accountability | Nithya Raman | Los Angeles City Councilmember 4th District [https://cd4.lacity.gov/initiative/homelessness-data-accountability/] — Los Angeles City Councilmember 4th District * More than 250 tax-funded LA apartments sit empty under key Mayor Bass homelessness strategy | LAist [https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/tax-funded-la-apartments-sit-empty-mayor-bass-homelessness-strategy] — LAist 3. LAUSD Voter Guide [https://info.ccsa.org/lausd-voter-guide] — CCSA [](https://www.ccsa.org) # LAUSD Voter Guide 2026 Jump to: * District 2 ([map](https://4.files.edl.io/bf30/05/28/25/180111-f722d947-c06d-4928-85f7-5f1047b84b68.pdf)): [Rocío Rivas](#rocio-rivas) | [Raquel Zamora](#raquel-zamora) * District 4… 4. Homelessness | City Attorney [https://cityattorney.lacity.gov/homelessness] — Los Angeles City Attorney On her first day in office, Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto joined Mayor Karen Bass as she declared a local **emergency on homelessness**. The City Attorney’s Office provided the legal framework for this declaration, which cuts red tape, facilitates additional resources, and streamlines efforts to bring people inside. The following week, Mayor Bass signed an executive directive… 5. Los Angeles ADU Permits: Requirements, Costs & Timeline - ADU West Coast [https://aduwestcoast.com/adu-permits-los-angeles-requirements-costs-timeline] — ADU West Coast [](https://aduwestcoast.com/) Select Page # Los Angeles ADU Permits: Requirements, Costs & Timeline by [Cameron Meredith](https://aduwestcoast.com/author/cmeredith/ "Posts by Cameron Meredith") | Aug 22, 2025 | [Blog](https://aduwestcoast.com/category/blog/) | [0… Daily TopFive for Los Angeles Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Los Angeles Politics and Urbanism Daily on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-la-daily-fix/id1895649590] or Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3yLZ4pkQq99iMI5WLo3HUg]. Feedback? Email la-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [la-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].