Tuesday 8/23 the Santa Monica City Council will consider an Emergency Ordinance to provide “temporary” eviction protection for rent-controlled tenants who, effective September 1 are subject to a rent increase of more than 3% of the current (Maximum Allowable Rent (MAR) prior to 9/1/2022 and self-certify that they are unable to pay the increased amount of rent for the “protected period” of 9/1/2022-1/31/2023 due to financial hardship. The landlord would then not be able to evict for nonpayment of rent for that protected period, until 9/1/2023 The Ordinance would allow the protected tenant up to 12 months to pay the increased rent. The protection provided will constitute an affirmative defense for any tenant in an unlawful detainer action brought by the landlord. (Source-Staff report prepared by City Attorney Douglas Sloan)

From Wes Wellman's Fast Lane News 8/21/22