ACTION Apartment Association

City Settlement Extends Protections for Deed Restricted Units

10/12/2026 11:29 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Two Santa Monica property owners who failed to show deed-restricted affordable housing units were occupied by income-qualified tenants reached settlement agreements with the City, the City Attorney's office announced Wednesday.

Ballot Measure Raises Eviction Concerns

10/12/2026 11:25 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

"Measure GG is a deceptive campaign to evict tenants not now subject to eviction just because they currently earn more income than the income category that they qualified for without offering the tenant a unit that meets their current income," said Mathew Millen, a leader of Progressive Landlords of Santa Monica.

Council Unleashes Major Housing Developments on Single-Family Neighborhood

10/12/2026 11:24 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council last week voted to give final approval to an ordinance that allows tall high-end multi-family projects to replace 89 of Santa Monica's most affordable single-family homes.

Anti-Establishment Candidates Lead in Fundraising

10/12/2026 11:22 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The fundraising leader in the November 3 race for three open Council seats is local businessman Doug Trussler, whose campaign had raised $213,000 this year by the filing period that ended September 19, including $150,000 in personal loans. Trussler's campaign had spent $131,024.

Meanwhile, incumbent Lana Negrete and environmental activist Ashley Oelsen each raised some $100,000, with Negrete receiving $101,311 in contributions of $100 or more from 168 contributors and Oelsen $99,711 from 154 contributions, as well as $25,700 in personal loans.

Council Poised to Give Final Approval to Controversial Housing Ordinance

10/12/2026 11:19 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Homeowners in the Pico Neighborhood's Gandara Park area said they will continue fighting to stave off the immediate impacts of SB 79, a state law that allows multi-family developments of up to five stories within half a mile of the city's seven major transit zones.

SM.a.r.t Column: Eight Year Report Card

09/18/2026 3:23 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

As you can see, those 8 year old issues are still very present today. Our City, for example, has completely abandoned its water-independence goal; it has made no progress in eight years on Vision Zero—four people still die every year in traffic accidents—homelessness is still chronic, and our public debt has ballooned spectacularly.

Earthquake preparedness isn’t just the City of Santa Monica’s job: What renters and owners need to know

09/16/2026 2:26 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

To help, the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) opened registration on August 19 for the Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit (EMR) grant program, the first state-backed financial assistance program designed specifically for owners of soft-story apartment buildings. For properties that qualify, EMR will reimburse up to 70 percent of retrofit costs, potentially as much as $49,600 per building. The grant registration window closes September 30, 2026.

Police, Fire Unions Endorse Oelsen, Trussler

09/16/2026 2:14 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica's police and fire unions on Tuesday announced they have endorsed two additional candidates challenging the city's political establishment in the November race for three open Council seats.

Santa Monica Firefighters, IAFF Local 1109, and the Police Officers Association are backing environmental activist Ashley Oelsen and local businessman Doug Trussler after initially backing Councilmember Lana Negrete, the lone dissenting vote on the seven-member Council.

AND: https://www.smdp.com/public-safety-unions-expand-endorsements-alongside-new-survey-saying-the-city-is-on-the-wrong-track/

Trussler - Candidate's Strategy Shakes Up Council Race

09/12/2026 2:43 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The head of a billion dollar local equity firm, Trussler's campaign strategy is to block the endorsements of rival candidates and seek the backing of every local political organization himself.

City Not Selling Bergamot Station, BUT

09/10/2026 11:28 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council on Tuesday laid fears to rest that the Bergamot Station Arts Center site would be sold but did not shut the door on the possibility it could be leased for affordable housing.