ACTION Apartment Association

City files housing discrimination lawsuit on behalf of disabled veterans

09/04/2025 3:32 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In the complaint, the city alleges that landlord Lawrence Boydston intentionally discriminated against his tenants based on disability and source of income. The suit also alleges that he refused to accept a Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing, or VASH, voucher that would help his two tenants, 77-and 80-year-old Army veteran brothers, afford their rent. He also refused their request for a reasonable modification to install a chair lift — to be paid for by the Office of Veterans Affairs — that would enable the disabled brothers to safely go up and down the stairs in their two-storied apartment.

Santa Monica Community Development Director Resigns

09/04/2025 3:27 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Her resignation follows the exit of the city’s Police Chief, as well as earlier departures of the city attorney and the director of Housing and Human Services

Arminé Chaparyan, director of the Community Development Department for the City of Santa Monica, announced her resignation on August 27, after less than seven months in the role, marking the latest in a series of high-level departures from the city’s leadership, officials confirmed.

City Manager Offers Insight into Law Enforcement Decisions

09/03/2025 7:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In the letter, Chi notes the City Charter gives the City Manager sole authority over "personnel related situations" and that he has the Council's backing to develop "new law enforcement programs."

Groups Call for Retaining Police Chief

09/03/2025 7:54 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In an unusual move, Santa Monica's most prominent slow-growth group on Tuesday joined an effort to retain Police Chief Ramon Batista after his surprise resignation last month.

The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City, which for 20 years has kept its focus on development, joined five neighborhood groups that have asked the City Council and City Manager to reject the popular chief's resignation submitted on August 22.

Letter from City Manager Chi to Neighborhood Groups

09/03/2025 7:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The following letter was sent over the weekend to Northeast Neighbors Board Member Tricia Crane in response to a request by five Santa Monica neighborhood groups that the City Council and City Manager reject the resignation of Police Chief Ramon Batista.

Read his letter at: https://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/letters/Letters-2025/09_03_2025_Letter_From_City_Manager_to_Neighborhood_Groups.html

L.A. cracks down on Hollywood party houses and illegal short-term rentals.

09/03/2025 7:15 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The city of Los Angeles is expected to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines after settling multiple lawsuits against the owners of illegal short-term rentals and party houses in the Hollywood area who were accused of wreaking havoc for neighboring residents.

LA County braces for potential federal funding cuts to housing and homelessness services

09/03/2025 7:12 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Los Angeles region is at risk of losing millions of dollars in federal funding for some homelessness services because of a Trump Administration order that aims to end support for Housing First policies, county authorities said.

Landscape Expo

09/02/2025 9:21 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Sept. 13 event will showcase a new demonstration garden located next to the Miles Memorial Playhouse at Christine Emerson Reed Park. The garden serves as a model for implementing low-water systems for pollinator-friendly plantings and edible crops.

Firing of Santa Monica Police Chief Batista

08/29/2025 9:08 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

by Arthur Jeon

It's obvious he was fired despite all the niceties mouthed.

Read the entire letter: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2025/08/26/opinion/firing-of-santa-monica-police-chief-batista/9238.html

Santa Monica Rents Remain Flat

08/29/2025 9:02 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Rents -- which dipped -0.2 percent nationwide and -0.1 percent locally this month -- are not expected to pick up again this year after the official arrival of the rental market's slow season, the site's researchers predict.