ACTION Apartment Association

Proposed measure increasing sales tax for homeless prevention could be on November ballot

06/25/2024 2:41 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider putting a homelessness measure on the November ballot that, if approved, would increase sales taxes by a quarter of a cent indefinitely.

Santa Monica’s New Rent Control Law Will Destroy the City

06/25/2024 2:36 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Williams opens by explaining the specifics of the new law: landlords in Santa Monica are now restricted from increasing rent by more than $76 per year. This cap on rent increases comes at a time when property taxes and insurance costs are rising.

341-Unit Development Proposal Selected for Venice Metro Yard

06/25/2024 9:42 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

On Thursday, Metro announced its selection of the Metro Venice Art Collective’s proposal, “Metro on Main”, as announced in Councilwoman Traci Park’s newsletter. The recommendation, detailed in a report to the Metro Board’s Planning and Programming Committee, suggests entering an exclusive negotiating agreement with Metro Venice Art Collective, LLC, owned by Pinyon Group, according to Urbanize LA.

Council Takes Up Promenade Sign Criticizing City

06/25/2024 9:36 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council on Tuesday is scheduled to consider a resolution denouncing a large sign posted on a Promenade storefront that reads: "Santa Methica IS NOT Safe."

Free Speech? Santa Monica City Council Wants to Decide What is "Harmful" for You

06/24/2024 8:40 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

An item on the agenda for the next meeting of the Santa Monica City Council requests the creation of a resolution expressing the elected officials' disapproval of a sign that condemns them on the Third Street Promenade. The sign has been erected by the Santa Monica Coalition, a group of residents, property, and business owners who want public safety restored to the city.

SMRR Picks Council Slate

06/24/2024 8:24 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Some 200 Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) members voted to endorse Santa Monica College Trustee Barry Snell, Planning Commission Chair Ellis Raskin, Natalya Zernitskaya and Pier Corporation Board member Dan Hall.

In an unuaual show of cohesion, the four candidates in the November 5 race for four open Council seats received the required majority of votes needed on the first ballot.

Rent Control Board Chair Ericka Lesley, a staunch tenants rights advocate, fell short of the required 50 percent.

Study Helps Determine if Council Should Ask Voters for a Raise

06/24/2024 8:23 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The $23,184 in annual compensation paid to Santa Monica City Councilmembers is higher than that paid by most comparable cities, according to a staff analysis released Friday.

The analysis -- which will be discussed at Tuesday's Council meeting -- was requested by the Council last month to help determine if local voters should be asked whether to give elected City officials a raise ("Council Could Explore Asking Voters for a Raise," May 30, 2024).

SM.a.r.t Column: The Up Zoning Scam (Part 2)

06/24/2024 8:20 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

There are two main reasons developers will still build in Santa Monica. First is to capitalize on this one-time bonanza of essentially no code and quality constraints. The developers have won their battle to be able to build anything, anywhere, and now just need to finally conquer the Coastal zone (where the real profits are), which is the last area that still has some protection from overdevelopment. Scott Weiner is even now trying to gut the Coastal Zone’s development controls. This total State theft of local power may not last forever, especially when the real limits to growth (global warming, water, and power shortages, seismic and sea level events, etc.etc.) start to kick in and when the inevitable resident backlash appears.

Deep pockets needed

Second, deep-pocketed developers take the long view

Thomas leaves the door open for future challenges to rent control

06/21/2024 8:37 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Rent control is a bad housing policy that won’t go away. Unfortunately, this term, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review not one, not two, but three cases that challenged New York City’s 2019 iteration of the bad housing policy, euphemistically labeled “rent stabilization.” But thanks to Justice Clarence Thomas, the proverbial third strike might not be the last for opponents of rent control.

In a statement accompanying the last case the court denied, 74 Pinehurst v. New York, Thomas left the door open and provided a road map for future challenges.

Formerly homeless renter protection advocate appointed to Rent Control Board

06/21/2024 8:29 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At the June 13 meeting of the Santa Monica Rent Control Board, Kay Ambriz was unanimously selected to serve on the board, taking the position previously filled by Lonnie Guinn before his resignation in April. Ambriz was appointed to the vacant seat, and will serve through the November 2024 municipal election where she intends to earn a full four-year term.

Ambriz has been incredibly active in the Santa Monica renters community, having been a member of the Santa Monica for Renters’ Rights (SMRR) Steering Committee and also working on the SMRR hotline assisting callers with various issues. Those roles, she noted in her board application, made renter education her “top issue” and reason for applying.