Council Takes Steps to Boost Input from Section 8 Advisory Board

09/19/2022 9:46 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

After a lengthy debate, the City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to radically shrink -- and rename -- an advisory board comprised of Section 8 tenants to give it a stronger voice.

Design Board to Review Another Tight-Fitting Downtown Project

09/19/2022 9:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A month after taking up a tight-fitting hotel project, Santa Monica's design board on Monday will review an affordable housing development that squeezes an eight-story 38-unit building into a single-family-sized lot.

Tenants in Rent-Controlled Apartments Are Urged to Apply Now for One-Time Rent Relief

09/14/2022 8:37 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

On Monday, September 19 at 6 p.m. applications will close for the “Rent Control Adjustment Relief” (RCAR) program which provides one-time rent relief to help rent-burdened Santa Monica households in rent-controlled apartments unable to afford the Rent Control General Adjustment that took effect on September 1, 2022.

Council Race Could Test SMRR's Clout

09/14/2022 8:25 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

This year's City Council election could be a major test of the political clout Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) has wielded for four decades.

Questions that were raised when two of the three Council incumbents backed by the group were swept out of office in 2020 have resurfaced after a record-low turnout at Sunday's SMRR convention.

Sunday's low turnout helped the local hotel workers union, whose caucus accounted for a fifth of the ballots cast, cement an endorsement for its chosen candidates -- Caroline Torosis, Ellis Raskin and Jesse Zwick ("Hotel Unon Flexes Muscle at SMMR Convention," September 12, 2022).

SMa.r.t. Column: The Big Reset

09/14/2022 8:24 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

First, we should always view any proposal with this lens: does it help us live within our means? For example a college or school district bond that piles new lcrushing debt totaling Billions (with a B) of dollars on future generations, when the college and school population is actually shrinking, is not an example of living within our means. A city that agrees to 8874 units of new construction without the permanent water for those 18,000 new residents is committing a form of suicide.

Kurt Gonska appointed to fill vacant Rent Control Board seat

09/13/2022 10:47 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Kurt Gonska was unanimously appointed as an interim commissioner of the Rent Control Board last week to fill the spot left vacant in August when Board Member Naomi Sultan resigned her post after moving out of the city.

Hotel Union Flexes Muscle at SMRR Convention

09/13/2022 8:40 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

High humidity and COVID fears resulted in a record low turnout at Sunday's Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) convention, paving the way for the hotel workers union to flex its political muscle.

The 43-year-old tenants group endorsed the three City Council challengers backed by UNITE HERE Local 11 -- Rent Board Commissioner Caroline Torosis, Planning Commissioner Ellis Raskin and public policy adviser Jesse Zwick.

City Council Tuesday, Sept. 13

09/12/2022 8:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Council meets on Tuesday, Sept. 13 with an agenda heavy on second readings of past decisions. However, new business includes a pair of items addressing homelessness and a discussion of new ways to solicit input into federal housing aid.

Rent Drops in Santa Monica After Steady Growth

09/12/2022 8:37 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica Real Estate Report – September 12th, 2022

See More: https://smmirror.com/2022/09/rent-drops-in-santa-monica-after-steady-growth-santa-monica-real-estate-report-september-12th-2022/

LA County's Homeless Population Up 4 Percent, Down 23 Percent on Westside

09/09/2022 8:43 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The drop contributed to an overall decrease in Santa Monica's homeless population over the past two years -- from 907 to 807 -- while the number of people living on the streets remained flat, according to the City's homeless count.

AND: https://smmirror.com/2022/09/los-angeles-homeless-service-authority-releases-2022-homeless-count-results/