ACTION Apartment Association

Local Landlords Charged with Rent Gouging

09/28/2022 9:18 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

On September 26, 2022, a judge for the California Superior Court placed defendants 1433 Euclid Street, LLC., and WS Communities, LLC., landlords of the property located at 1433 Euclid Street in Santa Monica, on a 12-month diversion program in connection with misdemeanor criminal charges of rental housing price gouging in violation of state law.

AND: https://smdp.com/2022/09/28/landlords-will-pay-35k-to-avoid-criminal-prosecution-for-price-gouging/

Mayor Himmelrich Quashes A Motion Critical of Her Meeting Misconduct

09/28/2022 9:12 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Mayor Sue Himmelrich, with the assistance of new City Attorney Doug Sloan, refused to allow a vote on a motion by Councilmember Oscar de la Torre at last night's City Council meeting. The kicker? De la Torre's motion was an attempt to address Mayor Himmelrich's regular and significant violations of parliamentary procedure, which hinder efficient, effective, and fair City Council meetings.

Santa Monica Rents Hold Steady in September

09/28/2022 9:07 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Still, Santa Monica's 2.9 percent year-over-year rent growth is far slower than the 13 percent jump at this time last year, according to data compiled from listings on the popular website.

Re: Housing element

09/27/2022 10:00 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

It’s unclear whose myopia is worse — the city’s or the state’s.

The original number of proposed new housing units was already unrealistic, given the lack of both water and power to support those units and the low number of affordable options among them. Increasing the total from just under 8,900 to over 13,000 makes it clear that elected officials are either blind or deaf… in addition to being environmentally dumb.

Malibu leaders denounce proposed $375 million SMC bond

09/27/2022 9:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A broad consensus is emerging among Malibu political leaders from all sides of the spectrum that the proposed Santa Monica College bond issue on this fall’s election ballot is a very bad deal for Malibu.

SMa.r.t. Column: SMCLC Rejects Gelson’s Project

09/27/2022 9:51 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

This week our SMa.r.t. column is guest written by the Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (SMCLC). They are a well established, concerned, and active, resident organization and we at SMa.r.t. are always interested to see, hear and share their concerns and observations.

For the past nine months, SMCLC has been monitoring the status of the behemoth project on the Gelson’s site at Lincoln and Ocean Park Blvds. This massive project, with scant affordable housing, has generated enormous public interest and controversy. Below is the detailed email SMCLC sent last Monday to its supporters about the project.

URGENT ACTION NEEDED: TELL THE CITY TO REJECT HUGE, NON-CONFORMING PROJECT ON GELSON’S SITE ON LINCOLN AND OCEAN PARK BLVDS.

"Crime is the number one problem in Santa Monica," says Candidate for City Council Armen Melkonians

09/26/2022 9:11 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Why do you want to be on the Santa Monica City Council, I asked candidate Armen Melkonians. He said crime and homelessness were out of control problems. The City spends a lot of money on these problems, with no progress.

"Our community has gotten crazy out of hand, in terms of crime cleanliness and quietly of life and we need to turn that around.

Renderings Released for Santa Monica Library-Adjacent Affordable Housing

09/26/2022 9:00 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Foundation For Affordable Housing has proposed a new affordable housing project to The Santa Monica Architectural Review Board for the property at 1333 7th Street as reported by Urbanize Los Angeles.

Santa Monica Real Estate Report – September 26th, 2022

09/26/2022 8:47 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

See Video: https://smmirror.com/2022/09/framing-nearly-complete-on-lincoln-blvd-47-unit-mixed-use-building-santa-monica-real-estate-report-september-26th-2022/

New Council Meeting Rules Could be Tested for Extra 3 Months

09/23/2022 8:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A test program to shorten City Council meetings and allow most public speakers to leave early could be extended an extra three months.

The Council on Tuesday will take up a staff recommendation to extend the pilot program set to expire December 31 that consolidates public comments at the start of meetings.