After two failed attempts at revising the City’s rent control rules, Council will make a third attempt this Wednesday after the most recent meeting set of a firestorm of criticism and controversy. 

Council has scheduled a special meeting for August 3 to finalize amendments to the City Charter that would modify the formula for deciding rent increases in controlled units and authorize officials to suspend increases altogether in emergency situations. 

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/third-attempt-at-rent-control-revision-to-be-held-wednesday/220055

Santa Monica rents increased by 1.6 percent in July after growing by less than 1 percent in each of the prior three months, according to Apartment List's monthly report released Tuesday.

Median rents currently stand at $2,073 for a one-bedroom apartment and $2,583 for a two-bedroom, according to the popular listing website.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/August-2022/08_02_2022_Santa_Monica_Rents_Rise_in_July.html

SEE YOU IN OCTOBER I’m taking a little break from CURIOUS CITY to work on a personal project. No way to carve out the needed time from my calendar otherwise, it seems. NOTEWORTHY, the weekly live music recommendations, will continue. Probably. Before the lefty loonies start accusing the Santa Monica Daily Press of forcing me to the curb, let me declare unequivocally that this is entirely my decision, for personal not political reasons, with full support from the paper. 

Read More on page 7: https://s3.amazonaws.com/smdp_backissues/080322.pdf

The contacts resulted in 808 participants receiving direct medical or psychiatric services, while 57 individuals were placed into interim housing and 24 into permanent housing.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/August-2022/08_02_2022_Impact_of_Homeless_Programs_Measured_in_Report.html

Council has scheduled a special meeting for August 3 to finalize amendments to the City Charter that would modify the formula for deciding rent increases in controlled units and authorize officials to suspend increases altogether in emergency situations. 

Read More on page 1: https://s3.amazonaws.com/smdp_backissues/080222.pdf

Eight months after the start of West L.A V.A’s Tiny Home Project 30 out of 140 units are now vacant and unhoused veterans are pitching tents along Wilshire Blvd. 

See More: https://smmirror.com/2022/08/over-30-tiny-homes-sit-vacant-while-homeless-veterans-camp-on-wilshire/

Our concern is, first, that you do not actually target the help to low income renters and, most importantly, you want middle income renters to pay for this by increasing their rents very unfairly.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/letters/Letters-2022/08_01_2022_OPINION_Denny_Zanes_Open_Letter_to_Councilmember_Lana_Negrete.html

Five days after igniting a firestorm with a last-minute proposal to address near record rent increases, Councilmember Lana Negrete has pulled her plan.

In an open latter Sunday night, Negrete said she would table her proposed Charter Amendment that would have based the annual adjustment on a rent control unit's Maximum Allowable Rent (MAR).

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/August-2022/08_01_2022_Negrete_Pulls_Proposal_to_Address_Rent_Increases.html

For now, I am suggesting my proposal get tabled and I’m hopeful that Wednesday the council will put forward the path that gives all renters uniform relief and stability, such as the rent control board’s proposal. I am also hopeful that we can embrace new ideas and be open to dialogue so that we can best lead our city into the future. I look forward to post-election broader community dialogues to strengthen and assure the stability of rent control.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/correcting-the-narrative/220049

Organization that runs Santa Monica for the last 43 years, now searches its soul for answers over equity and who should bear the cost of inflation.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2022/08/01/news/fight-over-dueling-rent-increase-proposals-threatens-to-split-santa-monicans-for-renters-rights/6949.html