Democratic California State Senator Ben Allen’s name was the only option for voters in CA-24 on the June 7, 2022, primary ballot, but with more than 6,000 district residents writing in a Republican challenger, there will be two names on the midterm ballot this November.

A self-proclaimed “mama bear candidate,” Realtor and Samohi alumna Kristina Irwin, a Republican, failed to meet the threshold to appear on the official primary, falling five signatures short by filing deadline (according to a June 3 tweet), but went on to earn 6,260 write-in votes.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/write-in-candidate-to-challenge-allen-for-ca-24-seat-in-november/219834

The critical point is that while no one wants to pay more taxes, Brock’s measure is temporary, as it should be, given the fact that under the existing city tax structure, the annual general fund revenues are projected to exceed the pre-Covid amount in about 23 months.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/letters/Letters-2022/07_23_2022_OPINION_Dueling_Tax_Measures_Offer_Voters_Easy_Choice.html

Kevin Shenkman, an education activist and lawyer who represents the plaintiffs in the Voting Rights lawsuit against the City, pulled nominating papers to run for School Board this week.

So did Jon Mann, who pulled nominating papers on Friday to run for City Council for a record 16th time, bringing to 19 the total number of hopefuls vying for three open seats.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/July-2022/07_22_2022_Nearly_Three_Dozen_Candidates_Pull_Papers.html

The website they created resembles tax return-filing software. It asks tenants a long series of questions in relatively plain English, or Spanish, that produces a legal document they can print and submit in court. Tenants in Los Angeles County can file the paperwork electronically. 

Read More on page 1: https://s3.amazonaws.com/smdp_backissues/072222.pdf

Following a historically high annual rent adjustment of 6% for rent controlled units, city councilmembers have indicated a desire to cap all future increases at 3%.

The Rent Control Board’s initial ballot measure sought to give Rent Control Commissioners the ability to issue a freeze on rent increases for controlled units during declared public emergencies. 

Councilmembers objected to this and other aspects of the ballot measure, subsequently directing staff to prepare two new ballot measures based on their suggestions.

According to the City Attorney’s Office, one of these measures is the 3% cap on annual rent increases. The other is a measure to authorize the City Council to impose additional rent limitations during a declared emergency. 

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/council-seeks-to-set-3-cap-on-annual-rent-adjustment-for-controlled-units/219655

Councilwoman Kristin McCowan will not run for reelection this year creating a second seat without an incumbent on the November ballot. 

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/councilwoman-mccowan-will-not-run-for-reelection/219673

The lawsuit filed in April alleges that the landlord -- Ross Vaisburd, Rolana Serebryanaya and related legal entities -- made the requested repairs and remodeled the unit "only after the tenants vacated."

They then listed the unit "for a much higher rent," according to a press release issued by the City Attorney’s Office on Wednesday.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/July-2022/07_20_2022_Landlord_Settles_Tenant_Harassment_Lawsuit.html

According to the settlement that went into effect Monday, "The City Council hereby withdraws and vacates its decision to exclude Councilmember de la Torre from closed sessions or any other participation in the Pico (Neighborhood Association) case.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/July-2022/07_20_2022_De_la_Torre_Free_to_Take_Part_in_Voting_Rights_Lawsuit_Decisions.html

Armen Melkonians, whose online Residocracy group was a popular forum for slow-growth activists and an organizing platform that helped defeat a major development project, also pulled nominating papers after running in 2016.

So did Rent Board member Coroline Torosis, who has the strong backing of Mayor Himmelrich and Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR), which faces a crucial test of its power in November.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/July-2022/07_18_2022_Eleven_Council_Candidates_Pull_Papers.html

AND: https://www.smdp.com/first-batch-of-residents-begin-process-of-running-for-local-office/219575

Despite hours of heated discussion last week, decisions on a pair of dueling ballot measures to raise taxes on property sales above $8 million were pushed to a July 26 Council meeting due to ongoing confusion and controversy over the specifics of each measure.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/council-battles-over-ballot-measures-delays-final-vote/219559