The city’s first-ever rental housing registry—approved by the City Council unanimously on Tuesday—will likely include data on who owns which properties in Oakland, whether they’re covered by rent control, how much landlords can charge tenants, and the eviction history for any unit. The registry will include all housing covered by Oakland’s rent control and eviction laws, which is most rental buildings constructed before 1995.

Read More: https://oaklandside.org/2022/06/08/oakland-will-create-its-first-ever-rental-housing-registry/

The Board uses appointments rather than elections to fill unscheduled vacancies, and has never appointed a landlord to serve on it.

Read More and See Elaine: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2022/06/09/opinion/how-come-there-isnt-one-landlord-on-santa-monica-rent-control-board/6813.html

In order to achieve these objectives, the SMC Board of Trustees recently voted to place a new bond measure on the Nov. 8 ballot — to the tune of $375 million.

If you own your home and your property is assessed at $1 million, your annual fee would be $250. 

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/smc-announces-bond-measure-for-november-ballot/218311

With primary voting concluded, attention is now turning to the November general election and in Santa Monica this means City Council election season.

This year there are three Council seats up for election, one of which is confirmed as an open seat as Mayor Sue Himmelrich will not be running for a third term on Council. 

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/city-council-race-begins-with-newcomers-vying-for-open-seat/218274

Under the registration fee increase proposed by staff -- the biggest in nine years -- the amount paid by a landlord would rise from $198 to $228 per unit, half of which can be passed on to the tenant.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/June-2022/06_07_2022_Rent_Board_Poised_to_Jack_Up_Registration_Fee.html

The new development provides 50 newly constructed, 100 percent affordable apartments in the Mar Vista and is the organization’s first development outside of Santa Monica. It is located at  3960 Grand View Boulevard. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2022/06/community-corp-holds-ribbon-cutting-for-mar-vista-affordable-housing-development/

Ballot drop box locations:

Montana Avenue Library, 1704 Montana Ave.

Santa Monica Library Main Branch, 601 Santa Monica Blvd.

Virginia Avenue Park, 2200 Virginia Ave.

Marine Park, 1406 Marine St.

Vote Center Locations:

Grant Elementary School, 2368 Pearl St.

St. Anne Church and Shrine, 2011 Colorado. 

Santa Monica College, 1900 Pico Blvd.

Civic Center Parking Structure, 330 Olympic Dr (2nd floor).

Joslyn Park, 633 Kensington Rd.

Professional Development Learning Ctr, 2802 4th St.

Marine Park, 1406 Marine St.

Virginia Avenue Park, 2200 Virginia Ave.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/local-residents-urged-to-vote-in-primary-election-on-tuesday/218206

This year, the 12 month change in Consumer Price Index published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange County region was an unusually high 8.5 percent. This reflects the high inflation rates seen nationwide. 

As a result, this year’s maximum allowable annual rent increase was calculated at 6.4 percent. However, the actual rate used will be 6 percent, as an amendment to the Rent Control Charter limits the maximum allowable adjustment to 6 percent in any given year.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/rent-control-tenants-facing-third-highest-annual-rent-increase-in-history/218250

Agenda Item 11. - PUBLIC HEARINGS- Rent Control Board Meeting – June 9, 2022, 7:00 p.m., Via Live Stream

A. Consideration of whether to establish a ceiling on the 2022 General Adjustment.

B. Consideration and adoption of the RCB FY 22/23 Operating Budget.

C. Consideration of whether to amend subsection (b) of Regulation 11200 respecting an increase in the annual registration fee.

D. Consideration of whether to recommend to the City Council that the City place on the November 2022 ballot an amendment to the City Charter and Rent Control Amendment allowing for a suspension of rent increases during certain declared emergencies.

At its last meeting the Santa Monica Rent Board approved an annual rent increase of 6% as of September 1, 2022. This month, per item 11. A above, they will consider (meaning approve) a limit of the increase of $140 per month, which would apply to all units with Maximum Allowable Rents of $2,325 and above.

Source: Wes Wellman's Fast Lane News, June 3, 2022

That well of silence would be the Planning Commission, the City Council, and Us, the resident voters, who continue to perpetrate the not too slow demise of what had been a fairly successful and desirable beachfront community, by being too silent. Residents and visitors alike shared the environmental, sustainable, and lifestyle benefits that a low rise beach environment, with fresh air, blue skies, and manageable traffic, provided for all, including for those in the Valley or the east side escaping the summer heat for a day at the beach. But success seems to breed contempt for “enough”, and greed “for more”, until it causes a rot, and in the case of a beachfront town that provided a relief, an escape valve, a ‘central park’ for so many, it builds itself into a shadow covered, traffic mired, non resident-friendly or un-useable, quagmire. Downtown.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2022/06/sma-r-t-column-the-sound-of-silence-is-big-tall/