ACTION Apartment Association

Rent Board Approves Biggest Increase in Four Decades

06/17/2022 8:44 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The increase -- which goes into effect September 1 -- is based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the LA region, which was 6.4 percent but capped at 6 percent by a 1990 Charter amendment.

While the Board had no choice but to impose the rent hike -- which has a ceiling of $140 that applies to rents of $2,340 or more -- it chose to also increase the annual registration fee for landlords, who can pass on half of that amount to tenants.

LA voters to consider tax on property sales over $5 million

06/16/2022 12:07 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Following a successful petition by a coalition of labor unions and other organizations, and a 14-0 city council decision Wednesday, Los Angeles voters in November will consider a ballot measure that would create a tax on multimillion-dollar property sales to fund solutions to homelessness, including permanent housing.

Rent Control Board reluctantly passes historically high annual rent adjustment

06/15/2022 11:32 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

During a June 9 meeting, Board Commissioners said they were aware of the pressure this will put on rent controlled tenants, many of whom have fixed incomes based on disability or social security payments. However, Commissioners do not have the ability to enact a lower annual adjustment as it is determined by a calculation based on inflation levels.

City Council Approves Emergency Ordinance to Limit Outdoor Watering

06/15/2022 11:27 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved Santa Monica’s Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance to implement Phase 2 Outdoor Watering Restrictions, limit outdoor watering to two days per week, and prohibit watering between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. in response to on-going drought conditions across the State of California. The new restrictions will go into effect on July 5, 2022.

Dueling Letters Offer Two Takes on Mayor's Transfer Tax

06/15/2022 11:18 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

One of the letters -- both of which are dated June 5 -- is from former Mayor Dennis Zane, a close adviser and former campaign manager for the mayor, who is widely viewed as representing Santa Monica's political establishment.

The other is written by Marc L. Verville, a relative newcomer to Santa Monica's political scene whose expertise in finance recently earned him a seat on the City's Audit Subcommittee.

Marc Verville's Rebuttal to Denny Zane

06/15/2022 11:13 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

by Marc L. Verville, member of the Santa Monica Audit Subcommittee who served as Vice President of Finance and Business Analysis at Warner Bros. before his retirement.

To be clear, the Himmelrich tax proposal’s rate is 804% (5.71% ÷ 0.71%) of the existing tax and is a 704% (5.00% ÷ 0.71%) increase over the existing tax, which is less than 1 percentage point. The Himmelrich proposal would increase the transfer tax at the threshold $8 million level to 5.71% from the current 0.71%, on the entire transaction value. That is the basic math that seems to elude both Mr. Zane and Ms. Himmelrich.

OP-Ed Response to DTSM Board Chair Barry Snell and Plea to City Council

06/14/2022 1:57 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

by John Alle

As crazy as this sounds, Block-by-Block is paying their Ambassadors between $16.40 to $19.10 an hour, then charging DTSM $32 + + an hour. In addition, DTSM has agreed to continue paying Block-by-Block for 3,900 hours….in advance. There is nobody who is making sure these folks are doing their job.

In the Garages and alleyways, incidents of theft, tire slashings, people sleeping in cars, people dealing drugs, have increased, not decreased. Allied Security has done an awful job, ‘ missing in action’, mainly because they do not show up and walk their assigned areas. When they do show up it is for a total of an hour at intermittent times. The assigned guard has stated he is afraid, and oftentimes will stay away from those sleeping in the garages or dealing drugs. They are armed, he is not. If the Guard sees something illegal he must still call 911. But we have insufficient police officers to even respond at night within 45 minutes to 911 calls on the Promenade and in Downtown. Guards and Ambassadors are afraid and intimidated by a new criminal element that has taken over, especially at night.

Housing Element still under revision at Planning Commission as deadline looms

06/14/2022 1:51 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

While Santa Monica does not need to actually construct 9,000 new housing units by 2029, the City does need to provide a plan that would allow that state-mandated housing need to be met.

Santa Monica Considering Limiting Watering Lawns to Twice a Week

06/14/2022 1:38 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At their meeting Tuesday night, however, Santa Monica City Council will vote on an ordinance that would implement further water restrictions, including limiting outdoor watering to two days per week. Current law in Santa Monica does not limit how many days a week residents can water outdoors. The proposed ordinance includes four stages: Phase 1 – outdoor watering limited to 3 days per week; Phase 2 – outdoor watering limited to 2 days per week; Phase 3 – outdoor watering limited to 1 day per week; and Phase 4 – No outdoor watering allowed. City staff is recommending implementing Phase 2 restrictions, limiting outdoor watering to two days per week.

Council Members Request Analysis of Mayor's Tax Measure

06/13/2022 8:53 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council on Tuesday is expected to ask staff to prepare a report analyzing the impacts of Mayor Sue Himmelrich's proposed ballot measure to dramatically hike the real estate transfer tax on high-end properties.

The report requested by three Councilmembers would focus on the fiscal and land use impacts of Himmelrich's “Funding for Homelessness Prevention, Affordable Housing, and Schools” tax measure.