ACTION Apartment Association

A snapshot of new state government efforts to tackle California's housing crisis

04/11/2022 9:41 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Here are some of the most notable efforts that are now underway.

Residents in Certain Santa Monica Neighborhoods Eligible for LA County Guaranteed Income Program

04/08/2022 12:36 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Residents of two Santa Monica neighborhoods are eligible to apply for LA County’s new $1,000 a month guaranteed income program.

The program, called “Breathe”, launched on March 31 and will award 1,000 randomly selected qualifying residents $1,000 a month for three years.

SMa.r.t. Column: New City Financial Plan – The Resident Homeowner Bank

04/08/2022 12:32 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In this installment, we explore this proposed tax within the context of its role as a leading indicator of the fundamental restructuring of the city’s commercial and residential municipal revenue balance to fund the city’s ongoing, and growing, spending requirements.

The long-term implications of this commercial and residential rebalancing go far beyond this proposed ballot initiative. While it may impact every resident with various taxes and fees, it will especially impact single-family homeowners, as Part II will discuss.

Slow-Growth Group Launches Battle to Stop Project on Gelson's Site

04/08/2022 12:29 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A slow growth Santa Monica group with a hefty legal warchest is taking on the city's biggest housing development in more than half a century, despite warnings the project can't be stopped under State law.

The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (SMCLC) announced Thursday that it had "served objections to the completeness of the application" for the nearly 900,000-square-foot project at the Gelson's site at Lincoln and Ocean Park boulevards.

Mega-Buildings for Everyone Else but Me

04/07/2022 9:02 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Dear Editor,

Tax the rich! Yeah! But where will that ocean of money go? ("Mayor Launches Campaign to Hike 'Luxury' Real Estate Tax," March 31, 2022).

It will pay for huge numbers of giant buildings for non-residents -- many will be built on your street. But you won’t be allowed to live in them because you’re not homeless and you already have a rent controlled apartment.

https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/letters/Letters-2022/04_06_2022_LETTERS_Mega_Buildings_for_Everyone_Else_but_Me.html

County offers relief to landlords impacted by Covid-related nonpayment of rent

04/05/2022 10:46 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In particular, officials are seeking to support landlords who are unable to pay their property taxes or mortgage as a result of the County’s tenant protections during the pandemic.

As the April 11 delinquency date for property taxes approaches, the County has opened up an online portal for landlords to request a penalty cancellation.

Santa Monica landlords who are struggling with mortgage payments can seek relief through the Los Angeles County Mortgage Relief Program.

Five-Story Mixed-Use Development Seeks Approval in Downtown Santa Monica

04/04/2022 11:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

This new proposal would rise at the closed BancWest site on the corner of 4th and Colorado Avenue at 407 Colorado. It would be a 60 unit complex with roughly half being studio units and the other half being one bedroom units. Six of the one bedroom units would be deed restricted as affordable housing for very low income households. The proposal lists no planned parking structure.

New California law extends eviction ban for some renters

04/01/2022 12:43 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Lawmakers voted Thursday to ban evictions for anyone with a pending application until June 30.

Mayor Launches Campaign to Hike Luxury Real Estate Tax

04/01/2022 12:20 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Mayor Sue Himmelrich has launched a campaign for a ballot measure that would dramatically hike Santa Monica's transfer tax on "high end" real estate to help fund "homelessness prevention" and build affordable housing.

The proposed tax measure -- which also would help fund the local School District -- would charge a real estate transfer tax of $53 per $1,000 on properties valued at $8 million or more, primarily apartments and commercial properties.

California lawmakers extend eviction ban for some renters

03/31/2022 11:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Lawmakers voted Thursday to ban evictions for anyone with a pending application until June 30.