ACTION Apartment Association

Mayor proposes new tax to fund housing and schools

03/24/2022 10:26 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A trio of Santa Monica officials are mounting a campaign for a new tax on real estate sales to fund homeless services, affordable housing programs and local education efforts.

Santa Monica Mayor Sue Himmelrich, her husband Michael Soloff (who is Co-Chair of Santa Monicans for Renters Rights) and Jon Katz (President of the Santa Monica Democratic Club) are soliciting public support for an additional real estate transfer tax on property sales greater than or equal to $8 million. If their petition is successful, the question would be put to voters in November of this year.

Housing bill SB 9

03/24/2022 10:23 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

SB 9 seeks to increase the development of housing in neighborhoods zoned for single family housing.

There are several ways Santa Monica could potentially limit development under SB 9. The City could prevent accessory dwelling units (ADUs) from being added to SB 9 projects, could deed restrict SB 9 units as specifically rental or for sale units, and could extend the owner occupancy requirements for SB 9 units. Santa Monica could also take steps to incentivize the use of SB 9 such as allowing more than 25 percent of an existing single-unit dwelling to be demolished for the duplex pathway or allowing the addition of ADUs on all SB 9 projects.

Council Takes Action on Two Potential State Ballot Measures

03/24/2022 10:21 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At last night’s meeting, the Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously to oppose the “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act,” a proposed California ballot initiative co-sponsored by the California Business Roundtable.

City Poised to Enforce Seismic Retrofit Law

03/23/2022 8:54 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The next deadline -- in 2025 -- is for soft story buildings, which account for the vast majority of Santa Monica's structures and face the risk of collapsing because the first floor overhangs a garage.

Council Appoints Susan Cola as Next Interim City Attorney

03/23/2022 8:53 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At its meeting last night, the Santa Monica City Council appointed Senior Special Projects Deputy City Attorney Susan Cola as Interim City Attorney with a start date of April 6, 2022. She begins April 6 with a salary of $288,120.

City, SMMUSD Sue County Committee to Stop School Districting Plan

03/22/2022 10:27 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Filed in Superior Court against the LA County Committee on School District Organization, the lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of a new State law that allows the committee to create districts without voter approval.

AND: https://www.smdp.com/city-and-smmusd-sue-over-new-voting-laws/216097

Housing Crunch Turns Employers Into Landlords

03/21/2022 2:39 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The burgeoning phenomenon could change the dynamic between employers and employees, creating paternalistic relationships reminiscent of the company towns that once dotted America.

Time is running out to apply for rent relief

03/21/2022 8:08 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In the short term, the most important thing tenants and landlords can do is submit their rent relief applications before the March 31 deadline.

Tenants and landlords who qualify for rent relief can receive full payment of rent owed between April 1, 2020 and Mar 31, 2022 from the state.

SMa.r.t. Column: Ferrari vs. Prius

03/21/2022 8:03 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

If we made more Ferraris, will the cost of Priuses go down? Of course not, they are two different market segments. Likewise, the housing market is segmented like cars, but there are two significant differences.

78 Units of Affordable Housing Planned

03/21/2022 8:02 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

This complex would have 78 units and an underground parking structure with 26 spaces for vehicles. The units would be a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments that would range between 450 to 900 square feet each.