At its next meeting on October 12, the Santa Monica City Council is expected to approve a five-year agreement with the OIR Group to facilitate the work of the new panel, including conducting policing investigations and developing recommendations for the council. The consulting firm will be paid a maximum $140,000 a year, according to city officials.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2021/10/08/news/firm-that-analyzed-the-may-2020-riots-to-serve-as-inspector-general-of-sm-civilian-oversight-panel/6073.html

 Santa Monica has received 100 emerging housing vouchers from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which can be utilized as permanent housing subsidies for individuals who have been in the shelter system for three or more months.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/city-to-move-100-interim-shelter-residents-into-permanent-housing/209207

The City fired its latest volley in an ongoing legal battle with Santa Monica's largest market-rate developer last week charging it turned what was once a 10-unit rent control building into vacation rentals.

In a lawsuit filed September 28, the City and Rent Control Board allege that since 2018, NMS Properties, Inc. and its affiliates have been violating State and local laws at their building at 1242 10th Street.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/October-2021/10_06_2021_Citys_Legal_War_with_Major_Developer_Flares_Again.html

In a lawsuit filed on September 28, the city and the Santa Monica Rent Control Board allege that since 2018 NMS Properties, Inc. and its affiliates have violated the Ellis Act as well as local laws intended to protect long-term tenants and preserve the city's affordable housing stock, local officials said this week.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2021/10/06/news/lawsuit-contends-landlords-unlawfully-converted-rent-control-building-into-complex-for-vacation-rentals/6057.html

AND: https://santamonica.gov/press/2021/10/05/city-of-santa-monica-and-rent-control-board-sue-nms-properties-corporation-for-violations-of-the-ellis-act-and-unfair-business-practices

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge on Thursday rejected the City's motion to dismiss a case filed by Councilmember Oscar de la Torre claiming he does not have a conflict of interest in the voting rights lawsuit against the City.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/October-2021/10_05_2021_Judge_Rejects_Citys_Motion_to_Dismiss_de_la_Torres_Case.html

The state has mandated that Santa Monica build 8,895 total units of housing including 6,168 affordable units by 2029, and in a Sept. 28 meeting City Council opened the door to challenging that number.

Council members voted 5 to 2 to ask the Westside Cities Council of Governments to discuss whether the WSCCOG should join a lawsuit alleging that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) should recalculate the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA).

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/council-considers-challenging-the-states-housing-mandate/209132

Gov. Gavin Newsom, addressing California’s severe housing crisis, has signed 27 new housing bills, created a new state agency to enforce these laws, and created new subsidies to aid in affordable housing.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/10/gov-gavin-newsom-signs-27-new-housing-bills-into-law/

In this first part of two articles, we will dig deeper and discuss the benefits of such a low rise city. The most important benefit is sustainability. Because the cleanest, nearest energy source is the sun, which is relatively abundant here, so we can design our buildings for maximum photovoltaic gain primarily with roof top solar collectors and with future advanced photovoltaic glazings:

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/10/sma-r-t-column-the-virtues-of-a-low-rise-city-part-1/

A refurbished 38-unit apartment building that was the subject of a bitter battle to keep affordable housing in Santa Monica has sold for $70 million, the selling agent announced Monday.

Built in 1952, the former rent control building at 301 Ocean Avenue was sold by the Malibu-based Marquis Property Company, Ltd. to an Asian private investor, according to CBRE, which represented the seller.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/October-2021/10_04_2021_Refurbished_1950s_Santa_Monica_Apartment_Complex_Sells_for_70_Million.html

Here are some pointers for how to navigate the complex landscape of COVID-19 eviction rules.

Read More: https://news.yahoo.com/evicted-l-county-tenant-protections-120036286.html