ACTION Apartment Association

Expect a Rebellion Against Key Housing Bills

09/14/2021 8:38 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

For the last four years, this assault on neighborhoods has been a pipe dream of Scott Wiener, the increasingly radical, pro-developer Democratic state senator from San Francisco. The state Senate’s president, Democrat Toni Atkins of San Diego, is almost equally involved.

Before they break their arms while patting themselves on the back, these two lawmakers might want to examine the new realities of California’s referendum politics.

California legislators won’t extend eviction ban

09/13/2021 7:58 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The California eviction moratorium is scheduled to end after Sept. 30, but legislators aren’t planning to extend the protections for renters.

The road to affordable housing is paved with confusion

09/13/2021 7:54 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Prior to March 2020, the City did not have a system to track the number of units in its inventory, how many households were successfully placed or what waitlist priority group they came from.

“We don’t have that data,” said Housing Program Manager Jim Kemper. “It may be that we have it, but it would be a research project and it’s a research project we can’t take on.”

New COVID-19 Testing Site Opens at Clover Park

09/13/2021 7:53 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

On Monday, September 13, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services—in coordination with the State of California and OptumServe—will open an appointment only coronavirus (COVID-19) testing location at Clover Park’s offices, 2600 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica. Testing is free and available to Los Angeles County residents.

State Legislature Passes Bill to Ensure Cities Rezone for Housing Needs

09/13/2021 7:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Critics say new law may lead to elimination of single-family areas

The California State Legislature has approved a bill which "will ensure cities and counties are adequately re-zoning to meet their housing needs" – a move many critics and homeowners say may lead to the elimination of the R-1 (single-family) zones in their municipalities.

SMa.r.t. Column: Stop the Steroids

09/13/2021 7:41 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monicans face the usual fears of crime, Covid-19 and its collapsing job and housing impact including the coming eviction avalanche. Unfortunately, interest groups in Sacramento keep trying to monetize these crises by forcing cities and counties to amp up construction using a janga pile of dangerous new zoning regulations that are unnecessary and beyond financial and ecological sustainability. These financial interests, including financiers, realtors and construction unions want to cash out before the whole enterprise, fueled by federal debt, screeches to a halt.

New Blue-Ribbon Commission on Homelessness

09/08/2021 8:54 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The County Board of Supervisors have appointed former Los Angeles County Counsel Mary Wickham as Executive Director of the newly formed Blue-Ribbon Commission on Homelessness.

The Blue-Ribbon Commission on Homelessness was established following the July 27 motion authored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, to research and provide recommendations to the Board for a new homelessness governance model that is appropriate for Los Angeles County.

Police oversight Commissioners object to temporary restriction of their powers

09/08/2021 8:52 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

“It’s overall an attempt to basically gut the Commission and prevent it from operating,” said Commission Chair George Brown in a Sept. 2 meeting. “It’s clear that the Santa Monica police union opposes civilian oversight. They’ve been trying to kill it behind the scenes for the entire time.”

Public Safety Commission Denounces City, Union Agreement

09/07/2021 9:54 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica's Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission this week denounced a recent agreement between the City and police union, calling it a "gut punch" that "undermines" the group's work.

The agreement -- approved in closed session on August 24 -- bars the new commission from submitting written reports to the Council or making any recommendations on "police policies and practices" to the Council, police chief or city manager, according to a copy of the agreement.

SMa.r.t. Column: The Big Lie Just Got Bigger

09/06/2021 9:01 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

During the past several weeks, the State legislature approved two bills SB9 and SB10 that will destroy Santa Monica’s essential beachside character by eviscerating the R-1 (single-family home) zones and unleashing a densification demolition derby everywhere else. These bills are now awaiting the recall besieged governor’s signature. It will be interesting to see how and when he responds. These bills could be signed either to try to forestall his recall by repaying his realtor, construction union, and finance industry funders, or alternatively vetoed because of their immense unpopularity among residents and organizations such as Livable California, Neighbors United and among many local elected officials. If he fails to act in 12 days the bills are automatically approved. Your City Council has taken a position against an earlier version of SB9 but their current position is unclear.