ACTION Apartment Association

Council Approves Contract with New City Manager

07/29/2021 9:03 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council on Tuesday approved a five-year contract with incoming City Manager David White that pays a base salary of $340,000 a year.

Council Approves Nepotism Policy for Boards and Commissions

07/29/2021 9:02 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Close family members of City Councilmembers will be barred from serving on Boards and Commissions under a new nepotism policy approved by the City Council Tuesday.

Part of an update to policies for boards, commissions and task forces, the nepotism policy -- which bars spouses, siblings, children and parents of Councilmembers -- ,will result in the resignation of Mayor Sue Himmelrich's husband, Housing Commissioner Michael Soloff.

Santa Monica Rents Rise for Fourth Straight Month

07/28/2021 9:20 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Rents in Santa Monica rose for the fourth straight month, but its year-over-year growth rate remains flat, according to a report released by Apartment List Tuesday.

Rents rose 1.8 percent over the past month, pushing the yearly rise since last July to 0.1 percent, the report found.

Santa Monica Ranks Among Worst Cities For First-Time Homebuyers

07/28/2021 9:18 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica is among cities ranked with the least affordable housing, where that big milestone just might be tougher to achieve compared to other cities in the U.S., WalletHub reports.

LA City Council Set to Pass Restrictions On Homeless Encampments

07/28/2021 8:03 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday is expected to give final approval to an ordinance that would ban homeless encampments from certain areas of the city, including sidewalks.

California’s 2021 State Budget Receives Approval

07/27/2021 9:14 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Below are some key budget provisions:

Extension of the statewide eviction moratorium until September 30, 2021, and expansion of the program to provide up to 100% in assistance for rental and utility financial obligations, including arrearages and prospective payments.

Council to discuss City Manager contract

07/26/2021 9:02 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

After weeks of debate, scores of meetings, and one press leak culminating in a selected candidate withdrawing his acceptance, council has secured a new City Manager and will be discussing his contract on July 27.

Other important items on the agenda include altering the City’s noise ordinance to protect residential neighborhoods from sustained noise during protests and the appointment of almost 50 individuals to various Boards and Commissions.

SMa.r.t. Column: Warning Water Wars Ahead

07/26/2021 8:50 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In this dangerous ecological moment the State of California is mandating that our City permit the construction of 8895 unnecessary new units that will supposedly increase our population about 20% over the next eight years. Depending on how those nominal 18,000 people are housed and their demographics, we can expect the water consumption of our 91,000 person city to rise between 17 and 23% from 2019’s potable water demand of about 11,030-acre feet.

De la Torre Has Conflict in Voting Rights Suit

07/26/2021 8:49 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge issued a tentative ruling Friday that effectively bars Councilmember Oscar de la Torre from participating in Council deliberations on the voting rights lawsuit against the City.

If the ruling issued Friday morning by Judge Richard L. Fruin, Jr. is made final, it would likely puts an end to any potential settlement before the California Supreme Court decides the case, which was filed in 2016 by de la Torre's wife, Maria Loya, and the Pico Neighborhood Association he headed.

Rep. Lieu seeks to fight homelessness with a $5 billion federal program

07/23/2021 11:01 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

That is why he, alongside California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla, introduced the Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act.

This bill would authorize $1 billion in grants annually for five years for local governments to spend on supportive housing models with comprehensive services and intensive case management.