ACTION Apartment Association

Santa Monica Needs More Sunshine in the Decision-making Process

07/13/2021 9:00 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Dear Editor,

As the City considers the upcoming 13 Item regarding overhaul of the City’s lobbying policy, three critical issues need to be addressed if the new policy is to have any real impact ("Council to Consider Barring Lobbyists From Boards and Commissions," July 8, 2021).

Those issues are:

Santa Monica-specific Objectives
Definition of a Lobbyist or Legislative Advocate
Policy Administration

Newly funded Community Response Unit will help firefighters fight homelessness

07/12/2021 9:11 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Community Response Unit is designed to reduce the number of repeat 911 callers by designating firefighters who can stay on calls with unhoused individuals long enough to connect them with the resources needed to address the underlying issues at hand.

Could Sheriff’s Deputies patrol Downtown Santa Monica?

07/12/2021 9:07 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Private property and business owners who are frustrated with the City’s response to homelessness and crime, have floated the idea of hiring the Sheriff’s Department to act as supplemental security in the Promenade area.

L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva toured Downtown on July 6 with a group of these owners offering suggestions on actions they could take to address issues around crime, homelessness, and trash.

Plaintiffs in Voting Rights Case Ask Court to Strike Opposing Brief

07/12/2021 8:55 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In their motion filed Thursday, the plaintiffs argue that the four organizations that filed the Amicus Curiae Brief "lack the legal capacity to convey (their) views to the Court."

City Manager search to restart Saturday

07/09/2021 9:19 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Council has scheduled a closed session meeting for July 10 to continue recruiting Santa Monica’s next City Manager after Rene Bobadilla rejected the City’s offer of employment when breaches in process made his name public prior to the council’s final decision.

Council to Consider Barring Lobbyists From Boards and Commissions

07/09/2021 9:08 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Councilmembers Phil Brock and Christine Parra placed an item on the agenda that would direct staff to craft an ordinance similar to one already in place in Beverly Hills.

The ordinance would "more precisely defines what constitutes a lobbyist/legislative advocate" and "precludes any member of a board, commission, or task force from simultaneously acting" in those roles, according to the agenda item.

Council to Consider 'Right to Return' Program

07/08/2021 10:47 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Black and Latino households or their descendants displaced by urban renewal projects in Santa Monica in the 1950s and 60s could soon be given priority for affordable housing.

The City Council on Tuesday will consider a pilot "Right to Return" program that would place as many as 100 "historically displaced households, including children and grandchildren" in line for City-funded and inclusionary housing.

Low-Cost Housing? State Keeps Ignoring the New Realities

07/08/2021 10:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Because many of those companies are delighted to let employees stay home post-pandemic, thus cutting their real estate costs, billions of square feet of former office space are now vacant, most of it likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future.

Santa Monica Commissioners Consider Rezoning Neighborhoods

07/07/2021 8:12 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

According to the SantaMonicaDailyPress, Commissioners discussed “creating a program that would allow up to 3 units to be constructed in R1-zoned parcels in the areas of 7th and 14th Streets between Montana Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard and 26th Street between Wilshire and San Vicente Boulevard.”

SMa.r.t. Column: A Meeting of Two Worlds

07/07/2021 8:08 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

While the pandemic has devastated local businesses, slashed the city’s finances, increased homelessness and threw the city’s focus into chaos, we remain a place with deeply-embedded resources which, for most folks, have been flying under the radar in our community. These have taken root here for many years, but have received little or no attention from our city’s business leadership, political structure or city management. The result is a disconnect between many of those who prosper here, and those who could benefit from effective government action–and this includes most residents and businesses.