ACTION Apartment Association

Measures to Address Historic Racism in Housing Get Approval

07/19/2021 8:53 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Santa Monica City Council approved a pilot "Right to Return" program that gives priority for affordable housing to Black and Latino households displaced by urban renewal projects in the 1950s and 60s.

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https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2021/07/14/santa-monica-city-council-prioritizes-housing-for-historically-displaced-households-through-new-pilot

New Attorney General Takes No Position on "Particular Claims" But Criticizes Appellate Court Ruling in Voting Rights Case

07/19/2021 8:51 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

An eagerly awaited brief submitted Monday by the State Attorney General takes no position on "particular claims or factual disputes" in the Santa Monica voting rights case before the California Supreme Court.

The brief from newly appointed Attorney General Rob Bonta, however, criticizes an Appellate Court decision in favor of the City, while questioning several of the City's key assumptions.

Santa Monica City Yards Project Gets High Bond Rating

07/19/2021 8:49 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

One of the "Big Three" credit rating agencies announced Tuesday it has given a AA+ rating to the bonds that will help complete Santa Monica's City Yard's modernization project.

The high score from Fitch Ratings, Inc. should facilitate the sale of the approximately $63 million in bonds scheduled to be offered next week.

Op-Ed: The absolute wrong way to solve California’s affordable housing crisis

07/13/2021 9:20 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In recent years, a group of California lawmakers has been pushing for legislation to override locally approved zoning rules and permit denser development in residential neighborhoods. At the moment, a bill is rushing toward passage in the state Legislature that would dramatically and undemocratically rewrite land-use rules in California.

The bill is SB 9, written by Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego). If approved, it would effectively eliminate single-family zoning in wide swaths of California’s cities.

Housing and finances at Tuesday’s Council meeting

07/13/2021 9:17 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Council will hear items on replacing a downtown garage with a housing project, giving historically displaced families priority in city housing projects, increasing settlement authority for staff, assessing fees to property owners for lighting, issuing bonds to fund construction projects and appointing individuals to 49 openings on boards or commissions.

Council Reports No Action on City Manager Hiring

07/13/2021 9:02 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Santa Monica City Council continued its search for a City Manager Saturday, meeting for some seven hours before reporting no decision.

The Council will meet again on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in what will be a record eighth attempt to hire a permanent city manager.

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."