Affordability is the housing issue in Santa Monica (SM). Densification of the City is the primary objective of the draft 2021 – 2029 Housing Element, ostensibly to address an 8,895 RHNA unit target that is entirely unrelated to Santa Monica’s needs. 

The Housing Element contains an assumption of, but no supporting data or demonstrated link between affordability and densification. That’s because such links don’t exist.  

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/06/when-reality-meets-the-housing-element/

At the request of Councilmember Gleam Davis, Council will discuss possibly directing staff to return with proposed amendments that would allow the home-sharing of detached accessory buildings as long as they are located more than six feet from the main building that’s occupied by the host who wishes to home-share the accessory building.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/council-readies-to-talk-home-sharing-hate-letter-and-more/205583

Work has now progressed past street level for the Pacific Landing development at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Pacific Street in Santa Monica. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/06/santa-monica-affordable-housing-development-takes-shape/

While droughts are common in California, this year’s is much hotter and drier than others, evaporating water more quickly from the reservoirs and the sparse Sierra Nevada snowpack that feeds them. The state’s more than 1,500 reservoirs are 50% lower than they should be this time of year, according to Jay Lund, co-director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California-Davis.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/drought-ravages-californias-reservoirs-ahead-of-hot-summer/205556

At the June 2 meeting, Council voted unanimously to open an application process that will run from June 3 to noon June 22. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/06/applications-open-to-fill-vacant-santa-monica-city-council-seat/

After nearly four hours in closed session, the City Council on Wednesday reported no action in the search for a new City Manager.

https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/June-2021/06_02_2021_Council_Takes_No_Action_on_City_Manager_Search.html

The City of Santa Monica has Released the Draft 2021 - 2029 Housing Element Update

PROGRAM 4.D: REZONE SELECTED PORTIONS OF R1-ZONE NEIGHBORHOODS TO INCREASE DENSITY

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/housing-element-update

Still, homeless agencies appear flummoxed by the rejection rate for permanent housing they’re now able to offer, something only recently available. Did they expect a population plagued by instability and a high component (about 20 percent) of serious mental illness to turn overnight into planners interested in delayed gratification?

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/06/is-permanent-housing-the-real-homeless-solution/

The City Council is expected to hire Montebello City Manager Rene Bobadilla as Santa Monica's new City Manager, making him the first Latino to run the city of some 93,000, The Lookout has learned.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/June-2021/06_01_2021_Council_Expected_to_Hire_Montebello_City_Manager.html

Santa Monica's North of Montana Neighborhood was the third most expensive zip code in the U.S. last year, tied with Beverly Hills, according to the annual ranking by Property Shark.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/June-2021/06_01_2021_North_of_Montana_Third_Wealthiest_Zip_Code_in_Nation.html