ACTION Apartment Association

McKeown Abruptly Retires

05/26/2021 10:02 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

With no prior warning, City Councilmember Kevin McKeown announced at Tuesday's meeting that he would retire effective June 11 then abruptly turned off his zoom camera.

City considers revenue bonds to close funding gap for water self-sufficiency projects

05/26/2021 10:00 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City of Santa Monica could issue revenue bonds that will allow officials to continue a number of water sustainability projects in the wake of an $84 million funding gap.

Rent Board announces general adjustment effective September

05/24/2021 9:22 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Rent increases for rent-controlled apartments in Santa Monica will be limited to a 1.7 percent increase this year following a vote by Santa Monica’s Rent Control Board last week.

AND: https://www.smgov.net/rentcontrol/

Housing Commissioners talk diversity

05/24/2021 9:21 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In an attempt to increase diversity and representation, Santa Monica Housing Commissioners are exploring the possibility of a lottery system that would help the local commission systematically appoint more diverse members.

SMa.r.t. Column: Everyone Has a Plan…

05/24/2021 8:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

But in spite of all its interactive parts, the LUCE concept was actually quite simple: herd most of the large future development intensification along the boulevards and to three specific centers (Downtown, Bergamot, and Memorial Park) thereby maintaining the verdant low rise residential areas that define the primary character of most of the City. The LUCE’s 20 year event horizon planned on adding about 4000 units which was increased to 6000 units when the Downtown Specific Plan was subsequently approved. The citizens and the City Council bought into this straight forward plan because it was credible, understandable, and achievable.

Our LUCE plan just got decked by RHNA’s 8876 new units Sacramento is now requiring us to permit by 2030. While this RHNA’s goal has a host of problems, its main problem is that it is the exact opposite of the LUCE: its not credible, its not understandable and its not achievable.

SMa.r.t. Column: Politics as Usual

05/21/2021 11:24 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

SCAG was in the midst of calculating the number of housing units that each city in Southern California would be required to plan for and build. “AHLA,” the letter said, “urges SCAG to adopt a new allocation methodology that does not rely upon any “local input”…”AHLA…agrees that the local input does not “align with the State’s goals of social equity and environmental sustainability.””

Lobbyist on Current Santa Monica Housing Commission

05/20/2021 8:46 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Is There a Conflict of Interest?

It appears that Commissioner Camner is a political lobbyist, and a salaried Executive Director of a 501 (c) (4) organization called Abundant Housing LA.

However, to date, Commissioner Camner has not disclosed her position with Abundant Housing or her salary, on the form 700 (Statement of Economic Interest) filed with the City of Santa Monica.

California readies to prevent blackouts

05/20/2021 8:35 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

California’s top energy regulators on Tuesday said the state is better prepared to avoid last summer’s rotating blackouts, but they cautioned the power grid of the nation’s most populous state is still vulnerable to extreme heat waves that could force more outages later this year.

'Homelessness Is Endangering Lives'

05/19/2021 12:45 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Councilman Joe Buscaino is speaking out in the wake of the Palisades fire, which has charred 1,158 acres as of Tuesday afternoon. After authorities charged a 48-year-old homeless man with arson of a structure or forest in the wake of the flames, Buscaino released a statement saying the homelessness crisis is "destroying neighborhoods."

City and Coalition settle legal battle

05/19/2021 12:35 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City have settled a legal battle relating to the formerly proposed Plaza at Santa Monica project.