ACTION Apartment Association

One year into the pandemic, rents remain expensive in Santa Monica

03/16/2021 9:43 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

While there was widespread speculation of plummeting rents in urban areas during the pandemic, Santa Monica remains an expensive city to rent in.

This is also true for new market rate leases on controlled units, which barely dipped over the last year, according to data from the Rent Control Board. Rent controlled units represent over half of the City’s total rental stock and under Santa Monica’s Rent Control laws, units reset to market rate when a tenant vacates an apartment.

Council Narrows Focus on Top Priorities

03/16/2021 9:35 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Addressing homelessness and ensuring public spaces are clean and safe are the two top priories that will guide tough budget decisions in Santa Monica over the next two years.

At a special retreat session Saturday, the Council also included an "equitable and inclusive economic recovery" to the short list of priorities.

Council pulls noise protest over ‘miscommunication’

03/15/2021 8:27 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica City Council was set to discuss new regulations regarding public assemblies, targeted residential protests, and noise on Tuesday, but Councilmember Phil Brock said the proposed ordinance was not what he sought to enact before he asked to pull the item from the agenda this week.

City Council Sets Community Priorities Ahead of Biennial Budget Process

03/15/2021 8:22 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

“The City Council today chose to focus for the next two years on the two issues overwhelmingly favored in the unscientific survey of the public’s priorities, addressing homelessness and promoting clean and safe neighborhoods."

Council restricts development through Emergency Interim Zoning Ordinance

03/15/2021 8:20 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Nonresidential developments in Santa Monica and single unit dwellings in the city’s commercial zones are temporarily banned after City Council passed an Emergency Interim Zoning Ordinance this week.

SMa.r.t. Column: SB 9 &10 Doom R1 Districts

03/15/2021 8:15 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Two bills, that if passed, are designed to purposefully destroy single family homes in our City’s R-1 districts. SB 9 is carefully camouflaged as a “duplex bill” with the seemingly innocent purpose of allowing R-1 lots to be split in two and then developed. In reality However, these bills would allow 4 to 8 times more housing on each R1 lot destroying the quality of the entire neighborhood. Furthermore, SB10 allows 10 units on any residential lot.

Council readies to adopt community priorities for budget planning

03/12/2021 11:09 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica City Council is set to gather this Saturday for a rare weekend meeting where it’s expected to adopt the community priorities that will guide its coming budget process, and the community is invited to participate.

Share Perspectives on Boards and Commissions

03/12/2021 11:05 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Join members of the Boards and Commissions Community Working Group, City of Santa Monica staff, and Santa Monica community members on Monday, March 15, 2021, at 6 p.m. as the Community Working Group reviews the draft report of proposed recommendations and suggestions on the structure, effectiveness and best practices for City Boards, Commissions, and Task Forces.

Santa Monica to discuss Hero Pay and more Tuesday

03/09/2021 11:06 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica City Council could pass a Hero Pay ordinance Tuesday that would require some Westside drug and grocery stores to pay employees an extra $5 per hour.

Santa Monica City Council to Vote on Restricting Protest Activities

03/09/2021 11:01 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica lawmakers will vote on restricting certain activities at protests, a move that some worry would infringe on First Amendment rights.

On December 15, 2020, Santa Monica City Councilmembers Phil Brock and Christine Parra directed staff to propose an amendment to the city code to “reduce prolonged noise from protest activities in residential neighborhoods while still upholding First Amendment rights.”