California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state’s top two legislative leaders pledged Monday to pay off 80% of most people’s unpaid rent that has piled up during the coronavirus pandemic — but only if landlords agree to forgive the other 20%.

Read More: https://apnews.com/article/legislature-coronavirus-pandemic-california-gavin-newsom-state-legislature-7180696ef98110ed0ec80b932a2d24d3

In one of the most combative public meetings in recent Santa Monica history, the City Council on Tuesday determined Oscar de la Torre has a conflict of interest and must be excluded from closed door sessions pertaining to the voting rights lawsuit against the City.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/January-2021/01_26_2021_Council_Votes_to_Exclude_de_la_Torre_from_Closed_Sessions_on_Voting_Rights_Case.html

The Los Angeles County District Attorney has found that any Brown Act violation in selecting a new mayor and vice mayor on December 8 was "cured and corrected" when a new vote was taken this month.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/January-2021/01_26_2021_No_Violation_in_Council_Vote.html

Federal money will pay off up to 80% of unpaid rent, according to governor, legislators. The plan has to be approved by Legislature.

Read More: https://www.ocregister.com/2021/01/25/california-proposal-would-extend-eviction-rule-through-june/

The City Attorney and Councilmember Oscar de la Torre are at loggerheads over whether the newly elected Councilmember can participate in closed session items involving the voting rights lawsuit against the City.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/January-2021/01_25_2021_Fight_Brewing_Over_de_la_Torres_Participation.html

AND: https://smmirror.com/2021/01/city-council-to-decide-whether-member-can-participate-in-voting-rights-case-against-santa-monica/

The block apartment building under construction was to include about 200 units of ultra expensive housing in an urban part of Santa Monica. The lot is 38,000 square feet, nearly nine tenths of an acre, and last sold for $11,250,000 in 2013.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2021/01/25/news/construction-ceases-at-apartments-on-the-corner-of-lincoln-and-colorado/5243.html

Santa Monica Extends its Eviction Moratoriums for Residential and Commercial Tenants and Emergency Orders to March 31, 2021

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2021/01/25/news/why-pay-rent-federal-state-and-local-moratoriums-protect-tenants-from-eviction-for-non-payment-of-rent/5245.html

A four-story senior affordable housing project is rising in a Westside neighborhood.

See Video: https://smmirror.com/2021/01/edify-tv-affordable-senior-housing-rises-in-westside-neighborhood/

The City of Santa Monica’s thirty-second emergency supplement signed yesterday extends the timeline for eviction protections for residential tenants and commercial tenant 1s unable to pay rent due to financial impacts of COVID-19 to March 31, 2021, aligning with the extension of the moratorium on evictions of residential tenants for reasons other than nonpayment of rent adopted in the thirty-first supplement in December.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-extends-eviction-moratoriums-for-residential-and-commercial-tenants-and-emergency-orders-to-march-31/201234

City leaders are calling on the community to give their input about the possibility of adding a new “Right to Return” criteria to the city’s Below Market Housing program, which is a local initiative that provides Santa Monica residents and workers with apartments in the private sector at a rent that is lower than market rate.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/cities-considers-right-to-return-for-historically-displaced-residents/201204