Every 8 years, the state requires cities to update their planning code’s “housing element” to reflect the number of dwelling units that SCAG (Southern California Association of Governments) determines each city within their countywide jurisdiction is required to provide under threat of financial penalty.  Without explanation, this number increased from 1,600 units in the current cycle (2014 – 2021) to 8,900 in the next cycle (2022 – 2029), with 6,000 of these units to meet “affordable” standards.

Last week’s Part 1 article focused on what I’m calling a failed marriage between recent city councils and the development community in providing only 6 – 8% of “inclusionary housing” instead of a goal of 30% while managing to increase market rents on the remaining units including workforce housing and contributing to homelessness!

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/01/sma-r-t-column-saving-a-failed-marriage-part-2/

Despite deep cuts, Santa Monica's crippled economy has pushed the City's current budget into the red, and it's not expected to fully recover for at least another four years, City officials said.

After using $117 million in one-time funds to balance an already pared-down budget last June, the City will have to use $14.6 million of the $20 million it had squirreled away for a winter COVID-19 surge.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/January-2021/01_21_2021_City_to_Dip_Into_Emergency_Reserves.html

AND: https://www.smdp.com/city-projects-economic-woes-to-last-several-years/201160

Local residents will see their tax bills go down after Santa Monica College (SMC) refinanced a portion of its general obligation bonds last month, school officials said Thursday.

The new rates will save $26.8 million in interest costs that will be passed on to property owners in Santa Monica and Malibu through lower tax bills.

The City on Tuesday extended to March 31 its eviction moratorium for commercial tenants unable to pay rent due to the financial impacts of COVID-19.

The City had issued a similar order for residential tenants last month

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/January-2021/01_20_2021_City_Extends_Eviction_Moratorium_for_Commercial_Tenants.html

AND: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2021/01/20/santa-monica-extends-its-eviction-moratoriums-for-residential-and-commercial-tenants-and-emergency-orders-to-march-31-2021

Sacramento is a step closer to becoming one of the first cities in the country to eliminate traditional single-family zoning.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/briefs-29/164863

The organization tasked with analyzing the events that led up to and followed the civil unrest that occurred in Santa Monica on May 31, 2020, will host another listening session Tuesday, and residents who were affected by the events are invited to participate.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-residents-invited-to-speak-on-civil-unrest-and-more-with-oir-group/201024

See video at: https://smmirror.com/2021/01/city-council-has-appointed-an-11-member-civilian-police-oversight-commission-santa-monica-beat-january-17-2021/

The stimulus law passed by Congress in late December includes $25 billion in rental relief funds, with an estimated $2.6 billion coming to California. Here are some things you should know about that money.

Read More: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/federal-rent-relief-coming-heres-000532989.html

LA City Planning began community hearings last week for the Reese-Davidson Community, a proposed 140 unit building with 68 units for homeless individuals, 34 for low-income artists, and 34 for other low-income households.

The 2.8 acre project will cost an estimated $39,337,314 to develop on what is currently a City-owned beach parking lot on the Venice Canals. 

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/city-hearings-begin-for-controversial-community-housing-project-on-venice-canals/200975

With a massive spike in homelessness forecasted, LA lawmakers want to build 25,000 new housing units.

See Video: https://smmirror.com/2021/01/video-25k-new-housing-units-in-la/