ACTION Apartment Association

City Attorney's Position Invites Brown Act Violations

01/08/2021 9:20 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Dear Editor,

Two crucial questions are raised by Interim City Attorney George Cardona's position concerning Councilmember Kristin McCowan's Brown Act violation ("Council to Redo Vote for Top Posts," January 6, 2020).

Has there been a violation of the Brown Act due to Councilmember McCowan’s serial meetings? And has the violation been cured?

SMa.r.t. Column: School Board Dilemmas – Campus Construction Planning and New Member Appointment

01/08/2021 9:19 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

And our newly-elected City Councilmembers, Phil Brock, Christine Parra, and Oscar de la Torre, have full plates too, arriving in office aware that “change” is needed in Council’s approach to local governance. So they recently joined Mayor Sue Himmelrich to reject the “build, baby, build” Council m.o. of the past decade, ending negotiations with the proposed developer of the City’s land at 4th/5th & Arizona. In contrast, our SMMUSD School District leadership remained in place post-election, and Board Members appear still to be processing the message from voters that local over-development and over-building is less in favor.

A Distorted View of Property Rights

01/08/2021 9:15 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Dear Editor,

We find ourselves once again, as always, in a combative environment triggered by the supply and demand of the housing equation ("City Extends Eviction Moratorium, Allows Appointed Boards to Meet," December 22, 2020).

There is a complete misunderstanding in California of housing resources, and the evidence is clear.

Council to Redo Vote for Top Posts

01/07/2021 9:30 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council on Tuesday will redo its selection of a Mayor and Mayor pro tem after concerns were raised that the initial vote on December 8 may have violated the State's open meetings act.

Tuesday's vote, however, will not likely alter the outcome -- Sue Himmelrich was elected mayor and Kristin McCowan mayor pro tem -- since the City Attorney has advised that all seven Councilmembers can participate.

Renter protections strengthened and extended

01/06/2021 10:02 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In an effort to assist local families who find themselves unable to pay rent as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors extended the county’s eviction moratorium and strengthened other renter protections in a pair of motions passed Tuesday.

Bloom to run for County Supervisor

01/06/2021 9:55 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

State legislator Richard Bloom announced today he will run to succeed Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl who has decided she will not seek a third term. Bloom is a former Santa Monica Mayor and longtime resident of the Third Supervisorial District.

The Downsides of Upzoning

01/05/2021 9:10 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Letter to the Editor

Upzoning our R1/Single Family residential neighborhoods to include market-rate/multifamily development would maximize the number of residences per parcel. Supporters say it will help in our state’s “housing crisis,” diversify the City, and expand housing opportunities for minorities and low-income households.

Council to discuss forming Public Safety Reform

01/05/2021 9:08 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Four months after residents presented a number of reforms related to policing in Santa Monica, City Council is set to discuss the prospective formation of a Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission.

SMa.r.t. Column: Planning Is a Vital Need

01/05/2021 9:00 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

[We wrote this article 6.5 years ago. Today, the issues it raises continue to bedevil the city, and with more impact than ever. The results of the pandemic and the State-imposed requirement to provide building permits for nearly 9,000 apartments and dwellings within the next eight years call for swift and thorough action, by our city government and residents, to help solve the challenges outlined below. The article has been edited for length and added recent data.]

Now What? by Wes Wellman

01/04/2021 9:39 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The 2020 election represented a generational turn from the ideals of the Baby Boomers to those of the Millennials. A Reason-Rupe survey found that 53 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds view socialism favorably, compared to only a quarter of Americans over 55.