ACTION Apartment Association

City Appoints Public Works Director Susan Cline as New Acting Assistant City Manager

01/12/2021 12:13 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Acting Assistant City Manager position is slated for a six-month term beginning January 18, 2021, the city said. Interim City Manager Lane Dilg leaves the City this Spring, reportedly because her husband is taking a position in the Biden administration. So presumably when Dilg leaves, Cline will move into the top position.

AND: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2021/01/12/susan-cline-appointed-as-acting-assistant-city-manager-for-santa-monica

Santa Monica Rents Continue Dropping, New Survey Finds

01/11/2021 8:38 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica rents continued declining last month, capping a 14.4 percent decrease since the coronavirus pandemic hit last March, according to the latest report by Apartment List.

This California city just ended chronic homelessness

01/11/2021 8:37 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In January, 2020, Bakersfield, California, had housed nearly everyone who had been homeless for more than a year. Then they sustained it during the pandemic.

City Council to redo vote for mayor

01/11/2021 8:22 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Councilmember Sue Himmelrich was selected by a 5 – 2 vote margin to serve as Mayor for two years during a Dec. 8 City Council meeting. But residents have since voiced concerns of potential Brown Act violations, so council will redo a vote on Tuesday, Jan. 12 after public comment.

Congress approves $25 billion in rental assistance

01/08/2021 9:21 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In the stimulus package signed into law last month, the national ban on evictions was extended through January and a $25 billion pot of money was established for renters struggling amid the health and economic crisis.

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.