ACTION Apartment Association

State Legislator Seeks to Cut Rents by 25%

04/16/2020 10:17 AM | Angelica Jue (Administrator)

Tell the State Legislature to Oppose AB 828: the Unlawful, Unfair Attempt to Punish Housing Providers

A new legislative proposal in response to COVID-19 would force every rental property owner in California to reduce rents by 25% and subsidize the rents of their tenants.

AB 828 by Assemblyman Phil Ting ignores the robust rent and eviction controls already in place across California. It provides no assurances that landlords can collect rent, remove problem tenants, or get a fair hearing in the court system. Read CAA's letter opposing AB 828 here.

We need your help to defeat this bill. Visit our Action Center to send a letter to your legislator urging them oppose AB 828.

This bill denies equal justice to housing providers by:

Forcing landlords to reduce rents by 25% even if a tenant cannot demonstrate a hardship or need.
Allowing judges and the court system to set rents and change the rental agreements already in place.
Assuming every tenant is facing a hardship related to COVID-19 and must be compensated for this hardship.
Protecting nuisance tenants as it does not require tenants to answer an unlawful detainer complaint.
Mandating that rental property owners demonstrate an economic hardship to collect the contracted rent.

AB 828 is an unfair attempt to allow the government and the courts to give reduced rent and extended tenancies to all renters even if they do not face economic hardships, and it provides no safeguards or protections for landlords.

Click here to contact your state legislator and ask him or her to VOTE NO on AB 828 - Legislation that Cuts Rents 25%.

Urge a no vote

Santa Monica Extends Local Emergency through May 15

04/16/2020 10:15 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica City Council adopted a resolution to extend its local emergency through May 15, 2020, including its eleven emergency supplements and public space and facility closures. This  extension aligns with Los Angeles County and the State of California and their public health authorities to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

All Power is in the Voting Booth, Not a Petition

04/16/2020 9:37 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Robert Kronovet

Dear Editor,

It is pure nonsense to blame the City Manager for any issues the seven members of the SMRR city council have created over the last 40 years ("Petition Calls for Santa Monica City Manager's Firing," April 15, 2020).

All power is in the voting booth come November, not on a petition.

New LARGER HUD Fair Housing Sign is NOW REQUIRED

04/15/2020 5:53 PM | Angelica Jue (Administrator)

Old 8.5 by 11 Inch HUD Fair Housing Sign Is NOT Compliant

New LARGER HUD Fair Housing Sign is NOW REQUIRED

Owners are now required to have a HUD Fair Housing sign posted at each building.

It must be 11 by 14 inches and the free one we passed out at our February ACTION meeting was too small....

so you need to BUY a new sign to put up!

Below is a link for the least expensive sign available with the lowest shipping fee we could find.

Open the LINK below to order

Product Code # is 74303

https://complianceposter.com/product/fair-housing-opportunity-hud-poster/

You May Also Place an Order by Phone

(888) 629-0741

LA County to Create Emergency Rent Assistance Program Amid COVID-19 Crisis

04/15/2020 8:13 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a proposal by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis to create an Emergency Rent Assistance Program during the COVID-19 crisis. When it is created, the program could provide up to $1000 per month for three months to renters who have lost income due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Free Foreclosure Prevention Services Available for Property Owners Facing Financial Hardships Due to COVID-19

04/15/2020 8:10 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

With the support of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) has announced the launch of enhanced foreclosure prevention services for property owners and landlords with 15 or fewer units in Los Angeles County as part of the Los Angeles County Disaster Help Center. Free one-on-one counseling and support is available for property owners who have been adversely affected by the ongoing Coronavirus/COVID-19 emergency.

Approval of Voluntary Employee Early Separation Incentive Program

04/15/2020 7:58 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

[Santa Monica] Approval of Voluntary Employee Early Separation Incentive Program and Direction to Develop a Plan for Restructuring Operations and Balancing the Budget as a result of the COVID-19 Health Emergency

Staff recommends that Council:

(1) authorize the City Manager to implement a Voluntary Early Separation Incentive Program (VESIP) for eligible employees and

(2) direct staff to report back no later than the April 28, 2020 Council meeting with a proposed plan for restructuring City operations and balancing the City budget to address impacts from the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) public health emergency.

Little coronavirus relief for property owners

04/14/2020 6:09 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

he second installment of the 2019-2020 property tax bill was due on Friday and we hope the majority of California’s property owners were able to pay it without economic hardship. Unfortunately, for many homeowners and small businesses, it was more than just a hardship. They simply didn’t have the cash, and now they’re considered delinquent.

For this regrettable state of affairs we can thank both state and local officials. Gov. Gavin Newsom had the authority to issue an executive order to delay the deadline or direct counties to waive penalties and interest but, after pressure from local government associations, he declined to do so.

The California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors admits that its members have the discretion to waive penalties and interest for late payment of property taxes. But whether they will do so will be determined only on a “case-by-case” basis.

Source Says 1/4 of Santa Monica City Employees May Lose Jobs

04/14/2020 6:05 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Facing a major budget deficit the City of Santa Monica may discuss cutting services and offering buyouts to hundreds of employees during tonight’s City Council meeting. A source has told the Santa Monica Mirror, however, that additional cuts are looming that may lead to one-quarter of employees seeing their positions terminated and the elimination of programs such as the Santa Monica Swim Center.

On Tuesday night, Santa Monica City Council will debate offering a Voluntary Early Separation Incentive Program (VESIP) to eligible staff. According to a staff report, these buyouts are for permanent employees with a minimum of five years of service and employed in a job classification that is not deemed by the City Manager to be essential.

City Council debates losing employees to meet budget crunch

04/14/2020 9:10 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The city of Santa Monica is asking staff to voluntarily leave their jobs as the city faces a looming budget crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic.

City Council will hear a proposal at its April 14 meeting to incentivize departures of current employees. The “voluntary employee early separation program” will include compensation and benefit guarantees for workers who choose to leave their municipal jobs. The agenda item also calls for staff to return to City Council on April 28 with a broader plan for restructuring operations and balancing the budget to address impacts of coronavirus.