ACTION Apartment Association

City Hires Firm to Probe Police Response to Riots

10/10/2020 7:29 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City announced Friday that it has hired a consulting firm specializing in law enforcement oversight to investigate the Police Department's response to the May 31 riots.

Under the contract, OIR Group will be paid no more than $75,000 to complete the independent after-action report and evaluation of SMPD's response within six months, City officials said.

AND: https://www.smdp.com/oir-group-selected-to-lead-may-31-after-action-report/197356

Where Is The Money to Tackle the Root Causes of Homelessness?

10/10/2020 7:27 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Letter to the editor

As a real estate investor aware of building costs I am absolutely appalled at the fact that the city is spending $590,383 per unit for studio apartments! ("Santa Monica Approves Loan to Build Homeless Housing," October 8, 2020).

This is $1,180 per square foot. In the free market, these units would cost well less than half of what the city is paying.

Your Column Here – Rental problems

10/09/2020 7:55 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

If the SM City Council wants to address a housing issue in Santa Monica, then the City of Santa Monica should fund the remedies City Council comes up with. It is unfair for the Council to put the remedy and the cost of the remedy on property owners. I think this ordinance is unenforceable. I am told one property owner is going to file a lawsuit challenging the ordinance. The city is wading into turbulent waters with this ordinance. When the city starts interfering with a person’s property and livelihood, people get litigious.

Council to discuss leasing revisions and more Tuesday

10/09/2020 7:49 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica homeowners and renters can now view the proposed revisions to the city’s medium-term leasing ordinance, which is expected to be amended when City Councilmembers meet Tuesday.

Transparency Project – Following the Money

10/09/2020 7:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

As our mailboxes fill with election mailers, it is important to understand who is supporting the candidates for City Council. Santa Monica limits candidate contributions to $340 from an individual, business or PAC. However, since the Citizen’s United decision by the Supreme Count 10 years ago, Political Action Committees (PACs) can collect and spend unlimited money.

Santa Monica Approves Loan to Build Homeless Housing

10/09/2020 7:39 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The site of an old Japanese community center in the Pico Neighborhood is on its way to becoming a 58-unit affordable housing development for the homeless that will cost some $34.2 million.

"Liberal" City of Santa Monica Disenfranchises Section 8 Tenants

10/08/2020 9:53 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

City and its Housing Authority have been depriving subsidized housing tenants of federally mandated representation on Resident Advisory Board and Housing Authority Board

Over 40 Percent of Santa Monicans Give City Council Failing Grade on Homelessness

10/08/2020 9:50 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

When asked if they believed homelessness had gotten better or worse in Santa Monica in recent years, 26 percent of respondents said “worse.” In fact, over 35 percent said homelessness was more of a problem in Santa Monica than it is in surrounding beach cities. When asked if they felt more or less safe in the city now when compared to two years ago, almost half (49 percent) said “less safe.”

Council Poised to Amend New Rental Housing Law

10/08/2020 9:34 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council on Tuesday is expected to amend a new rental law that requires residential leases to be at least a year and that the units be unfurnished.

The proposed changes come after Santa Monica residents objected that the law approved on August 25 fails to take into account numerous scenarios, according to staff.

How to Vote on the Propositions if You Don't Want a Toilet State

10/07/2020 11:34 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

There are many alarmingly radical propositions on the ballot this election. Please go through the many measures, educate yourself, and vote.