ACTION Apartment Association

State Housing Officials Find "Plaza" Project Exempt from Surplus Land Act

03/25/2020 9:20 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

California housing officials on Tuesday paved the way for the City to resume negotiations with developers of the proposed "The Plaza at Santa Monica" project, saying it is exempt from the State's recently expanded Surplus Land Act.

The City qualifies for an exemption because it orally entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) with the developer before September 30, 2019, the cut-off date set by the amended law, according to Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).

Helping tenants the wrong way could push landlords over the brink — and harm everyone

03/24/2020 8:38 PM | Angelica Jue (Administrator)

Tenants and landlords alike are facing a true emergency, and we need our state and local leaders to act like leaders — instead of politicizing the situation or caricaturing one camp, landlords, as evildoers.

April 1 is fast approaching, and with it a potential disaster. Many of New York City’s commercial and residential renters won’t be able to pay their rent — understandable, owing to circumstances that were far beyond their control. And while these tenants won’t be evicted, their non-payment of rent could set off a calamitous cascade that could collapse an industry relied upon by millions of people.

City to Fine Those Who Violate Emergency Coronavirus Orders

03/24/2020 10:07 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Those who violate orders to stay at home, shut down non-essential businesses, halt tenant evictions or keep away from the Santa Monica Pier during the coronavirus emergency face fines of as much as $1,000 per citation.

AND: https://smmirror.com/2020/03/santa-monica-announces-fines-for-violating-stay-at-home-orders/

Community comes together to help seniors combat COVID-19

03/23/2020 8:04 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

“So that led me to start an organization called Santa Monica Community Helpers (https://www. santamonicahelpers.org). And I want to say that I think that word ‘community’ is super important because that is a core idea to the mission statement, which is to bring a group of people around Santa Monica together to make a difference,” Camarena said. “I think we’re so much more powerful together and that’s really the basis of this organization.”

The goal of the helpers, according to Camarena, is to assemble a task force of volunteers across Santa Monica who will deliver groceries, medication, toiletries, and anything else that locals who are seniors or ill may need.

Read more on page 1 and 11: https://s3.amazonaws.com/smdp_backissues/032320.pdf

Property manager threatens tenants with eviction

03/21/2020 2:39 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica put a temporary moratorium on evictions Saturday to prevent people financially impacted by coronavirus from losing their homes during the worst public health crisis in 100 years.

One property manager didn’t get the message.

What to do if you get an eviction notice during the coronavirus outbreak

03/21/2020 2:13 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

More businesses are closing due to the novel coronavirus at the same time that rent is coming due—and renters across Los Angeles are trying to figure out how to move forward.

What type of evictions are not covered under the moratorium?

The COVID-19-related protections only cover a very specific kind of eviction—for non-payment of rent stemming from a host of reasons related to the virus—but there are other types of evictions that aren’t covered.

Ellis Act evictions, for instance, which allow for landlords to clear out units or buildings to remove them from the rental market, are still allowed. At fault evictions are too. Some cities, including Santa Monica, have temporarily banned at-fault evictions. But the city of Los Angeles has not. Advocates including those at SAJE are pushing for expanded protections that include temporarily halting at-fault evictions.

Santa Monica Residents Ordered to Stay at Home

03/20/2020 10:08 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered 40 million residents to stay in their homes as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to increase in Los Angeles.

On Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a stay at home emergency order — ordering 40 million residents to stay inside their residences, and immediately limit all movement outside of their homes beyond what is absolutely necessary to take care of essential needs.

Small Apartment Owners Ask City to 'Share Financial Burden' When Tenants Don't Pay

03/20/2020 10:03 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica'a small landlords are asking the City to "share the financial burden" after the City manager issued an emergency order barring evictions for non-payment of rent during the coronavirus emergency.

The emergency order -- decreed Saturday by City Manager Rick Cole and amended Wednesday -- prohibits the eviction of residential or commercial tenants for nonpayment of rent if they can show they are unable to pay "due to financial impacts related to COVID-19."

Are We “Shovel Ready”? SMa.r.t.

03/20/2020 10:00 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

SCAG is the county housing authority who, in sharp contrast to other cities, points to Santa Monica as being “shovel ready” to add 8,800 housing units – 20% to its population over the next 8 years. And in quick response, our “progressive” city council obediently jumps to the task – increasing height limits 2 stories, expediting project approvals by eliminating public and planning commission oversight, and ignores resident’s pleas to join adjacent cities in contesting this absurd dictum. Although there is no cost to appeal, the City Council has decided we are indeed “shovel ready,” a decision which will bury the city– our beachfront environment gone forever. Talk about runaway development – we’re opening the flood gates!

Property taxes still due on April 10

03/20/2020 9:43 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Tax collectors in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties all have issued notices saying they don’t have the power to waive the property tax deadline — even though tax offices are being closed to the public.

But local officials will consider waiving late fees on a case-by-case basis for those unable to pay on time because they are ill or out of work because of the coronavirus outbreak.