A disabled 72-year-old tenant sued her Santa Monica landlord Monday for refusing to accept a housing voucher needed to pay the rent-controlled apartment she has occupied for 38 years.

Read More: http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/March-2020/03_03_2020_Disabled_Tenant_Sues_Santa_Monica_Landlord.html

The City of Santa Monica is working closely with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) to monitor the novel coronavirus. Novel coronavirus (2019 nCoV) is a new, viral disease that produces symptoms similar to the flu or pneumonia.  

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/coronavirus

The County of Los Angeles declared a public health emergency Wednesday morning, after the discovery of 6 coronavirus cases. All of the six new cases were linked to one known exposure, i.e. one man who travelled to China.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2020/03/05/news/la-county-public-health-dept-declares-a-local-emergency-after-six-coronavirus-cases-found/4473.html

As many of our readers know, our city is now under siege from the State of California which has arbitrarily decided that we need to build 8800 new housing units in the next 8 years (a 20% population increase). Furthermore, 2/3 of these mirage units need to be affordable units under pain of severe State funding withdrawal penalties if your city fails to make “good” progress toward this goal.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2020/02/death-by-9000-cuts/

The City Council on Tuesday voted to hike the cost of parking fines and consider new tax measures in an effort to close a $2 million budget shortfall that is expected to grow.

The shortfall is largely due to a projected $5.4 million decrease in hotel bed taxes, which could be further impacted by "recent travel restrictions due to the novel coronavirus epidemic," according to staff.

Read More: http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/February-2020/02_27_2020_City_Council_Hikes_Parking_Fines_Contemplates_Tax_Measures.html

Housing remains one of lawmakers’ top priorities for a fourth straight year.

At least 200 bills touching on housing and homelessness already have been introduced this year, according to Housing California, an affordable housing advocacy group. More are expected before the March 18 deadline to amend existing placeholder legislation.

Read More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/new-legislation-would-slash-impact-fees-for-some-california-housing/ar-BB10ummV?ocid=hplocalnews

The city of Santa Monica is facing a $2 million budget shortfall this fiscal year as tax revenue from tourism, brick-and-mortar retail and parking erodes more quickly than projected.

Officials said at Tuesday’s City Council meeting that the city needs to diversify its revenue sources to account for a forthcoming recession, ongoing shifts in how people shop and travel and ballooning pension costs.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/city-council-discusses-putting-new-taxes-on-november-ballot/186805

AND: http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/February-2020/02_27_2020_City_Council_Hikes_Parking_Fines_Contemplates_Tax_Measures.html

At last night’s meeting, the Santa Monica City Council reviewed and approved adjustments to the midyear budget . The budget responds to softening revenues that are impacting the City sooner than originally projected. A $2 million shortfall is expected this budget period predominantly due to a reduction in Transient Occupancy Tax from hotel guests.   

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2020/02/26/city-council-approves-midyear-budget-and-continues-budget-restructuring

Beginning March 12, 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau will begin mailing correspondence to all households to direct individuals to respond to the 2020 Census.

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2020/02/26/santa-monica-gears-up-for-2020-census-to-ensure-a-complete-count

The City Council on Tuesday voted to halt negotiations on the proposed "The Plaza at Santa Monica" project over concerns it may not meet the requirements of California's recently expanded Surplus Land Act.

The closed-session vote came after City Attorney Lane Dilg expressed concerns the proposed 99-year ground lease for the City owned property at Fourth Street and Arizona Avenue could trigger the amended law.

The revised law -- which went into effect on January 1 -- "incentivizes the use of public property for affordable housing and other purposes," Dilg said.

Read More: http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/February-2020/02_26_2020_City_Halts_Negotiations_on_The_Plaza_Project.html

AND: https://www.smdp.com/city-suspends-negotiations-over-plaza-project/186794