ACTION Apartment Association

A Leader in Waste Industry Price-fixing, Pollution and Union Busting

08/21/2020 10:09 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

For decades, Arakelian Enterprises (also doing business as Athens Services) has been found guilty in an ongoing string of high-profile controversies, including civil and criminal lawsuits and prosecutions, employment law violations, and environmental violations. The central figures in all of these controversies retain ownership of Arakelian Enterprises, which is variously known as Athens Services, Athens Waste Services, Athens Disposal and West Covina Disposal.

The tough questions pushing California to an eviction cliff

08/21/2020 9:00 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Seemingly all of the important actors trying to find a solution to the so-called “eviction wave” looming over California have a strong incentive to strike a deal. As the novel coronavirus pandemic has shuttered wide swaths of the economy and key federal unemployment boosts expired last month, housing experts warn that millions of California renters have already missed or are about to miss rent payments. Landlords fear those lost rent checks will precipitate their own wave of missed mortgage payments and foreclosure.

Santa Monica at Risk for Power Blackouts

08/21/2020 8:49 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

First rolling blackouts in California in 28 years took some residents by surprise this August. It's all about Cal ISO.

Changes in SMPD Contracts to Save Nearly $3 Million

08/21/2020 8:46 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council on Tuesday is expected to approve contracts covering Police Department employees that will save nearly $3 million over the next two fiscal years "while the world waits for an effective vaccine to COVID-19," according to City staff.

A total of $2,923,000 will be saved by reducing salaries and suspending the Sick Leave Buy Back Program for Police Department employees, according to the tentative agreements with Administrative Team Associates (ATA) and the Santa Monica Police Officers Association (POA).

Plaintiffs in Voting Rights Suit Request Supreme Court Hearing

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

The Latino plaintiffs in the voting rights lawsuit against Santa Monica asked the California Supreme Court on Tuesday to review an Appeals Court decision last month in favor of the City.

The request comes after the 2nd District Court of Appeal on July 9 overturned a trial court decision that found Santa Monica's at-large election system violates the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) by discriminating against Latino voters and ordered the City to hold district elections.

AND: https://www.smdp.com/cvra-plaintiffs-ask-for-california-supreme-court-review/195653

Local League to Host Candidate Forums

08/20/2020 10:01 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At the Candidates Online Workshop held on July 13, Santa Monica City Clerk Denise Anderson specifically informed potential candidates that the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica Education Fund would be providing candidate forums and other election-related services.

We are in the process of planning these forums and will be reaching out to all qualified candidates to invite them to each elected bodies’ respective forum.

City Replaces Ballot Argument Opposing Luxury Tax Measure

08/19/2020 8:08 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In a highly unusual move, the City on Tuesday replaced the argument opposing a tax measure that will appear on the November ballot.

The arguments were switched after two separate filers attempted to submit arguments opposing Measure SM, which would boost the City's luxury real estate tax to help pay for essential services, City officials said.

"One opponent filed a complaint claiming that the other opponent’s filing was administratively incorrect," said City spokesperson Constance Farrell.

How To Apply For The LA County Rent-Relief Program

08/18/2020 9:50 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

As with the City of LA program, the County Program will distribute $100 million in Covid-19 relief, to tenants who complete an online application. The deadline is Monday August 31. Tenants may also call 211 and complete an application by phone.

Slate Formed to Challenge Council Incumbents

08/17/2020 5:22 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Four slow-growth candidates have formed a slate to take on the incumbents in the November race for four seats on the Santa Monica City Council, slate members announced Monday.

Santa Monica Residents United for Change is composed of School Board member Oscar de la Torre, Arts Commissioner Phil Brock, Planning Commissioner Mario Fonda-Bonardi and Pico Neighborhood resident Christine Parra.

The slate is expected to receive the backing of the Santa Monica's seven neighborhood groups, said Tricia Crane, a slow-growth activist who is chair of Northeast Neighbors.

Charter Changes Promote Diversity or Lead to Nepotism

08/17/2020 5:21 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A Santa Monica ballot measure that would eliminate rules to fill open positions will either help diversity the City's workforce or lead to "nepotism and cronyism," according to ballot arguments submitted to the City Clerk last week.

The ballot measure would remove two provisions from the City charter that require "vacant positions to be filled using a closed internal promotional recruitment" and "selecting from only the top three highest ranked internal candidates."