The election for the partial 2-year seat will proceed as scheduled and McCowan’s name will appear on the ballot unopposed, according to the City Clerk. 

Read More on page 1, 4: https://s3.amazonaws.com/smdp_backissues/081720.pdf

Santa Monica voters will have the opportunity to decide the fate of a local ballot measures this coming November and arguments for the proposed luxury tax ordinance have been released online.

The measure asks if the City of Santa Monica shall increase the one-time real estate transfer tax paid on each property sale that’s worth $5 million or more by $3 for every $1,000 of the sales price. 

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/arguments-in-favor-and-against-proposed-ordinances-released/195508

In last week’s article we touched on the nine bills currently before our state legislature which assigns and orders, under economic penalty, that Santa Monica builds 8,874 units in the next 8 years. 1,100 units a year in a city that currently builds 200 a year. 

Where is our City Council??

While Sacramento is considering

• allowing heights for new construction based on buildings ½ a mile away!
• allowing 10 unit, four-story apartment buildings in single-family neighborhoods without parking
• silencing residents on the review of housing projects in their neighborhoods 
• and each bill ignoring water and other infrastructure demands

It is truly unbelievable that we have a City Council that is so dependent on developer money, that they will allow us to be led down a path of no return, lined with six and 8-story buildings instead of trees and sunlight.  

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2020/08/sma-r-t-column-where-oh-where-is-our-city-council-part-2/

Under a twenty-second supplement last month, Santa Monica’s eviction moratorium has been extended to September 30, 2020 for residential tenants in alignment with state law. The extension is to August 31, 2020 for commercial tenants.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2020/08/santa-monica-extends-eviction-moratorium/

See list at: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/August-2020/08_14_2020_Santa_Monica_Ballot_Order.html

If being at the top of the ballot gives local candidates an edge, as some studies indicate, then one City Council challenger and three incumbents in the three other Santa Monica races got a boost Thursday.

Council candidate Phil Brock, a member of the City's Arts Commission, will top the list of 21 candidates in the race for four open seats on November 3, according to the ballot order released by the City Clerk.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/August-2020/08_14_2020_Ballot_Order_Could_Be_Factor_in_Santa_Monica_Races.html

On June 9, The Lookout reported that the City will no longer produce or post free video-recorded candidate statements. They also will not hold Q&A sessions with candidates. 

The League of women voter's needs to prove they are serious about voter education by organizing and holding on-line or in person debates or candidate forums with City Council and Rent Control Board candidates.

Read More: http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/letters/Letters-2020/08_13_2020_LETTERS_If_The_League_Believes_in_Educating_Voters_It_Should_Hold_Candidate_Debates.html

A former Santa Monica Rent Control Board Commissioner will seek to make a comeback, while an incumbent's exit leaves a School Board seat wide open on the November ballot.

Former Rent Board Commissioner Robert Kronovet -- who qualified for the ballot on Tuesday -- will try to win a seat he lost on the Board eight years ago after pulling a major upset in 2012.

A property manager, Kronovet is the only candidate to win a seat on the Board without the backing of the powerful Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) political machine.

Read More: http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/August-2020/08_12_2020_One_Santa_Monica_Board_Race_Features_a_Comeback_Bid.html

Applications for the Los Angles County COVID-19 Rent Relief program open Monday, Aug. 17, and Santa Monica residents in need of assistance are encouraged to apply.

The rental relief initiative is set to open to all renters in Los Angeles County who meet the income requirements, and officials hope to assist more than 9,000 with the $100 million that have been set aside to assist eligible renters. 

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/rent-relief-applications-open-monday/195464

City of LA giveaway has ended, County is open to applicants until 8/31

The City of Los Angeles recently distributed $100 million in rent money through a lottery style program. Now the County of Los Angeles has announced a similar program.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2020/08/15/news/city-of-los-angeles-county-of-la-each-give-100-million-to-tenants-through-a-lottery/4846.html