ACTION Apartment Association

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."

New councilwoman to run unopposed in November

08/17/2020 8:03 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

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

Arguments in favor and against proposed ordinances released

08/17/2020 7:53 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

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.

SMa.r.t. Column: Where Oh Where Is Our City Council? – Part 2

08/17/2020 7:46 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

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.