The city of Santa Monica will open its waitlists for affordable housing and rental subsidies Friday, May 1 as an increasing number of people lose work amid the coronavirus shutdown.

Both the affordable housing and Section 8 programs are typically available to low- and moderate-income households who either live in Santa Monica, work in the city at least 25 hours per week, participate in a local job training program or were employed in Santa Monica recently and now receive benefits from the city.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/affordable-housing-list-opens/130067

I urge you all to please call, text & email City Council today, and make very clear all the City services and programs you want The City of Santa Monica to keep. You very likely will lose these places and services if you do not make your voices heard. This includes services for you and your children and senior citizens.

City Council has already met twice last week (Saturday to announce the replacement of Rick Cole as City Manager, and earlier in the week, Tuesday, to push through draconian cuts to City employees, programs and services).

City Council is conducting closed door meetings...

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/call-the-council/189862

As greater numbers of individuals and families struggle with unemployment and the economic impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the City of Santa Monica will open online applications for its Section 8 and Below Market Housing (BMH) programs beginning Friday, May 1, at 8 a.m.

This is an opportunity for Santa Monica residents and workers at varying income levels – from extremely low income to incomes as high as $94,700 for single households and higher for bigger families. You do not have to be experiencing a financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 to apply, but the City’s Housing Division recognizes that this comes at a particularly important moment as more and more people are vulnerable to economic hardship.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/new-housing-opportunities-open-may-1-for-santa-monica-residents-and-workers/189801

by Kip Dellinger

What is necessary to start the process rolling is the appointment of an Emergency Director from outside the current City staff who will began to address a meaningful return to normal within the federal recommendations and forthcoming State guidance -- not to impose additional rules and requirements on City residents and businesses.

This will entail recommending difficult decisions and perhaps "bucking" some or all council members when doing so. It will certainly require the skills of someone capable of crisis management in the fiscal arena.

Read More: http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/letters/Letters-2020/04_20_2020_LETTERS_Addressing_Santa_Monicas_Impending_Financial_Crisis.html

The City Council on Saturday tapped City Attorney Lane Dilg to steer Santa Monica through the biggest crisis in its 145-year history after a coronavirus shutdown paralyzed its economic and social life.

Dilg -- who will replace Rick Cole as City Manager on an interim basis after his abrupt resignation Friday -- has had a varied career, but has no experience running a City government.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/April-2020/04_18_2020_City_Attorney_Tapped_to_Run_Santa_Monica.html

AND: https://smmirror.com/2020/04/city-selects-interim-city-manager/

City Manager Rick Cole announced his resignation Friday in a post on the city of Santa Monica’s blog.

Cole, who was appointed city manager in 2015, resigned ahead of a May 5 vote on budget cuts needed to address the city’s projected $226 million budget gap as the economic impacts of coronavirus slash city revenues from sales, hotel and parking taxes.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/city-manager-rick-cole-resigns-as-budget-cuts-loom/189648

AND: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/April-2020/04_17_2020_Cole_Resigns_as_Santa_Monica_City_Manager.html

Hoping to avert massive layoffs due to the coronavirus shutdown, the City Council on Tuesday voted to offer lump sum payments to full-time municipal workers who voluntarily leave their jobs.

The Voluntary Early Separation Incentive Program (VESIP) unanimously approved by the Council offers $5,000 to full-time workers with at least five years of service and $15,000 for those with at least ten, plus 18 months of basic medical benefits.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/April-2020/04_16_2020_Council_Approves_Voluntary_Separation_Program.html

Tell the State Legislature to Oppose AB 828: the Unlawful, Unfair Attempt to Punish Housing Providers

A new legislative proposal in response to COVID-19 would force every rental property owner in California to reduce rents by 25% and subsidize the rents of their tenants.

AB 828 by Assemblyman Phil Ting ignores the robust rent and eviction controls already in place across California. It provides no assurances that landlords can collect rent, remove problem tenants, or get a fair hearing in the court system. Read CAA's letter opposing AB 828 here. 

We need your help to defeat this bill.  Visit our Action Center to send a letter to your legislator urging them oppose AB 828.

This bill denies equal justice to housing providers by:

• Forcing landlords to reduce rents by 25% even if a tenant cannot demonstrate a hardship or need.
• Allowing judges and the court system to set rents and change the rental agreements already in place.
• Assuming every tenant is facing a hardship related to COVID-19 and must be compensated for this hardship.
• Protecting nuisance tenants as it does not require tenants to answer an unlawful detainer complaint.
• Mandating that rental property owners demonstrate an economic hardship to collect the contracted rent.

AB 828 is an unfair attempt to allow the government and the courts to give reduced rent and extended tenancies to all renters even if they do not face economic hardships, and it provides no safeguards or protections for landlords.

Click here to contact your state legislator and ask him or her to VOTE NO on AB 828 - Legislation that Cuts Rents 25%.

Urge a no vote

Santa Monica City Council adopted a resolution to extend its local emergency through May 15, 2020, including its eleven emergency supplements and public space and facility closures. This  extension aligns with Los Angeles County and the State of California and their public health authorities to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).   

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2020/04/15/santa-monica-extends-local-emergency-and-associated-orders-through-may-15

Robert Kronovet

Dear Editor,

It is pure nonsense to blame the City Manager for any issues the seven members of the SMRR city council have created over the last 40 years ("Petition Calls for Santa Monica City Manager's Firing," April 15, 2020).

All power is in the voting booth come November, not on a petition.

Read More: http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/letters/Letters-2020/04_15_2020_LETTERS_All_Power_Is_in_the_Voting_Booth.html