Landlords can’t evict tenants impacted by coronavirus, LA mayor says

03/16/2020 8:35 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Mayor Eric Garcetti announced this evening that he has signed an order halting residential evictions in the city of Los Angeles.

The eviction moratorium will apply to tenants who are able to show “an inability to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

It’s part of a long list of new guidelines and efforts that Garcetti laid out in a public address to stem the spread of virus—and curb the economic impacts already being felt by many workers.

Santa Monica puts temporary moratorium on evictions

03/14/2020 6:45 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica puts temporary moratorium on evictions, utilities shutoffs, parking tickets as coronavirus impacts workers

Santa Monica issued a moratorium on evictions Saturday as the effects of coronaviruses rippled across businesses in the area.

Under the order signed by City Manager Rick Cole, a landlord cannot evict a tenant for nonpayment of rent if the tenant is unable to pay rent due to financial impacts related to COVID-19, including being unable to work, loss of income, caring for a household or family member with the virus, taking care of a child attending a school that has closed or extraordinary medical expenses. Additionally, the moratorium would take effect if state or local governments order residents to self-quarantine.

The order also enacts a moratorium on utilities shutoffs and includes a 60-day suspension of parking tickets.

AND: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2020/03/14/city-of-santa-monica-issues-temporary-moratorium-on-evictions-for-non-payment-of-rent-by-residential-tenants-impacted-by-the-novel-coronavirus-covid-19

To protect renters from coronavirus fallout, L.A. and S.F. are pressing for eviction bans

03/13/2020 10:04 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

With cases of the novel coronavirus multiplying rapidly and the financial implications of the outbreak becoming increasingly clear for low-income workers, the city of Los Angeles will consider a temporary ban on evictions next week amid calls for a similar moratorium that would apply across California.

Santa Monica cancels all events, schools close to contain coronavirus

03/13/2020 9:25 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica canceled all events and local schools announced plans to close Thursday as the number of coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County reached 32 and the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic.

Local officials announced Thursday afternoon that all events, programs and activities hosted by the city of Santa Monica and other groups will be canceled in alignment with guidances issued by state and county public health officials. Santa Monica schools closed, moved to remote instruction or canceled all non-essential events, although they confirmed that no students or staff had tested positive for COVID-19.

Renters need to earn $95,000 to afford rent-controlled studio

03/13/2020 9:15 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A household earning the Los Angeles area’s median income cannot afford a rent-controlled studio in Santa Monica, according to a new report from the city’s Rent Control Board.

By U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development affordability standards, a family would need an income of at least $95,429 to afford a studio, which is about 31% higher than the median household income of the Los Angeles area and 1.7% higher than the median household income of Santa Monica. A family would need a six-figure income to afford any unit larger than a studio.

City Council Begins Clearing Path for Nearly 9,000 New Housing Units

03/12/2020 5:55 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In what one Council member characterized as "taking baby steps," the City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to allow most large housing projects to be approved by planning staff effective immediately.

The emergency interim ordinance and related zoning amendments comprise the first step in an effort to meet the State-mandated goal of building 8,874 new housing units, two-thirds of them affordable, over the next eight years.

AND: https://s3.amazonaws.com/smdp_backissues/031320.pdf

Lawsuit seeks to require LA to provide beds for homeless

03/12/2020 10:41 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday seeks to force Los Angeles officials to provide thousands of shelter beds in an effort to stem what it described as the unfolding “human tragedy” of people living in squalor on the streets.

While once largely confined to the notorious Skid Row neighborhood, encampments have spread countywide. Freeway overpasses are lined with tents, and it’s a common sight to see someone pushing a shopping cart filled with belongings through downtown and even suburban neighborhoods.

MAJOR VICTORY FOR TAXPAYERS

03/12/2020 10:36 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

“Prop. 13” $15 billion bond DEFEATED!

Last night, the Associated Press declared that the $15 billion bond measure called Proposition 13 on the March 3 ballot has been defeated!

The AP wrote, "The opposition was led by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which took particular issue with a provision that would have increased the limit on what a local school district could borrow, from 1.25% to 2% of assessed property value. The group feared that could have led to future tax increases to pay back the debt. The state should fund school facilities itself rather than adding to school districts' debt, the group said."

As of March 11, Proposition 13 had the support of only 46% of California voters, falling more than 600,000 votes short of reaching the majority vote it needed to pass. Although counties continue to process and tally late-arriving absentee and provisional ballots, there are not enough outstanding ballots to change the outcome.

This tremendous victory for taxpayers would not have been possible without your help. Thank you for telling your friends and neighbors to vote no on this Prop. 13. And most of all, thank you for your support of HJTA. We rely entirely on the support of our members and we are so grateful that the future of California will be brighter because of you.

There will be new challenges ahead in November, and we’ll keep you informed. Please invite your friends and neighbors to sign up for email updates at www.hjta.org. If you tell ten people, and they tell ten people, we will rapidly strengthen the voice of taxpayers for the next big fight. And we will Protect Proposition 13.

Thank you!

Appreciatively,

Jon Coupal
President, HJTA

Santa Monica allows housing projects to bypass lengthy approval process

03/11/2020 3:17 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to allow all affordable housing projects and many market-rate projects to go through a rapid approval process as the city prepares to meet a state requirement to zone for 8,800 units of housing over the next decade, drawing ire from community groups who say the city should be fighting the mandate.

Emergency Interim Zoning Ordinance to Streamline Housing Production in Santa Monica

03/11/2020 3:16 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At its meeting on Tuesday, March 10, the Santa Monica City Council approved an emergency interim ordinance to amend the City’s Zoning Ordinance regarding procedures for review of 100% affordable housing projects and housing projects that comply with the Zoning Ordinance. The ordinance is immediately effective following Council adoption and will apply to housing applications filed after March 10, 2020.