ACTION Apartment Association

SB50 Dead or Dormant?(SMa.r.t.)

05/24/2019 10:29 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Two weeks ago SMa.r.t. (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow) wrote about the dangers of SB50, a complicated State bill whose purpose was to create Wall Street profits for mega-developers but whose real consequence was to destroy local control of our City all sugar coated, of course, under the guise of creating more affordable housing.

Fortunately, the bill is now bottled up in committee, so for another year, unless there is a miraculous resurrection, the City is safe. Our State Senator, Ben Allen, seems thankfully against this bill but our Assemblyman’s position is unclear and our Chamber of Commerce is still misguidedly agitating to revive it.

Santa Monica Crime Continues Dropping

05/24/2019 10:27 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Serious crime in Santa Monica dropped by 3.2 percent during the first quarter of this year, and it has continued dropping in April and May, according to data provided by the Santa Monica Police Department.

The drop reflects an overall trend that saw crime in the neighboring City of Los Angeles drop by 8 percent during the first quarter of 2019, with eight of the ten Westside neighborhoods registering a decrease, according to an analysis of crime data by CrosstownLA..

Even if California spends millions more on homelessness, here’s why few will notice

05/24/2019 10:16 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In a few weeks, Los Angeles is expected to report an increase in homelessness — the latest in a string of similarly dire reports from cities and counties across California.

The pressure is on to find ways to get more people indoors quickly and to prevent others from becoming homeless in the first place. To that end, Gov. Gavin Newsom this week announced the leaders of a new statewide homelessness task force.

LA rent control increases will climb to 4 percent in 2019

05/23/2019 9:24 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Angelenos living in rent-controlled apartments may see monthly rent payments climb slightly higher than expected in the coming months.

In the city of Los Angeles, price hikes for most apartments built before 1978 are regulated by the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, and for the last decade have been capped at 3 percent annually. But in the 12-month period starting in July, landlords will be permitted to raise rents up to 4 percent.

Santa Monica Crime Continues Dropping

05/23/2019 8:54 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Serious crime in Santa Monica dropped by 3.2 percent during the first quarter of this year, and it has continued dropping in April and May, according to data provided by the Santa Monica Police Department.

The drop reflects an overall trend that saw crime in the neighboring City of Los Angeles drop by 8 percent during the first quarter of 2019, with eight of the ten Westside neighborhoods registering a decrease, according to an analysis of crime data by CrosstownLA..

Applications open for 31 Board/Commission seats

05/22/2019 8:09 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City of Santa Monica has 31 openings on one of 14 boards and Commissions.

According to City Hall, there are annual appointments available for the Airport Commission (2), Architectural Review Board (1), Arts Commission (3), Audit Subcommittee (1), Commission for the Senior Community (2), Commission on the Status of Women (2), Disabilities Commission (2), Housing Commission (2), Personnel Board (1), Planning Commission (3), Recreation and Parks Commission (1), Santa Monica Library Board (1), Social Services Commission (3) and the Urban Forest Task Force (7).

Southern California lacks 759,000 affordable homes, report says

05/21/2019 3:36 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The report shows a shortfall of nearly 759,000 units affordable to low-income renters in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties as of 2017, according to the California Housing Partnership, a state-created nonprofit dedicated to promoting affordable housing.

California Creates Homelessness Task Force

05/21/2019 3:35 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Gov. Gavin Newsom came to Oakland on Tuesday to announce the creation of a task force to help address California's homelessness crisis.

The Homeless and Supportive Housing Advisory Task Force, co-chaired by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, will meet at various locations around the state to learn best practices and get input from local governments and

community members.

Pico housing project receives $8M in City funding

05/21/2019 9:23 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City of Santa Monica has approved $8.3 million in funding for a new affordable housing development at 14th and Michigan by developer EAH Housing.

Total costs for the project are estimated at $29.5 million and the money recently approved by City Hall is for land acquisition, closing and predevelopment costs. An additional round of city funding is expected once permits for the project are in process with a total projected contribution of about $14.8 million.

Red More: https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-provides-gap-financing-through-the-housing-trust-fund/175660

Sycamore Tree Commandeers Council Meeting

05/21/2019 9:13 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Responding to the concerns of residents who worry that Santa Monica’s urban forest is declining, Council also passed a motion that directs City Staff to develop an ordinance that will protect trees on private property without having to assign them a landmark status.