ACTION Apartment Association

California rent control ballot measure prompts fierce fight

10/09/2018 11:06 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Californians who rent apartments built after 1995, single-family homes or condominiums have limited protections from rising prices under a state law passed that year that significantly restricts rent control.

That could change if voters pass Proposition 10 in November.

The ballot measure would let cities and counties across California expand or enact rent control by overturning the 1995 law, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act.

Decreasing regulations on construction and providing more money for affordable housing are better steps the state could take to alleviate the housing crisis, opponents argue.

From Daylight Saving Time to Kidney Dialysis & Rent Control, Initiative Recommendations

10/09/2018 10:47 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At the request of many readers, here are my personal recommendations on the Nov. 6 ballot measures. Susan Shelley is an editorial writer and columnist for the Southern California News Group.

Read her recommendations at: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2018/10/07/news/from-daylight-saving-time-to-kidney-dialysis-and-rent-control-initiative-recommendations/3676.html

Gas tax, housing among propositions on California ballot

10/08/2018 7:52 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

California voters will decide on 11 propositions when they go to the polls Nov. 6. Here’s a look at the issues on the ballot.

In a rarity, Los Angeles strips building from rent control [Tarzana]

10/08/2018 7:42 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The rare stripping of rent protections stems from a dispute between the city of Los Angeles and owner JKP Apartments over whether the Tarzana property was built two weeks after the 1978 cut-off date for rent control.

The case highlights an issue before voters in November — unmovable cut-off dates for rent control.

Will Prop. 10 help or hurt state’s tenants?

10/08/2018 7:39 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

‘The common wisdom is that rent control reduces the quantity and quality of available housing.’ — Christopher Palmer, MIT economist

Temporary Homeless Shelter at VA Approved by L.A. City Council

10/08/2018 7:27 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A proposal to fund the city’s portion of a temporary homeless shelter to be located on the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration campus was approved by the Los Angeles City Council Friday.

Under a partnership, the city and county of Los Angeles will split the cost of the construction of the $5 million facility, and the Department of Veterans Affairs will provide on-site services.

Why Won't Any of the Incumbents Talk About Crime? It's All Residents Talk About

10/05/2018 8:54 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Armen Melkonians is a local rabble rouser (my term), founder of Residocracy on Facebook, “which has grown quite a bit, we’re getting more readership and it continues to grow. And it goes to show you that people are very concerned about crime, because most of the posts are about crime.”

“I’m finding crime is number one election issue. Amazingly, among candidates, no one is discussing it.

Santa Monica School Bond Measure Largely Bankrolled by Outside Firms

10/05/2018 8:46 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

About 80 percent of the money raised to support a record $485 million facilities bond for Santa Monica public schools has come from companies outside the City, according to the latest campaign finance disclosure statements.

As of October 1, outside firms had donated $81,000 of the $99,782 raised by The Committee for Safe & Modern Santa Monica Schools - Yes on SMS, according to the statements filed with the City Clerk.

Of the 29 contributors, 20 were companies from outside Santa Monica that provide consulting, design, engineering and construction services, in most cases to school districts.

The two largest contributors -- DLR Group, which contributed $7,500, and Massetti Consulting, LLC, which contributed $7,000 -- have received contracts from the School District.

NOMA Neighborhood election meeting - Thursday, Oct. 4

10/04/2018 9:20 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Focusing on upcoming Election Day, the North of Montana Neighborhood Association (NOMA) will be featuring candidates for Council and Local Ballot Measures at its meeting Thursday night, October 4, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Montana Avenue Library. The public is invited. Next NOMA meeting, November 1, will feature presentations from Candidates for the School Board, the College Board and the Rent Control Board.

It's expensive to be a tenant in California. Will Proposition 10's rent control expansion help?

10/04/2018 8:54 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In less than five weeks, California voters will decide on Proposition 10, a ballot initiative that would allow cities and counties across the state to expand rent control.

Economists of different political stripes rarely agree on much. But there’s consensus, even among liberal economists, that rent control doesn’t help with housing affordability.

Economists generally believe that when government limits the price landlords can charge for housing, there will be fewer houses produced, which in turn drives up prices.