ACTION Apartment Association

SMRR, Dem Club Poised to Make Early Endorsements

06/19/2024 11:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica's political establishment must win three seats to regain the Council majority it held for most of the past four decades before losing it to Change candidates swept into office during a voter revolt in 2020.

But with the emergence of five strong candidates, the two groups can ill-afford a repeat of 2022, when for the first time the Democratic Club broke with the tradition and placed a different candidate than SMRR on its three-member slate.

Undisclosed payments to Rent Control chair force revote on Justice for Renters act endorsement

06/18/2024 10:57 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

“Due to my paid consultancy work with the Justice for Renters Act, I’ll recuse myself from this item,” said Lesley before leaving the dais.

California law prohibits individuals from voting on matters that involve their personal finances.

Rent Board Sets Cap on Monthly Increase

06/18/2024 9:38 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica rent control tenants will see their monthly rent increase in September by 3 percent with a ceiling of $76 after the Rent Control Board approved the latest annual general adjustment last week.

Rent Board Appoints Tenant Activist to Fill Open Seat

06/17/2024 7:34 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Kay Ambriz -- a staunch tenants' rights advocate who serves on the Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) steering committee -- was appointed Thursday to fill an open seat on the Rent Control Board.

SM.a.r.t Column: The Up Zoning Scam (Part 1)

06/17/2024 7:28 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

But why would the State create a fake target and sell it to drive public codes and policy? The reason is the big three industries (finance, real estate and construction) want free rein to develop anything, anytime, anywhere to maximize profits. It’s that simple. State legislators (Toni Atkins, Scott Wiener, etc.) who depend on those industries’ contributions (along with the high-tech industries) are willing to demolish local planning codes and controls to satisfy their insatiable donors.

Macerich to return Santa Monica Place mall to lenders

06/14/2024 8:40 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Locally-based shopping mall behemoth Macerich Co. has defaulted on the $300 million mortgage loan it has for the Santa Monica Place, ultimately returning it to the lender and bidding farewell to the iconic shopping mall it has owned since 1999.

“It was pretty clear that Santa Monica has continuing issues and it is under water,” Scott Kingsmore, Macerich’s chief financial officer and treasurer told WWD. According to that publication, the broker valuation for Santa Monica Place is in the region of $264.5 million. “Ultimately, trying to figure out the end game was just too obscure,” Kingsmore said.

Judge Rules Against Landlord In Highly Anticipated LA Mass Eviction Case

06/13/2024 2:52 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

n a highly anticipated decision that could have broad implications for renters across California, a federal judge has ruled against a landlord seeking to carry out one of the largest mass evictions in Los Angeles history.

The judge’s determination means more than 100 tenants still living at Barrington Plaza — a 712-unit West L.A. high-rise apartment complex — will get to stay. Some long-term tenants pay far below market rates due to the city’s rent stabilization ordinance, and feared they would not be able to find affordable housing anywhere in the region if forced to leave.

Council Nixes Investigation into Leaks Before Setting Procedures

06/13/2024 10:35 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A deeply divided City Council on Tuesday voted to create clearly defined policy and procedures for leaked closed session items, but stopped short of launching an investigation.

Council Could Require Developers Provide More Shade

06/13/2024 10:31 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council on Tuesday voted to explore requiring those who build on private land to replace every tree removed with three new trees.

Homeless Deaths Spiked in Santa Monica Last Year

06/11/2024 11:16 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The death toll would spike over the two-year period, from 31 homeless deaths in 2022 to a total of 53 last year -- or an average of one per week, according to data from the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.