SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Today, the Los Angeles County Homelessness Services Agency (LAHSA) released countywide homeless count numbers for 2018 showing a decrease of 3% with 53,195 people living on the street. This is the first countywide decrease in four years, a sign that more people are being housed and recent investments are paying off. Santa Monica saw a 4% increase with more people experiencing unsheltered homelessness – bunkering down on our streets and in cars.

The homelessness toolkit is available in print and digital formats in English and Spanish.

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2018/05/31/city-of-santa-monica-releases-a-practical-toolkit-about-homelessness-to-increase-community-understanding-and-participation

June 1, 2018 -- The number of homeless counted in Greater Los Angeles dipped for the first time in four years, officials announced Thursday, registering an overall decline of those living on the streets and leaving Santa Monica behind in the effort to handle the regional crisis.

Countywide, the 2018 count totaled 53,195 homeless people, down from 55,048 people -- or 3 percent -- from last year, according to the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Services Agency.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2018/June-2018/06_01_2018_Greater_LA_Homeless_Count_Shows_Decreases_Not_Mirrored_in_Santa_Monica.html

AND

http://smdp.com/county-makes-strides-in-tackling-homelessness-crisis-but-major-problems-remain/166518

The tenants of three adjacent apartment buildings on South Burlington Avenue in rapidly gentrifying Westlake are combatting what they claim are unjust rent increases from their landlord. In the process, they are facing being evicted by attorney Lisa Ehrlich, who has refused to negotiate over their main demands: rent increases of four percent or below, and a guarantee that the rent will not be raised for another two years.

Read More: http://www.lataco.com/over-90-rent-striking-families-in-westlake-are-facing-mass-eviction-by-a-wealthy-westside-landlord/

Section 4.
Estimated Cost of the Improvement Projects. The Board estimates at this time that the Improvement Projects will cost approximately $650 million, which includes all costs incidental to said Improvement Projects.  Notwithstanding the foregoing cost estimate, general obligation bonds, if approved, may only be issued in a principal amount which does not exceed the amount presented to and approved by voters of the Improvement District. The Board may determine to address the costs of the Improvement Projects in bond measures presented to voters of the Improvement District at one or more bond elections. 

Section 5. Levy of Taxes Only Within Improvement District. If the issuance of general obligation bonds is approved in accordance with California law by the voters of the Improvement District, all taxes levied for the purpose of paying principal of and interest on any such general obligation bonds shall be levied exclusively upon the lands in the Improvement District, and not on any other land in the District that is not within the boundaries of the Improvement District.

Read More on pg. 11: http://backissues.smdp.com/053118.pdf

May 30, 2018 -- Calling Santa Monica's rising pension debt an "existential threat to our fiscal sustainability," two members of a residents committee on Tuesday formally called for the group to be retained and expanded.

In a letter to top City officials and neighborhood groups, Laurence Eubank and Dominic Gomez said members of the Citizens’ Fiscal Sustainability Committee "are ready to continue working with the City to address fiscal anxieties of residents."

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2018/May-2018/05_30_2018_Members_of_Santa_Monicas_Citizens_Fiscal_Committee_Formally_Ask_that_Group_Be_Retained_Expanded.html

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – At its meeting on Tuesday, May 22, the Santa Monica City Council approved an ordinance to amend the City’s Zoning Ordinance regarding standards for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). An ADU is a dwelling unit providing complete independent living facilities that is located on a parcel with another, primary single-unit dwelling. ADUs have also been referred to as second dwelling units, in-law units, or granny flats. Independent ADU standards in SMMC Section 9.31.300 have been created separate from the Accessory Building and Structures standards in SMMC Section 9.21.020 to avoid any confusion and conflicts between the standards.

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2018/05/30/new-regulations-for-accessory-dwelling-units-in-santa-monica

These small residences could help solve California’s housing shortage

Amid a profound housing shortage that’s driving up rents and property values statewide, California officials and real estate experts are looking to an often overlooked form of housing as a potential solution: the in-law unit.

Read More: https://la.curbed.com/2018/5/29/17381808/adu-los-angeles-meaning-requirements-california

Rather than improving the availability of affordable housing, rent control laws exacerbate shortages, cause existing buildings to deteriorate and disproportionately benefit higher-income households. NMHC/NAA urge lawmakers to reject price controls and pursue alternatives such as voucher-based rental assistance to better address critical affordable housing shortages.

Read More: https://www.nmhc.org/advocacy/issue-fact-sheet/rent-control-fact-sheet/

The Rent Control Board will consider asking City Council to expand rent subsidies for senior citizens following a request from Chairperson Anastasia Foster at their last meeting.

City Hall approved a pilot program, Preserving Our Diversity (POD), in 2017 to set aside about $200,000 to subsidize rent for low-income, long-term residents, aged 62 and older, who live in rent-controlled apartments. A report on the program is due to City Council in the coming months and Foster said she’d been personally tracking the program. She said it was important to pursue varied approaches to affordable housing that didn’t always focus on new construction.

Read More: http://smdp.com/rent-control-board-considers-support-for-expanded-rent-subsidies/166443

May 29, 2018 -- From cuts to trash collection to keeping vacant jobs unfilled, the Santa Monica City Council is looking at ways to operate during leaner years.

The potential cost saving measures come as the City steels itself against a possible recession amid sky-high employee pensions and other costs.

“We need to be a little ruthless,” said Council Member Gleam Davis as the council took a closer look at the City’s rocky five-year fiscal forecast during its May 22 meeting.

City staff, she said, should start “getting creative” to keep the City in the black.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2018/May-2018/05_29_2018_Budget_Cuts_Loom_as_Costs_Rise_at_Santa_Monica_City_Hall.html