Shelton is now hired by property owners to target squatters living in their homes without permission. Property owners start by giving him a lease, with the legal rights that come with it.

Read More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/how-property-owners-are-turning-the-tables-on-squatters/ar-BB1oT4qL?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=7b23c293d30f45ea91796521edb8397f&ei=13

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider putting a homelessness measure on the November ballot that, if approved, would increase sales taxes by a quarter of a cent indefinitely.

Read More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/proposed-measure-increasing-sales-tax-for-homeless-prevention-could-be-on-november-ballot/ar-BB1oS5cm?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=754d3ee6381b4d56864b52755cc80bcb&ei=25

Williams opens by explaining the specifics of the new law: landlords in Santa Monica are now restricted from increasing rent by more than $76 per year. This cap on rent increases comes at a time when property taxes and insurance costs are rising.

Read More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/santa-monica-s-new-rent-control-law-will-destroy-the-city/ss-BB1oOlfP?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=eed1fe53a09542c895ba47bf2c3b50c6&ei=20#image=1#image=1

On Thursday, Metro announced its selection of the Metro Venice Art Collective’s proposal, “Metro on Main”, as announced in Councilwoman Traci Park’s newsletter. The recommendation, detailed in a report to the Metro Board’s Planning and Programming Committee, suggests entering an exclusive negotiating agreement with Metro Venice Art Collective, LLC, owned by Pinyon Group, according to Urbanize LA.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2024/06/341-unit-development-proposal-selected-for-venice-metro-yard/

The City Council on Tuesday is scheduled to consider a resolution denouncing a large sign posted on a Promenade storefront that reads: "Santa Methica IS NOT Safe."

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2024/June-2024/06_24_2024_Council_Takes_Up_Promenade_Sign.html

An item on the agenda for the next meeting of the Santa Monica City Council requests the creation of a resolution expressing the elected officials' disapproval of a sign that condemns them on the Third Street Promenade. The sign has been erected by the Santa Monica Coalition, a group of residents, property, and business owners who want public safety restored to the city.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2024/06/21/news/span-classbrnwsbreaking-news-spanfree-speech-santa-monica-city-council-wants-to-decide-what-is-harmful-for-you/8352.html

Some 200 Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) members voted to endorse Santa Monica College Trustee Barry Snell, Planning Commission Chair Ellis Raskin, Natalya Zernitskaya and Pier Corporation Board member Dan Hall.

In an unuaual show of cohesion, the four candidates in the November 5 race for four open Council seats received the required majority of votes needed on the first ballot.

Rent Control Board Chair Ericka Lesley, a staunch tenants rights advocate, fell short of the required 50 percent.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2024/June-2024/06_24_2024_SMRR_Picks_Council_Slate.html

The $23,184 in annual compensation paid to Santa Monica City Councilmembers is higher than that paid by most comparable cities, according to a staff analysis released Friday.

The analysis -- which will be discussed at Tuesday's Council meeting -- was requested by the Council last month to help determine if local voters should be asked whether to give elected City officials a raise ("Council Could Explore Asking Voters for a Raise," May 30, 2024).

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2024/June-2024/06_21_2024_Study_Helps_Determine_if_Council_Should_Ask_Voters_for_a_Raise.html

There are two main reasons developers will still build in Santa Monica. First is to capitalize on this one-time bonanza of essentially no code and quality constraints. The developers have won their battle to be able to build anything, anywhere, and now just need to finally conquer the Coastal zone (where the real profits are), which is the last area that still has some protection from overdevelopment. Scott Weiner is even now trying to gut the Coastal Zone’s development controls. This total State theft of local power may not last forever, especially when the real limits to growth (global warming, water, and power shortages, seismic and sea level events, etc.etc.) start to kick in and when the inevitable resident backlash appears.

Deep pockets needed

Second, deep-pocketed developers take the long view

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2024/06/sm-a-r-t-column-the-up-zoning-scam-part-2/

Rent control is a bad housing policy that won’t go away. Unfortunately, this term, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review not one, not two, but three cases that challenged New York City’s 2019 iteration of the bad housing policy, euphemistically labeled “rent stabilization.” But thanks to Justice Clarence Thomas, the proverbial third strike might not be the last for opponents of rent control.

In a statement accompanying the last case the court denied, 74 Pinehurst v. New York, Thomas left the door open and provided a road map for future challenges.

Read More: https://pacificlegal.org/washington-examiner-justice-thomas-leaves-the-door-open-for-future-challenges-to-rent-control/