Proposed Equity Adjustments Raise Questions Amid Budgetary Concerns

According to the Santa Monica City salary schedule, the Assistant City Manager currently, as of July 31, 2023, makes $256,632.00 annually, which means that the Assistant City Manager would be getting an equity adjustment of $92,304 each year going forward, which is roughly a 36% increase. 

The Deputy City Manager currently makes $183,228.00 annually, and the equity adjustment for this position is $90,348 each year going forward. This would be a 49% increase annually. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2024/02/during-lean-times-for-the-city-certain-staff-members-slated-to-get-hefty-raises/

They won’t — for now

The California Apartment Association urged the court to hear a major property-rights challenge to tenant protections in NYC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a challenge to New York’s rent control and eviction laws, putting an end to a case that might have had dramatic implications for California cities’ own tenant protection measures.

Read More: https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/02/20/california-landlords-wanted-the-supreme-court-to-limit-rent-control-laws-they-wont-for-now/

See Proposal: https://mcusercontent.com/85e51946ff4f8ae5c77d1c1ce/files/4f1a0ecf-7b26-7155-652b-74d3fe3bb2af/Snapshot_44331_2_.pdf

While Santa Monica's economy continues to recover, it faces local challenges and national uncertainty that will hamstring efforts to enhance programs and services, according to the the Midyear Budget Review released Wednesday.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2024/February-2024/02_21_2024_Citys_Economic_Recovery_Hampered_By_Challenges.html

Santa Monica secured 104 emergency housing vouchers (EHV) distributed by HUD two years ago under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and issued 99 of the vouchers by the February 15 deadline, City officials said.

Since the City Council green-lighted a plan to move EVH holders to the top of the Santa Monica's waiting list for low-income housing the City matched 115 participants referred by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), officials said.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2024/February-2024/02_20_2024_Half_of_Citys_Emergency_Housing_Voucher_Holders_Are_Leased_%20Up%20.html

In Santa Monica, modern-day plunder comes in the form of unfettered pillaging of our community resources under the Housing Accountability Act and state-mandated residential development quotas. In 1990, the state added a retribution measure to the law with the “Builder’s Remedy,” which threatened municipalities with massive, unsustainable, and undesirable developments for those who resisted unconditional surrender and complete state control. Under the state’s bootprint, the sky had no limit.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2024/02/s-m-a-r-t-column-top-toady-town/

The Santa Monica Coalition on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the LA County Health Department to halt a program that distributes clean needles in the beach city's parks and other outdoor spaces.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2024/February-2024/02_16_2024_Santa_Monica_Group_Announces_Lawsuit_Over_Needle_Program.html

At a Feb. 5 meeting of the Santa Monica Architectural Review Board (ARB), the board approved the design, colors, materials and landscape plans for a residential apartment building at 700 Santa Monica Boulevard. The property as proposed will have no residential parking spots on site.

Read More: https://smdp.com/2024/02/16/more-units-but-no-parking-at-proposed-downtown-development/

Read More and See Interactive Map: https://www.latimes.com/projects/does-my-building-need-earthquake-retrofit-los-angeles-map/

Who made this motion? Gleam Davis and Caroline Torosis. Neither of them speak or understand German. Both are well paid attorneys who live in million dollar homes and have high-paying jobs.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2024/02/14/opinion/santa-monica-city-council-unanimously-votes-to-send-two-wealthy-members-to-vienna-austria-at-taxpayer-expense/8113.html