And the State and the City at: https://www.lavote.net/electionresults/text/3861

November 7, 2018 -- Development may not have been a hot-button issue on Tuesday's Santa Monica ballot, but it was a determining factor in the race for three City Council seats and the resounding support for term limits.

Councilmember Sue Himmelrich, the staunchest slow-growth advocate on the Council, easily topped the ballot, while Pam O'Connor, a longtime champion of development, finished a distant fourth.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2018/November-2018/11_07_2018_NEWS_ANALYSIS_Development_Remains_Major_Issue_in_Tuesdays_%20Santa_Monica_Election%20%20.html

See the list at: http://www.smdp.com/a-list-of-polling-places-in-santa-monica/170550

More than 50 apartment units in two new buildings could be coming to Mid-City Santa Monica.

The Architectural Review Board will decide whether to approve plans for a two-story, four-unit multi-family building and a three-story building containing 50 apartments and retail and restaurant space. The proposed developments would be located just a few blocks from each other, at 3004 Broadway and 2822 Santa Monica Boulevard, respectively.

Read More: http://www.smdp.com/arb-to-review-mid-city-apartments/170517

See Video at: http://www.smdp.com/lightning-round-video-from-squirm-night/170474

November 2, 2018 -- A rag-tag army of school parents and neighborhood activists is mounting a last-ditch effort to oppose a record $485 million school facilities bond on Tuesday's ballot.

Opponents of Measure SMS argue that there was no public debate before the School Board placed the bond on the ballot in July and that there is no fixed list of projects it will fund. They think the bond should instead be placed on the 2020 ballot.

Read More: https://www.actiontakesaction.com/admin/website/system-pages/?pageId=1837908

Santa Monica voters have lots of choices for filling three city council seats up for grabs on Tuesday: stick with popular incumbents, opt for some fresh faces with established track records in civic affairs, change course with challengers who want to get tough on crime and the homeless, or any mix thereof.

Read More: https://argonautnews.com/which-way-santa-monica-2/

November 2, 2018

California has an ambitious goal (SB100) of getting all the electricity for the entire state from renewable energy sources by 2045. The mandated incremental steps are 50 percent by 2026 and 60 percent by 2030. Currently, California gets about 27 percent of our electricity from renewable sources

Last week the City Council wisely took another important baby step toward NZE for the City by allowing it to shop for energy providers that will charge different rates for power with varying amounts of renewable content in their electricity flow. By paying 7-9 percent extra the City’s 48,000 residential customers and 8300 commercial customers can select getting their energy from 100 percent renewable sources, or for slightly less cost a 50 percent or a 36 percent renewable content. Because 100 percent will be the default number, unless you explicitly opt out, more people will pay the surcharge and treat it as an increased utility expense.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2018/11/inching-toward-electrical-independence/

An Open Letter to Residents of Santa Monica by Jay Johnson

Don’t Make a Bad Situation Worse
Dear Santa Monica resident, As a former president of the Santa Monica Democratic Club, former Rent Board and Planning Commissioner, current Santa Monica Renters Rights member and property owner, I think Proposition 10 is a disaster for Santa Monica tenants and property owners. It is poorly written and is almost impossible to change if passed. It will harm tenants, condo and single family homeowners, multifamily property owners and taxpayers and will impact your rights, finances and the city housing landscape.

Read More on page 7: http://backissues.smdp.com/110218.pdf

Santa Monicans living in older homes can register for a $3,000 state grant through Nov. 13 to retrofit their houses to withstand an earthquake.

Residents who own and live in a single-family home can qualify for the Earthquake Base + Bolt grant if their house’s foundation and crawlspace are not already reinforced. Houses built before 1980 are likely to buckle or slide off their foundations, said Janiele Maffei, chief mitigation officer at the California Housing Authority.

Read More: http://www.smdp.com/grants-available-for-residents-to-make-homes-earthquake-safe/170465