Landlords will be required to pay more if they fail to adequately compensate tenants who are temporarily relocated.

“The current fines for failure to provide relocation assistance required by the Code are less than the daily relocation benefit required,” said the staff report. “The current fine amount is also a per day violation, which makes the citation process more difficult as each citation has to have a separate fine for each day.”

The new fine increases the first violation from $250 to $2,000 and the increase is 125% of the first fine for a second and 150% for the third violation.

Read More: https://smdp.com/2023/07/05/new-budget-increases-fees-and-fines/

 In a housing discrimination case brought by the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office that involved a family member with disabilities, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa Sepe-Wiesenfeld has signed a stipulated judgment and injunctions against the two Defendant-landlords, Brida LLC and its managing agent Kathy Golshani. The injunction protects future tenants with disabilities from discrimination and harassment.

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2023/07/03/city-attorney-s-office-obtains-judgment-and-injunctions-against-landlords-in-disability-discrimination-case

On January 1, 2029, the City Council will be given the legal right to vote on whether to maintain the airport or demolish it. There will be no middle ground. Currently, the City’s staff is in the process of evaluating the qualifications of consultants to identify and propose the best uses for the land, which should include maintaining it as an airport. As I indicated in a Planning Commission meeting where the process was being discussed, the choice of consultants can often predetermine the results. If you hire a firm that specializes in park design to do the evaluation, you are likely to see a recommendation for a park.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2023/07/sma-r-t-column-the-future-of-santa-monica-airport-smo/

On January 1, 2029, the City Council will be given the legal right to vote on whether to maintain the airport or demolish it. There will be no middle ground. Currently, the City’s staff is in the process of evaluating the qualifications of consultants to identify and propose the best uses for the land, which should include maintaining it as an airport. As I indicated in a Planning Commission meeting where the process was being discussed, the choice of consultants can often predetermine the results. If you hire a firm that specializes in park design to do the evaluation, you are likely to see a recommendation for a park.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2023/07/sma-r-t-column-the-future-of-santa-monica-airport-smo/

Situated at 2903 Lincoln Boulevard and now named “The Wilson,” the development, overseen by CIM Group, comprises a four-story building spanning from Ashland Avenue in the north to Wilson Place in the south. The apartment complex will house a total of 47 dwellings, including studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, with four units designated as extremely low-income affordable housing. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2023/06/this-is-what-a-new-apartment-complex-in-ocean-park-will-look-like/

Santa Monica's overall median rent stands at $2,135, marking a -0.4 percent decrease over the past 12 months. Still, local rents continue to outpace California's -1.4 percent annual decrease and the nation's 0 percent growth.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2023/June-2023/06_30_2023_Santa_Monica_Rents_Drop_Again_in_June.html

See Video: https://smmirror.com/2023/07/video-new-apartments-coming-to-711-colorado-ave/

 Last night, the Santa Monica City Council unanimously adopted a balanced biennial budget for Fiscal Years 2023-2025. The budget reflects the most substantial restoration of services since 2020, and builds on the work done in recent years to help respond to and recover from the COVID-19 emergency as well as make strategic investments to advance priority areas Council identified at its workshop on March 11, 2023, which include Addressing Homelessness; Clean and Safe Santa Monica; Cultivate Economic Recovery and Expand Community and Cultural Offerings; Racial Justice, Equity, and Social Diversity; and Sustainable and Connected Community.

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2023/06/28/city-council-adopts-balanced-budget-for-fy-2023-2025-with-priority-restorations-and-investments-0

During oral arguments Tuesday in the voting rights case against the City, the California Supreme Court focused on how to interpret a law that sets no numerical threshold and fails to define key words.

Filed by Latino plaintiffs seven years ago, the lawsuit seeks to change how Santa Monica voters choose Councilmembers by showing that the current at-large election system polarizes Latino voters.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2023/June-2023/06_27_2023_Court_Tries_to_Pin_Down_Voting_Rights_Standards.html

AND: https://smdp.com/2023/06/28/with-arguments-complete-wait-begins-for-ruling-that-could-upend-santa-monica-elections/

The plaintiffs proposed dividing the city into districts, which would result in a Pico neighborhood with approximately 30% Latino population compared to the citywide average of 14%. However, this would not guarantee an ability for Latino residents to win an election, leading the appeals court to support the City’s current at-large voting system.

Both sides had an opportunity to restate their arguments before being peppered with questions from the justices on Tuesday.

Read More: https://smdp.com/2023/06/28/with-arguments-complete-wait-begins-for-ruling-that-could-upend-santa-monica-elections/