The deal could be a model for other LA renters to follow

After a months-long struggle, renters living in a Boyle Heights apartment complex close to Mariachi Plaza have reached an agreement with the building’s owner and property management company allowing them to remain in their residences.

On Thursday, a coalition of community groups that had attached themselves to the tenants’ cause celebrated a unique deal with the building’s landlord, resolving a rent strike that began nearly one year ago in April.

Read More: https://la.curbed.com/2018/2/16/17018298/boyle-heights-mariachi-gentrification-rent-strike

Signature gatherers are headed to neighborhoods “heavily hit by... rapidly rising rents”

Signature-gathering will pick up steam this weekend in an effort put a measure on the state ballot asking California voters to repeal Costa Hawkins, a law that limits cities’ abilities to expand rent control.

The campaign kicked off last month with paid signature gatherers, but will expand this weekend with “hundreds, hopefully, eventually, thousands of volunteers,” says Walt Senterfitt, a spokesperson for the LA Tenants Union.

Read More: https://la.curbed.com/2018/2/16/17021886/costa-hawkins-rent-control-initiative-repeal-rent-control

Assemblymembers David Chiu (D-San Francisco), Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), and Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) today announced new proposals to protect California tenants from evictions and extend the timelines for tenants who do face evictions.

AB 2364, authored by Assemblymember Richard Bloom, will close a loophole in the state’s Ellis Act that allows landlords to evict all of their tenants while still remaining in the rental business.

Assemblymember David Chiu introduced AB 2343 to give tenants more time to respond to eviction proceedings and correct several imbalances in the tenant notice and eviction process.  This bill will extend the time tenants have to pay rent or comply with other terms of a lease, increase the time tenants have to respond to an eviction lawsuit, and make it easier to defend against eviction cases with legitimate defenses.

Read More on page 11: http://backissues.smdp.com/021618.pdf

PRELIMINARY REVIEW(S):
• 101 Santa Monica Boulevard (Development Agreement Application No. 13DEV-004). Preliminary review of the updated design concept for a new 115 room hotel; 40,000 SF museum; 79 for-rent residential apartments comprised of 19 replacement rent-controlled units, 18 affordable units, and 42 market-rate units;

Read More on page 5: http://backissues.smdp.com/021618.pdf

February 16, 2018 -- Santa Monica City Attorney Lane Dilg announced Thursday the hiring of a top former U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutor to act as Special Counsel/Chief of Staff for her office.

George Cardona, who was a Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, will start in his new job on February 20th, Dilg said.

His salary will be $253,872 annually, or $21,156 a month.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2018/February-2018/02_16_2018_Santa_Monica_Hires_Former_US_Prosecutor_as_Chief_of_Staff_for_City_Attorneys_Office.html

Senate Bill 827, Equity, and the Need for Coalition Building in the YIMBY Movement

The YIMBY movement needs to work on coalition building if we're going to solve the housing crisis.

Last month, State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) released a draft of his legislation, Senate Bill 827, which would upend zoning rules throughout California.

S.B. 827 would effectively blow up the tools those jurisdictions have been using to keep out new housing near major transit lines. In the case of Santa Monica, which has affordable housing requirements for new housing baked into its city charter, it could actually lead to a boom of mixed affordable and market-rate housing in the city’s downtown core and along its major commercial boulevards–locations where there are ample opportunities to build new housing without displacing existing residents.

Read More: https://la.streetsblog.org/2018/02/14/senate-bill-827-equity-and-the-need-for-coalition-building-in-the-yimby-movement/

February 14, 2018 -- With retrofit deadlines approaching for almost 1,600 earthquake-vulnerable apartment buildings in Santa Monica, the City has introduced a simplified process to help owners naviagte more easily through a complex law.

Under the new guidelines, which go into effect this month, projects to retrofit most "soft-story" buildings would require less extensive reviews, officials said.

As of February 20, though, the City said it will simplify the seismic retrofit paperwork for most soft-story building owners.

The new Soft-Story Seismic Retrofit supplemental application removes review by the City Planning and/or Mobility Divisions for most projects, officials said.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2018/February-2018/02_14_2018_Earthquake_Vulnerable_Apartment_Buildings_in_Santa_Monica_Get_Simplified_Retrofit_Rules.html

The battle lines around the pro-development (and pro-gentrification) SB 827 are becoming increasingly clear, with 37 grassroots organizations from L.A. yesterday releasing a letter detailing their opposition.

On one side, in support, you have the bill’s author, State Senator Scott Wiener, a former lawyer and current career politician whose biggest funders are the real estate industry;

On the other side, in opposition, you have 37 of the most progressive and truly grassroots housing and labor organizations in L.A.

Read More: https://knock-la.com/why-37-major-progressive-groups-from-los-angeles-oppose-state-level-housing-bill-sb-827-acfce942b641

by Gary Rhoades

Tactics in rental scams include:

offering long-term and short-term housing at units that are already occupied — or don’t even exist.

• double-booking guests, especially those visiting from other countries.
• refusing to refund security deposits or rent paid in advance.
• deceptive claims about the size or amenities of a unit.

Read More: http://smdp.com/consumer-corner-how-to-spot-and-avoid-rental-scams/164426

February 13, 2018 -- Time has come to set aside more money for using Santa Monica’s municipal water system, with a five percent hike in the rate set to start showing up on customer water bills on, or about, March 1.

The increase was approved by the City Council in January, and is retroactive to the first of the year, but makes its debut on City water bills as they start arriving next month, City officials said.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2018/February-2018/02_13_2018_Santa_Monica_Water_Customers%20to%20See_Five_Percent_Hike_in_March_Bills.html