ACTION Apartment Association

Council formally backs Costa Hawkins repeal

08/20/2018 7:19 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Council formally backs Costa Hawkins repeal as part of position statements for November election

The Santa Monica City Council has taken positions on a pair of state ballot measures, formally supporting a proposal to expand rent control protections and opposing an effort to repeal a statewide gas tax. Council has also voted to support a new county tax to support clean water efforts.

The six-person council also unanimously voted to expand rent control protections throughout the state.

A City Crying for Change [SMa.r.t]

08/17/2018 3:45 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In the waning days of summer, SMa.r.t. (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow) turns its thoughts to the fall which means the upcoming elections where residents will elect a City Council that might actually try to help solve the important issues confronting the residents of our City.

Rent Control: Money for Nothing and the Rent’s for Free

08/17/2018 3:25 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

California progressives think that price controls will fix the state’s housing shortage, but it will do immeasurable damage to the state.

Sacramento

After debating rent control in Santa Monica on Monday with a leader of a liberal community group, I was left thinking about a great quotation from a famous left-wing Californian, author Upton Sinclair: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” In this case, Santa Monica residents’ controlled rent depends on their not knowing the first thing about how economies work.

Sinclair ran for governor in 1934 on the End Poverty In California (EPIC) platform. In the ensuing years, California progressives have grabbed control over every lever of power in the state. Lo and behold, poverty wasn’t ended. In fact, California has the highest poverty rate in the nation, when the Census Bureau takes cost of living into account.

Liberal activists think they’re helping the poor, but if Proposition 10 passes in November, then those poverty rates will spread across the state as more municipalities embrace extreme forms of rent control. Recent reports suggest that Santa Monica, which has some of the toughest rent controls in the nation, also has the highest rents in the nation. Median home prices there have topped $1.7 million. Hey, how has rent control been working there so far?

New State Housing Laws will Have Little Impact on Santa Monica, City Planning Director Says

08/17/2018 3:24 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

August 16, 2018 -- The California Legislature had a busy year in 2017 addressing the state's housing crunch, but few of the bills signed into law will have an impact on Santa Monica, according to the City's top planning official.

Of the 15 bills Governor Brown signed last year, only a handful will make a dent in Santa Monica, where the issue is largely being addressed at the local level, said David Martin, the City's director of Planning and Community Development.

In a 14-page report to the City Council this month, Martin " highlights bills that have particular relevance to Santa Monica (and) provides an assessment of their expected impacts."

The bills address the state's "housing affordability crisis" by providing funding, streamlining the development process, increasing local accountability, preserving affordable housing and encouraging inclsionary zoning.

Shawn Landres Appointed Santa Monica Planning Commissioner

08/17/2018 3:21 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council appointed Shawn Landres to the Planning Commission at its meeting on August 14th.

Landres is a Senior Fellow at the UCLA Luskin School of Public affairs. He already serves on several boards and commissions, including the Innovation Technology Task Force, and the City's Social Services Commission.

A developer will break ground this month on a mixed-use development at the former Fred Segal store in Santa Monica.

The project, located at 500 Broadway, will consist of a seven-story building containing 249 studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments atop nearly 55,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space

Vazquez Council Seat to Likely Open After November Election

08/15/2018 7:40 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

August 14, 2018 -- A fourth seat on the Santa Monica City Council will likely become vacant when the votes are counted in the race for three open seats November 6.

Councilmember Tony Vazquez indicated last week that he would not attempt to retain his seat if he wins the race for the State Board of Equalization.

Vazquez is expected to defeat Republican candidate G. Rick Marshall in the heavily Democrat Third District, but there has been speculation among local political observers he would try to remain on the Council.

Rent control fuels costliest fight on California 2018 ballot

08/15/2018 7:35 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has poured more than $12 million into a November initiative it's let cities and counties regulate rental control.
Started in 1987 to provide hospice care to AIDS patients, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation has grown into a global health care organization similar in size to Planned Parenthood.
Opponents of rent control say it decreases housing supply in a state facing a severe shortage.

Third Slow Growth Activist Drops Potential Council Bid

08/13/2018 2:54 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

August 13, 2018 -- Nine candidates for Santa Monca City Council filed nominating papers by Friday's deadline, with three leaders of the slow-growth movement choosing not to file.

Mary Marlow, who is a sponsor of a term limits measure on the November 6 ballot, was the latest anti-development activist to chose not to run after pulling nominating petitions.

State attempts to facilitate housing may be moot in Santa Monica

08/13/2018 8:50 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A group of new laws targeting California’s housing shortage will have limited impact in Santa Monica according to a recently released staff report. According to the report,Governor Brown signed 15 housing-related laws last year. While all State laws will be enforceable locally, Santa Monica’s existing rules are either stricter than the state versions or the city will receive limited benefit from the changes.

Read More on pg. 7: http://backissues.smdp.com/081318.pdf

Pro Con pier series continues with rent control debate

08/13/2018 8:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Pier’s one-hour debate series Pro Con is back this summer, an event where experts from separate sides of an issue argue for their position while a neutral moderator keeps things civil.

Pro Con has three events left: Rent Control, August 13; Water Desalination, August 20; and Immigration, August 27. All events are from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the west end of the Pier.

Read More on page 1 and 5: http://backissues.smdp.com/081118.pdf