ACTION Apartment Association

Ordinance Prohibiting Discrimination Against Voucher Holders Upheld

02/01/2017 8:40 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

SANTA MONICA, Jan. 31, 2017 — In a major victory for tenants, a court on Monday upheld a Santa Monica ordinance that bans discrimination against Section 8 voucher holders.

The anti-discrimination ordinance was passed in May 2015 after the city received multiple complaints from prospective tenants that landlords were refusing to accept their housing vouchers. This ordinance is especially important to protect low-income tenants in Santa Monica, given the high cost of housing and the difficulty many low-income tenants and voucher holders have in finding affordable apartments.

City strives use big data to improve services and lives of Santa Monicans

02/01/2017 8:34 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City is moving forward with plans to improve data and metrics across departments as part of a cutting-edge initiative to measure wellbeing and improve Santa Monicans’ daily lives.

The project started with a $1 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies and guidance from the RAND Corporation. In 2015, that work culminated with the Wellbeing Index, an analysis that used information from City departments and resident surveys to measure a variety of factors: health, satisfaction, economic stability and overall wellbeing.

The survey picked up some interesting data points. For example: only a third of 5-year-olds in Santa Monica were ready for kindergarten, only 25 percent of Santa Monicans eat enough fruit and vegetables, and nearly 30 percent feel disconnected from their local government.

Santa Monica City to Maintain Cuts in Water Use Despite Recent Storms

02/01/2017 8:23 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

February 1, 2017 -- Water-logged by recent storms but still not drought-free, the City of Santa Monica announced Tuesday it is maintaining the big cuts in water use, and fines, it imposed in 2015 as California entered its fourth year of drought.

and:

http://smdp.com/drought-conditions-stubbornly-persist-in-santa-monica-despite-rainfall/159519

Santa Monica Rent Increases Slow but Prices Still Among Highest in Metro L.A.

02/01/2017 8:20 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

February 1, 2017 -- Rent hikes in Santa Monica are starting the new year with a minus sign, although the cost of living in an apartment is still the second highest in metropolitan Los Angeles, outdone only by Westwood, a new study released Tuesday found.

The median price for a one-bedroom apartment in Santa Monica was $2,920 a month, a tiny decrease of 0.70 percent compared to December, according to a nationwide study by Apartment Rents of data received from those who use the popular service to find apartments and to list availability.

Tax to Help Homeless Gets Airing in Santa Monica

01/31/2017 1:55 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

January 31, 2017 -- With the March 7 special election nearing, a proposed measure to hike the sales taxes by a quarter cent countywide to help the homeless will get an airing Saturday in a community "conversation" hosted by the City of Santa Monica. ...Measure H

Granny Flats and the Planning Commission

01/31/2017 9:16 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At their Feb. 1 meeting, the commission will revisit rules for ancillary dwelling units, sometimes known as “granny units.”

Hearing: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017, AT 6:30 P.M

Read More on page 1 & 5: http://backissues.smdp.com/013117.pdf

and on page 6: http://backissues.smdp.com/020117.pdf

Citywide Seismic retrofit list released

01/30/2017 8:14 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City of Santa Monica released its list of buildings that may require a seismic retrofit to ensure their safety in the event of an earthquake. This comes in advance of the Feb. 14 Santa Monica City Council meeting on the Seismic Retrofit Ordinance. The buildings on the list were identified through building permit records and/or visual identification.

The list of buildings is available online at: http://www.smgov.net/Departments/PCD/Programs/Seismic-Retrofit/

Reaction to Santa Monica Airport Closure Deal Mixed

01/30/2017 7:25 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

January 30, 2017 -- With the agreement to close Santa Monica Airport (SMO) at the end of 2028 receiving City Council approval by the narrowest possible margin, it shouldn’t be surprising that community reaction was also divided.

SMa.r.t.- Reinforcing the Future, Part 2

01/27/2017 12:16 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

New rules in Santa Monica will soon require many older buildings to be inspected, and then reinforced to make them less vulnerable to earthquakes. The City has compiled a list of about 2,400 buildings that may require reinforcing.

One challenge the City will face: how to deal with the flood of building permit applications that will result from this effort.

12-hour window to apply for Section 8 vouchers

01/27/2017 8:43 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Individuals that want to receive federal housing subsidies will have a 12-hour application window beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Santa Monica will open applications for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program next week but this year’s system will have accept fewer individuals and implement more stringent qualification priorities.