ACTION Apartment Association

By the numbers, a look at a bustling Santa Monica district

08/29/2016 7:36 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The annual report encapsulates many of Downtowns’ accomplishments over the past year and is accompanied by financial data. Downtown Santa Monica continues to keep its focus on making improvements to the services it offers for the residents, businesses and visitors.

Residents living Downtown have increased since last year, according to U.S. Census projections. There are 2,677 housing units in Downtown; 92.8 percent are rented, 5.1 percent are owned and 2.1 percent are vacant.

Rivals Argue About Santa Monica College’s Bond Measure Needs

08/26/2016 1:20 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

If approved, the bond will be funded through a property tax costing $8.56 per month for the average Santa Monica homeowner and $1.59 per month for the average renter, SMC officials said.

SMART [Phil Brock]

08/26/2016 11:50 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

SMart has previously called for proper planning. Residents have repeatedly protested plans for mega projects in our 227-acre downtown core because they have seen the effects of traffic on their lives. Admitting the problem is worse than our City Council and administration could have conceived is a good first step. However, as in a 12-step program, more transgressions need to be admitted in order to take corrective steps. First, we cannot “build our way” out of this mess.

Santa Monica Conservancy Celebrates Milestones

08/24/2016 12:22 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A primary goal of the Center is to assist property owners and the community with information about the methods and benefits of preservation.

and

http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/August-2016/08_25_2016_Santa_Monica_Conservancy_Center_Celebrates_1000th_Visitor.html

Opponents Call Santa Monica Tax Measure "Growth Stimulating Hormone," Supporters Disagree

08/24/2016 12:18 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

August 24, 2016 -- The leaders of the campaign against a half-cent Santa Monica sales tax measure are focusing on the development angle to persuade people to join them in rejecting the proposal.

Supporters of the measure and a related one that recommends the tax revenue support the local school district and the City's affordable housing program say the opponents don’t have the facts on their side.

Seeing the light on Downtown Santa Monica

08/24/2016 7:21 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

By Charles Andrews on August 24, 2016

It was the annual report breakfast meeting of Downtown Santa Monica Inc., hereafter referred to as DTSM Inc.

Local Ballot Measures Receive Names

08/23/2016 12:45 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

August 23, 2016 -- Four of the local measures that will appear on the Santa Monica ballot in November have received their official names from the County.

The LUVE initiative, which seeks to make voter approval a requirement for a significant number of development projects and planning documents, is Measure LV.

A proposal for a half-cent City sales tax is Measure GSH. The accompanying proposal that recommends the tax revenue be split evenly on the City’s affordable housing program and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is Measure GS.

An update of the City’s anti-corruption law, known as the Oaks Initiative, is Measure SM.

Downtown Santa Monica Becoming Urban Core of the Future

08/23/2016 12:43 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

August 23, 2016 -- Santa Monica’s downtown is transforming into the urban core of the future as its population grows, stable high-tech jobs move in and the lifestyle there becomes about eschewing cars for walking, or hopping a bus or Metro train, the head of the group that manages downtown said.

...downtown’s residential population has doubled to 4,352 over the past decade, growth eight percent between 2015 and 2016 (as projected) alone.

Santa Monica Ballot Set with 10 Council Candidates

08/22/2016 4:20 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

By Jonathan Friedman
Associate Editor

August 22, 2016 -- Four incumbents and six challengers will compete for four seats on the Santa Monica City Council in the November election.

The City Clerk’s Office released the official list of candidates late Friday after receiving word from the County on whose nomination papers included the valid signatures of at least 100 Santa Monica voters.

For the rent board, the candidates are elected incumbent Christopher Walton, appointed incumbent Anastasia Foster as well as challengers Caroline Torosis and Elaine Golden-Gealer.

Let the games begin [Bill Bauer]

08/22/2016 1:08 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Yes, I’m back. You didn’t think I was going to bail out during election season, did you? Since my last column a month ago, a lot has happened to set the stage for the November 8 election and I’ve been watching from the wings.

Read More on page 4: http://backissues.smdp.com/082216.pdf