ACTION Apartment Association

LUVE Petition in Final Countdown Mode

04/25/2016 2:18 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Anti-development petitions behind the LUVE initiative will be out in force today, in a strong final countdown push to the signature finish line.

Myths and truths about Santa Monica’s LUVE initiative [SMa.r.t.]

04/23/2016 7:28 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

We’d like to set the record straight. We’ve all seen a lot of hyperbole over the past two weeks about the Land Use Voter Empowerment initiative. We’ve read the doomsday scenarios. They say it would be a disaster somewhere akin to the sinking of the Titanic and the explosion of the Hindenburg. Our economy would be ruined, jobs would be outsourced and a great wall built around our city. Hmmm … There are also claims that our traffic woes will be solved, rents will never rise again and the sky will always be blue over our Santa Monica. Let’s look at the claims of one anti-LUVE (How can you be against love?) press release from a business group in our town.

City protections credited for stabilizing federally supported affordable housing

04/22/2016 10:33 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Local affordable housing units that rely on some kind of federal subsidy are unlikely to convert to market rate in the near future, according to a recent report by City Staff.

About 1,014 affordable units rely on funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Depending on the terms of that funding, HUD supported units could be in jeopardy of converting to market rate, but according to the city’s Housing Division, current units are protected by prescient actions by past councils and vigilance by current regulators.

Council comments expected on ethics report

04/21/2016 7:53 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A recently released ethics report will take center stage at City Council next week.

City Hall received the report by attorney John Hueston this week and the April 26 meeting will be the first opportunity for council members to publicly comment on the findings/recommendations.

Hueston was hired to examine two related issues, the hiring/firing of Elizabeth Riel and the City’s lack of enforcement on anti-corruption statutes.

Santa Monica Council to Consider Tougher Anti-Corruption Law

04/21/2016 7:51 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

After an independent ethics investigation found lapses in judgment at City Hall, the Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday will consider recommendations for strengthening its anti-corruption law, including taking the issue to voters.

War for the soul of Santa Monica

04/20/2016 8:29 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Maybe you’re not aware of the tsunami of development that is coming our way. How about a 12-story behemoth (maybe a little less) in the middle of Downtown, on land paid for and belonging to we the people, but being turned over to a private developer for a relative song? It seems like not the right direction or right anything to many of us residents, yet our City Council loves it and is scrambling to make small adjustments they think will make it acceptable, before approving it outright. Did I mention we have an 84′ height limit Downtown?

Housing talks abound at City Council

04/20/2016 8:25 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Affordable housing occupied a significant slice of last week’s City Council meeting.

Council moved forward with the potential sale of the Mountain View Mobile Home Park, modified municipal code relating to tenant protections, and authorized the creation of a new position that will aid renters facing the loss of their homes.

Joint downtown developments at Wednesday’s Planning Commission meeting

04/19/2016 9:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Planning Commission will hopefully finish their multi-month discussion of the old Post Office site and hear preliminary proposals for a pair of downtown developments at a special meeting this Wednesday.

Ethics report identifies shortfalls in City procedures

04/19/2016 9:52 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

An independent investigation into the City of Santa Monica’s ethical procedures has determined Santa Monica officials experienced “lapses in judgment” in relation to the Elizabeth Riel case and that the City can enforce its anti-corruption laws.

Elderly, Disabled Residents Left Outside in the Cold

04/19/2016 9:50 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A Santa Monica landlord is facing allegations of using fire to illegally evict rent-controlled tenants after flames ripped through an Ocean Front Walk building late last year, with low-income residents claiming they were literally left out in the cold with nowhere to sleep.