Councilwoman Pam O’Connor is unlikely to face any formal reprimand for her role in the Elizabeth Riel case following Council discussions of the issue at their April 26 meeting.

Read More: http://smdp.com/criticism-but-no-punishment-for-councilwoman-oconnor/154871

Civility. Dialogue. Compromise.

Still possible? I truly hope so. I wrote last week that it was getting pretty ugly out there, and it is.

Santa Monica Next, a pro-development group, ran an “editorial” April 8 (except, to run an editorial you have to be a news organization, not propagandists a la Faux “News”) titled, “The LUVE Initiative is No Way to Run a City.” I’m embarrassed to say they likely lifted that from my column of April 6, where I quoted a neighbor I spoke with, and then countered his argument.

Read More: http://smdp.com/peace-luve-and-understanding-in-santa-monica/154857

Learn the basics of the Rent Control Law.

Read More and register: http://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/Rent_Control/Home/Flyer_Images/2016_Tenant_Seminar_Flyer.pdf

Intensifying its efforts to make Santa Monica a new model for transportation, the City Council on Tuesday voted to reorganize the City's Department of Planning and Community Development to better focus on making the beach city more conducive to walking and less reliant on the car.

The plan reshuffles and adds positions to create a new “Mobility Division” and hires a City Urban Designer and a principle planner, according to a staff report to the Council.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/April-2016/04_27_2016_City_of_Santa_Monica_Reorganizes_to_Help_Create_New_Transportation_Model.html

Proponents of the City Attorney Accountability Initiative said they have been working in “fits and starts” to gather the signatures necessary to qualify their proposal for a November election. The City Clerk has suggested all signatures for all initiatives should be at her office by May 20 in order to facilitate the multi-step approval process.

Read More: http://smdp.com/supporters-of-elected-city-attorney-undeterred-by-challenging-signature-process/154848

Nearly a quarter of all low-income HUD rental buildings in Santa Monica will be at risk in the near future, as federal loans come due and owners decide whether to continue current operations or move to sharply higher market rates, according to a new City report.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/April-2016/04_26_2016_Nearly_a_Quarter_of_All_Low_Income_HUD_Housing_in_Santa_Monica_at_Risk.html

Public attention at the April 26 council meeting will likely center on discussions of the recently released ethics report, but Council has a full agenda in addition to the flagship item.

Council will revisit past decisions on tenant rights, solar energy, and the minimum wage. New business includes business participation for Expo celebrations.

Read More: http://smdp.com/ethics-report-overshadows-busy-city-council-agenda/154832

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

Read More: http://smmirror.com/articles/News/LUVE-Petition-in-Final-Countdown-Mode/45391

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.

Read More: http://smdp.com/myths-and-truths-about-santa-monicas-luve-initiative/154823