In Santa Monica, modern-day plunder comes in the form of unfettered pillaging of our community resources under the Housing Accountability Act and state-mandated residential development quotas. In 1990, the state added a retribution measure to the law with the “Builder’s Remedy,” which threatened municipalities with massive, unsustainable, and undesirable developments for those who resisted unconditional surrender and complete state control. Under the state’s bootprint, the sky had no limit.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2024/02/s-m-a-r-t-column-top-toady-town/

The Santa Monica Coalition on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the LA County Health Department to halt a program that distributes clean needles in the beach city's parks and other outdoor spaces.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2024/February-2024/02_16_2024_Santa_Monica_Group_Announces_Lawsuit_Over_Needle_Program.html

At a Feb. 5 meeting of the Santa Monica Architectural Review Board (ARB), the board approved the design, colors, materials and landscape plans for a residential apartment building at 700 Santa Monica Boulevard. The property as proposed will have no residential parking spots on site.

Read More: https://smdp.com/2024/02/16/more-units-but-no-parking-at-proposed-downtown-development/

Read More and See Interactive Map: https://www.latimes.com/projects/does-my-building-need-earthquake-retrofit-los-angeles-map/

Who made this motion? Gleam Davis and Caroline Torosis. Neither of them speak or understand German. Both are well paid attorneys who live in million dollar homes and have high-paying jobs.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2024/02/14/opinion/santa-monica-city-council-unanimously-votes-to-send-two-wealthy-members-to-vienna-austria-at-taxpayer-expense/8113.html

The Santa Monica Coalition announced it has filed a lawsuit against County Health Director Barbara Ferrer, the Los Angeles County Health Department, and the Venice Family Clinic as a real party of interest, in connection with the ongoing Needle Distribution Program which has been conducted for a period of approximately four (4) years at all three parks in Downtown Santa Monica.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2024/02/14/news/lawsuit-filed-against-barbara-ferrer-la-county-health-department-and-venice-family-clinic-over-open-air-needle-distribution-program/8116.html

Today, the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors voted to advance the Short-Term Rentals Regulations Ordinance.

 Specifically, the ordinance will:

• Limit STRs to the Host’s primary residence
• Limit STR stays to 30 calendar days or less and limit the number of days the STR can be rented “un-hosted.”
• Prohibit the use of ADUs as STRs to preserve ADUs for long-term rentals
• Prohibit rent-restricted housing for STR use

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2024/02/local-leaders-and-residents-rally-la-county-supervisors-to-approve-strict-srt-regulations/

I am writing in opposition to Item 5G ("Discussion of Potential Resolution for Charter Amendments for Additional Tenant Protections") on the Agenda for the February 13 meeting of the Santa Monica City Council, l and any proposal to adopt by Initiative, Ordinance or otherwise any proposal to condition eviction for nonpayment of rent on the nonpayment of any more than the rent that is past due, which in the case of a month-to-month tenancy would ordinarily be one month's rent. This proposal is unconstitutional, invalid, unenforceable, unwise, harmful to renters, unnecessarily antagonistic towards landlords, and there is no evidence that it would serve any useful purpose.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2024/02/12/opinion/eviction-protection-santa-monica-city-council-to-consider-a-solution-in-search-of-a-problem/8107.html

From the Los Angeles County Assessor’s office

By filing a claim for Misfortune & Calamity relief within one year of the incident, properties that have sustained a minimum of $10,000 in damage or destruction may be eligible for a refund of taxes already paid and lower annual tax bills until the property is repaired or rebuilt. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2024/02/tax-relief-is-available-for-natural-disasters/

New Legislation Extends the Validity Period to One Year and Mandates Notarization

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2024/02/santa-monica-property-owners-important-changes-to-trespass-letter-submission/