ACTION Apartment Association

Santa Monica Poised to Crack Down on Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

07/20/2023 2:58 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

To help crack down on violators, the amended law would allow the use of video-taped evidence and expand responsible parties to include the "property owner, owner, tenant, business owner or manager."

Code enforcers could then target their efforts "at the owners or occupants of property who may either violate this provision or employ those who do, rather than punishing those who may be least able to pay fines."

We need solutions, not politics by Charles Andrews

07/19/2023 9:01 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Here in Santa Monica we have spent millions to supposedly fight homelessness, yet have had to form a commission just to find out where that money went. That’s absurd, and insulting to local taxpayers who are afraid to walk our streets, and to those suffering on the streets.

Something is clearly off with California’s homelessness spending

07/19/2023 9:00 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

It strains credulity to believe that spending $42,000 per person is insufficient, but if bumped up to $45,000, all will be OK. California does not have the worst-in-the-nation homeless crisis because it spends too little.

To: The Santa Monica City Council, The Santa Monica City Manager, and the Santa Monica Police Chief Subject: My city is gone

07/17/2023 10:09 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

I never go out alone. I drive to work with mace in my lap. I shutter when someone pounds on my door and screams crazy obscenities at 3am. I read the crime reports on social media, because YOU refuse to tell us or warn us about anything.

Residents Question Epidemic of Homeless People Screaming in Local Neighborhoods

07/17/2023 10:07 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

There seems to be an epidemic of screaming homeless people in and around Santa Monica. Some draw a connection to LA County Dept of Public Health's free needle and pipe distribution program.

Santa Monica City Councilman Injured in Tussle With a Homeless Man on the Third Street Promenade Sunday

07/17/2023 10:04 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

"A vagrant was tearing down his "Santa Monica is not Safe" sign. Phil told him to stop....he started throwing stuff at Phil

Los Angeles County Approves Landmark Right to Counsel Ordinance, Ensuring Legal Representation for Tenants Facing Eviction

07/17/2023 9:57 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

This ordinance would cover residents in unincorporated areas and expand to incorporated areas within Los Angeles County, except those within the city of Los Angeles. The City of Los Angeles has already unanimously passed an ordinance on March 22 that would establish a Right to Counsel program.

Opinion: I'm a tenant in the mass eviction at Barrington Plaza. This developer decision could devastate L.A.

07/17/2023 9:38 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The multibillion-dollar corporate landlord and developer, Douglas Emmett, decided to evict all the largely working-class tenants from their 577 occupied units in one of the biggest rent-stabilized buildings on Los Angeles’ pricey Westside. The company says it intends to retrofit the fire sprinkler system, following dangerous fires in 2013 and 2020, and make other needed repairs. Yet if it requires units to be vacant to do the work, the city requires the filing of a Tenant Habitability Plan, under which tenants should be temporarily relocated, not evicted.

Three Planning Commissioners Seek Reappointment

07/14/2023 1:09 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Commissioners Jim Ries, Nina Fresco and Mario Fonda Bonardi contend that their experience on the seven-member commission is needed as the City faces major planning challenges.

"The city is in an enormous state of flux and the Department of Community Development is under particular pressure to get a great deal done in the immediate future," said Fresco, who along with Fonda-Bonardi is seeking a third term.

$1.5 Billion Biennial Budget Restores Cut Services

07/13/2023 9:18 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The budget approved on June 27 reflects "the most substantial restoration of services" since the 2020 coronavirus shutdown and provides a plan to "rebuild, restore and reenergize our community," City officials said.

The budget significantly boosts the total number of full-time employees and as needed employees from 1,889.8 in FY 2020-21 to to 2,100 this year.