ACTION Apartment Association

San Francisco Vacant Residential Unit Tax Proposition Passes

11/16/2022 12:01 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Introduced earlier this year by the Democratic Socialists of America and Faith in Action Bay Area, Proposition M, also known as the Empty Homes Tax, will tax property owners who have at least three units that have been vacant for more than six months. The tax amount is dependent on unit size but will be between $2,500 and $5,000 per empty unit for the first two years of vacancy, with up to $10,000 for any at three or more years. The tax will begin starting in January 2024

Leaders in Competitive Races Hold On

11/16/2022 9:02 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Leaders in the three Santa Monica races that remain to be decided inched further ahead after 284,084 votes were counted since Saturday.

Police reform back in the spotlight

11/15/2022 8:33 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The reports focus on implementation and status of the May 2021 after-action report on the events of May 31, 2020 — the protests and simultaneous looting of downtown. The report, compiled by police oversight specialists OIR Group, included 44 recommendations, of which 29 had been completed as of September, according to the latest report; the remaining 15 were underway.

A 26-page report included in the staff report for the Tuesday council meeting lists the status of each recommendation.

Santa Monica Real Estate Report – November 14th, 2022

11/15/2022 8:21 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

* City Approves Second Pedestrian-Only Promenade Like Space in Downtown
* England’s New Prime Minister Owns A $7.2M Dollar Santa Monica

See More: https://smmirror.com/2022/11/city-approves-second-pedestrian-only-promenade-like-space-in-downtown-santa-monica-real-estate-report-november-14th-2022/

Three Santa Monica Races Remain Close

11/15/2022 8:18 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In one of the close races, Councilmember Lana Negrete has been slowly expanding her lead over Natalya Zarnitskaya for the final spot in the race for three Council seats.

Neighborhood Groups Push Back on 'Gag Order'

11/15/2022 8:16 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

"Threatening to take away Neighborhood Associations' modest City funding and recognition, even if groups are in compliance with current non-profit organization regulations, would unnecessarily stifle public discourse," the NOMA Board wrote.

$5 million collected last year to offset new development

11/14/2022 8:21 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The fees are gathered in line with a 1987 state law that outlines how such fees can be collected.

On Tuesday, Santa Monica City Council will receive a report on the latest fees gathered for development in fiscal year 2021-22.

SMa.r.t. Column: Santa Monica Housing Development – Poison Pills, Bad Data and the Blame Game

11/14/2022 8:13 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Prior councils have made long term decisions that have locked the city into an extraordinarily fixed path, the consequences of which are only now becoming apparent to all stakeholders. In business, a loosely analogous strategy is called a “Poison Pill.” Poison Pills are generally used to prevent changes.

Friday Vote Tally Changes Little in Local Races

11/14/2022 8:08 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In the race for three open City Council seats, Rent Board Commissioner Caroline Torosis was still in first place more than 1,100 votes ahead of Jesse Zwick, while Zwick led Councilmember Lana Negrete by more than 2,300 votes.

Negrete added 19 votes to her margin Thursday, putting her 582 votes ahead of Natalya Zernitskaya, who remained in fourth place ahead of Armen Melkonians and Ellis Raskin.

Candidates, Ballot Measures Hold on to Leads as More Ballots Counted

11/11/2022 9:29 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The frontrunners in Santa Monica races held on to -- and in some cases padded -- their leads after the LA County Registrar unexpectedly released a new batch of votes Thursday afternoon.

AND: https://smdp.com/2022/11/11/torosis-zwick-negrete-maintain-council-lead-as-votes-trickle-in/