ACTION Apartment Association

Get ‘Cash for Grass’ With Two Sustainable Landscaping Rebate Programs

11/04/2022 9:07 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica residents can take advantage of two programs that will pay you to upgrade your outdoor space into a sustainable garden.

See More: https://smmirror.com/2022/11/get-cash-for-grass-with-two-sustainable-landscaping-rebate-programs/

A Few Donors Carry Heavy Clout in Local Races

11/04/2022 9:06 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica's low cap on candidate donations has bolstered the influence of both unknown donors from outside the City and powerful political players from within.

Council Revisits Smoking Ordinance

11/04/2022 8:31 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Strengthened by the Council in 2010, the law bans smoking within 20 feet of doors or open windows, in common areas and on private balconies, patios and other areas "from which smoke can travel to other units and common areas," according to City officials. But it doesn't address smoking in a public right-of-way around the building or how the ordinance can be enforced.

As housing prices surge, rent control is back on the ballot

11/03/2022 8:48 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

With rental prices skyrocketing and affordable housing in short supply, inflation-weary tenants in cities and counties across the country are turning to the ballot box for relief. Supporters say rent control policies on the Nov. 8 ballot are the best short-term option to dampen rising rents and ensure vulnerable residents remain housed.

Who’s Backing City Council Candidates?

11/03/2022 8:41 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

This is a hotly contested City Council election with 3 seats open. Political office here doesn’t come cheap. A little help from your friends goes toward candidates gaining a winning edge.

City Could Be Vastly Overestimating "Rent-Burdened' Households

11/02/2022 10:11 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

If a widely publicized "rent relief" program is any indication, City officials have been vastly overestimating the number of "rent-burdened" households in Santa Monica.

A total of 563 households applied for the City's “Rent Control Adjustment Relief” (RCAR) program, fewer than one-tenth of 6,000 the very low-income households City officials say are paying more than half of their income in rent.

Santa Monica Real Estate Report – October 31st, 2022

10/31/2022 11:47 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

See More: https://smmirror.com/2022/10/new-mixed-use-building-on-wilshire-to-provide-71-units-of-housing-santa-monica-real-estate-report-october-31st-2022/

School District, Malibu Agree to Separation 'Framework'

10/31/2022 11:17 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In what was quickly called both "a historic moment" and a "politically suspect move," the School District and City of Malibu unveiled a "framework" on Friday to move towards separation.

Mayor Himmelrich Blocks Housing Commission Report from City Council

10/28/2022 5:11 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

1. Mayor Sue Himmelrich refused to agendize a brief but important Housing Commission report with recommendations for today's City Council meeting. She did this after a) having publicly announced her inability to treat the Housing Commission without bias...

SMa.r.t. Column: Santa Monica’s Pending Apocalypse

10/28/2022 4:52 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

For years, we were a 2 & 3 story terraced seaside community, a central park for the larger metropolitan area – a low-rise beach city like Santa Barbara, Carmel, and Santa Cruz, with maximum 3 story building heights in multi-family neighborhoods, 4 stories on our boulevards, and 5 stories downtown. But that Santa Monica is fast deteriorating, and we’re headed in Long Beach’s direction!

We are a city out-of-control. What’s our city’s future – “money & tourism” or “culture & seaside environment”?