The president is directing the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to examine limits on rent increases for future investments and actions promoting renter protections. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have been tapped to root out practices that unfairly prevent applicants and tenants from accessing or staying in housing.

Read More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/biden-rolls-out-renters-bill-of-rights-as-lawmakers-push-for-federal-rent-control-laws/ar-AA16Jht5?cvid=2ea28bf945ef420790c04260fb7d8374

Progressive Democrats in Congress, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D–Mass.) and Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D–N.Y.), are urging the White House to marshal all available organs of the regulatory state to impose rent control on the entire country.

Read More: https://reason.com/2023/01/18/elizabeth-warren-jamaal-bowman-want-to-give-lina-khan-the-power-to-impose-rent-control-on-the-whole-country/

Tuesday’s City Council meeting includes a pair of significant lawsuits, debate over the future of the Santa Monica airport, expansions of outdoor dining, updates on sustainability efforts and a pair of requests to help encourage economic recovery.

Read More: https://smdp.com/2023/01/24/council-agenda/

See Video at: https://smmirror.com/2023/01/million-dollar-listing-to-sell-local-luxury-estate-santa-monica-real-estate-report-january-23rd-2023/

The L.A. City Council voted Friday to vastly expand tenant rights by approving a package of new protections meant to keep renters housed after pandemic-era regulations go away.

The vote came less than two weeks ahead of a looming deadline: The city’s COVID-19 eviction protections are set to expire after Jan. 31.

Read More: https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-city-council-covid-19-pandemic-permanent-tenant-protections-eviction-moratorium-renter-landlord-housing-january-31-february-1

Business owners and taxpayers impacted by the storms are eligible for state emergency tax relief from late payment interest and penalties.

Read More: https://patch.com/california/santamonica/santa-monica-taxpayers-impacted-storms-eligible-tax-relief

Gas stoves, heaters and dryers are a thing of the past for new buildings in Santa Monica. Two new building codes that went into effect at the start of this year require all newly built constructions within city limits to be all-electric and include an increased number of electric vehicle (EV) charging spaces as part of efforts to reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

Read More: https://smdp.com/2023/01/20/electric-buildings/

The City Council on Tuesday will take up a lawsuit in closed session that seeks to void a transfer tax hike approved by Santa Monica voters in November.

The lawsuit filed January 9 in Los Angeles Superior Court against the City and School District claims that Measure GS violates the California Constitution's “single-subject” rule because it generates funding for two separate purposes.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2023/January-2023/01_18_2023_Lawsuit_Seeks_to_Void_Transfer_Tax_Hike.html

by Arthur Jeon

The crimes and helplessness of addicts on the street changed my perspective on the sign. 

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2023/01/18/opinion/why-the-sign-warning-of-the-santa-monica-outdoor-mental-institution-was-rightunfortunately/7368.html

"CRIME” VONS EXPLAINS SANTA MONICA POLITICS - And none of it is very hidden or subtle. A dozen years ago when City Council approved a new master plan for development, some of us noticed that there were some half a dozen “Opportunity Sites” that were excluded from restriction. Opportunity for whom, we wondered, but knew the answer. The Vons property was one of them. 250 condos and apartments will now top a smaller Vons, when the construction dust settles. By that time it will become part of the Great Wall of Lincoln. I like to pose the question, Who does this benefit?

Read More on page 5: https://s3.amazonaws.com/smdp_backissues/011823.pdf