Rents in Santa Monica grew at a slower rate last year than they did in 2021 and are now slightly higher than at the start of the coronavirus shutdown, according to a report released by Apartment List on Thursday.

Rents increased 7.2 percent in 2022, after rising 12.5 percent in 2021, according to data compiled from listings on the popular website. They are up by 1.5 percent since March 2020.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2023/January-2023/01_05_2023_Santa_Monica_Rents_Cooled_Down_Last_Year.html

Bass and Park Wednesday announced that the Mayor’s new Inside Safe initiative is underway in Venice. According to Bass’s office, outreach has begun to people living in encampments surrounding the A Bridge Home site at the intersection of Sunset Avenue and Pacific Avenue. The Mayor noted that “people have already accepted housing” under the program, a new, citywide, housing-led strategy to bring people inside from tents and encampments and to prevent encampments from returning. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2023/01/la-mayor-bass-and-councilwoman-park-announce-launch-of-initiative-to-address-homeless-in-venice/

The New Year brings with it the annual tradition of new laws taking effect at the local and state level. This year’s crop of rules cover a variety of topics including public safety, rent and traffic.

Santa Monica rules:

Read More: https://smdp.com/2023/01/02/laws/

The City of Santa Monica’s State of the City will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. The Santa Monica community is invited to the virtual event streamed live on YouTube.

Read More on page 7: https://s3.amazonaws.com/smdp_backissues/010323.pdf: 

The City of Santa Monica's State of the City will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. The Santa Monica community is invited to the virtual event streamed live on YouTube.

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2022/12/20/city-of-santa-monica-hosts-state-of-the-city-on-february-7

New real estate scams that claim they cure homelessness pop up like mushrooms after a rain.   Here are several new ones, with undoubtedly more on the way. 

They all need to be debunked, as I try to do below. 

Read More: https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php/cw/planning-watch-la/26112-real-estate-scams-purporting-to-fix-homelessness

The City has extended a rent relief program for struggling rent control tenants after fewer than 500 applications were approved, leaving most of the $750,000 in funding unused.

Of the 563 households that applied for the “Rent Control Adjustment Relief” (RCAR) program, 381 have received at total of $241,026 to help pay their annual rent increase, according to City officials.

"Approximately 100 additional households will be provided financial assistance this month," said Tati Simonian, a spokesperson for the City.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2022/December-2022/12_15_2022_City_Extends_Rent_Relief_Program.html

As this year ends, we want to update you on our ongoing involvement regarding important issues our city is facing:

The Gelson's teardown project (Lincoln and Ocean Park Blvds): In late July, the City issued a lengthy non-compliance letter to the developer detailing necessary project revisions. No revised plans have been filed. 

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2022/12/16/opinion/santa-monica-development-news-year-end-wrap-up-the-gelsons-project-and-recourse-against-the-bombshell-builders-remedy/7311.html

Overview:

Developers have begun filing permits to build large housing projects throughout the city that far exceed local zoning restrictions and while those permits are subject to cursory review, the City lacks any clear path to head off construction of more than 4,500 new units.

Read More: https://smdp.com/2022/12/15/development/