As reported by Wes Wellman

Noteworthy Night at Santa Monica’s Rent Board

• Announced that the 2022 annual general rent adjustment percentage will be 6%, subject to a $140 ceiling, to be considered at its June 9^th meeting, which would apply to all units with MARs of $2,325 and above.
• Staff recommended that the Board, at its June 9^th meeting either:
• • increase the registration fee to $228 with a pass through to tenants of $9.50 per month, which is a $1.25 increase from the current pass-through of $8.25, or
  • increase the registration fee to $222 per unit with a pass-through to tenants of $9.25 per month
• Commissioner Nicole Phillips resigned due to an apparent move to a new home in Los Angeles. She encouraged the Board not to nominate a successor prior to the November election to avoid favoring “inside baseball” players over more grass roots candidates. Put your money on “inside baseball” prevailing.
• SMRR leaders gave public testimony encouraging the Board to formulate a plan for a ballot initiative to limit rent increases in crisis times. SMRR politburo members blamed inflation on the war in Ukraine and supply chain disruptions and further maintained that price increases were limited to items not required by apartment owners to maintain buildings such as increases in the cost of food. They did not address cost increases in insurance, utilities. building supplies, and service worker costs. They are unlikely to be awarded a Nobel Prize in Economics.
• As directed, the Board voted to form a subcommittee to work with City Council staff to craft, for Council consideration, a November ballot initiative to allow the Board to depart from automatic rent increases now imposed by the Rent Control Charter.