ACTION Apartment Association

Santa Monica Council Approves Controversial Building Code

09/15/2025 9:04 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Santa Monica City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday night to approve two significant changes to the city's building codes, raising the threshold for high-rise buildings from 55 to 75 feet and allowing single-stairway apartment buildings up to six stories despite heated debate over public safety.

Santa Monica's Fiscal Meltdown

09/15/2025 8:54 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Brock, a second-generation Santa Monican and vocal advocate for fiscal restraint during his term, attributes the acceleration of the crisis to the council's progressive shift after last fall's election

Controversial Housing Bill Clears Final Hurdles

09/15/2025 8:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

SB 79 -- which allows buildings of up to 9 stories adjacent to rail stops and 5 stories up to half a mile from major bus lines -- passed the Assembly with a 41 to 17 vote Thursday, followed by a 21 to 8 Senate vote Friday.

Council Approves Fiscal Distress Resolution

09/15/2025 7:59 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The item -- which articulates the reasons Santa Monica is in "fiscal distress" -- does not reduce services, cut staffing, grant the City manager emergency powers or declare a fiscal emergency.

And it will have no impact on the City's top AAA credit grade from S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings, said City Manager Oliver Chi, who placed the item on last Tuesday's Consent Calendar.

City Manager Taps Veteran Planner for Top Post

09/12/2025 5:33 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica's longtime planning manager Jing Yeo will head the City's Community Development Department after the quiet departure of its former director less than seven months after being hired.

Yeo briefly held the post on an interim basis in January while the City concluded a four-month nationwide search that led to the hiring of South Pasadena City Manager Arminé Chaparyan to permanently fill the post.

Poll Gauges Council Performance

09/11/2025 9:07 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The latest Santa Monica Pulse poll found that 87 percent of respondents were unsatisfied with the Council's performance since four new members were seated last December.

How Santa Monica can Save $384 Million and Avert a Fiscal Crisis

09/10/2025 8:00 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Letter by Houman David Hemmati, MD, PhD

ome common sense ideas about cutting pet projects and avoiding stupid mistakes

Santa Monica Declares State of Fiscal Distress

09/10/2025 7:57 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The resolution directs the city to develop a “budgetary stabilization and overall city realignment plan,” expected to be presented in late October

Santa Monica to face reality of fiscal crisis

09/09/2025 9:46 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica City Council will consider declaring a state of fiscal distress today as the city grapples with massive legal settlements and ongoing budget deficits while simultaneously advancing ambitious climate and demographic policy initiatives.

How A Plus Tree Helps Protect Your Home from Wildfire

09/09/2025 9:39 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Check your wildfire hazard zone using state or local maps (like CalFire’s tool in California). Then walk your property...