According to city candidate filing records dated Aug. 12, 2026, multiple hopefuls pulled nomination papers in the weeks leading up to the deadline, though not all who took out papers ultimately filed, and some who filed later withdrew.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/ballot-takes-shape-with-contested-races-in-all-local-elections/

The City will accept applications through August 31 for initial consideration in the Master Leasing Program, part of the newly introduced Housing Focused System of Care that creates "a structured pathway to housing for individuals, with City oversight at each stage of the process."

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2026/August-2026/08_13_2026_City_Seeks_Property_Owners_to_Rent_to_Homeless.html

Supporters of a $495 parcel tax on the November ballot say the money is needed to “protect educational excellence,” but opponents counter it is in effect a City tax that won't increase school funding, according to ballot arguments submitted to the City Clerk last week.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2026/August-2026/08_12_2026_Radically_Opposing_Views_on_Parcel_Tax.html

Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMMR) endorsed Mayor Caroline Tororis and Rent Control Board member Danny Ivanov at the group's annual convention Sunday, but failed to make a third endorsement in the race for three open City Council seats.

The powerful tenants group's steering committee will now decide whether to endorse one of the three candidates who made it to the third and final round of voting but failed to win the 55 percent of the vote needed.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2026/August-2026/08_10_2026_SMRR_Endorses_Torosis_Ivanov_for_Council.html

The report the Council will take up Tuesday outlines how the City's investment in helping Community Corporation of Santa Monica (CCSM) embark on the project ballooned from a nearly $15.2 million acquisition and pre-development loan in 2020 into a $35.65 million loan to rehabilitate the property at 2033-2101 Virginia Avenue in the Pico Neighborhood.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2026/August-2026/08_06_2026_The_35_Million_Cost_of_Rehabbing_a_Rent_Control_Building.html

The proposal, called the Missing Middle Housing Realignment Plan, centers on the cottage court — a cluster of six or seven detached homes of about 850 square feet arranged around a shared courtyard. Planning Commissioner Shawn Landres, who presented the plan on the commission's behalf, said the form itself, if built at the right size and density, can deliver homes at prices working households can reach without subsidizing every unit.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-council-advances-cottage-court-plan-to-house-citys-workforce/

A letter sent to Community Corporation tenants dated July 27 states that the rent hike will affect those who are currently paying below the Maximum Allowable Rent (MAR) for their unit set by Santa Monica's Rent Control Charter.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2026/August-2026/08_03_2026_Some_Community_Corp_Rent_Control_Units_Could_See_Rent_Hikes.html

The Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday postponed a decision on whether to join a proposed regional affordable housing trust, sending city staff back to the negotiating table over concerns that the agreement could expose the city to future costs and let unelected board members steer financing decisions.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-delays-vote-on-regional-housing-trust-seeks-new-terms/

Of the five candidates who have pulled papers for three open Rent Control Board seats, only Sue Himmelrich has filed a financial disclosure so far. Her campaign reported $10,000 in total contributions this period, but the entire sum came from a personal loan rather than outside donations, with no monetary contributions reported. Himmelrich's committee reported $750 in expenditures and ended the period with $9,250 cash on hand. Candidates Kurt Gonska, Soledad Marcial, Zoë Muntaner and Heather Thomason have also pulled papers for the Rent Control Board but have not reported financial filings.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/four-candidates-rise-to-the-top-of-the-money-race-but-election-season-is-still-wide-open/

The move came after a hastily called special joint meeting of the Council and Rent Control Board Monday to address concerns the measure the Council had placed on the November ballot at its July 14 meeting could expose the City to a lawsuit.

Property owners objected to the measure that the Rent Board at its meeting June 25 recommended the Council place on the November 3 ballot.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2026/July-2026/07_30_2026_Council_Scraps_Ballot_Measure.html