SM.a.r.t. Column: Santa Monica Just Made It Easier to Sell the Public’s Land

10/16/2026 2:51 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica’s City Council has found a remarkably efficient way to dispose of public property: eliminate some of the rules that made selling it difficult. On March 10, buried in Ordinance 2849, an innocuous-sounding overhaul of City purchasing procedures, the Council lowered the threshold for approving certain sales of City-owned real estate from five votes to four. It also removed specific requirements for public notice, findings of public purpose, and competitive sale procedures. What previously required broader political agreement and a defined public process can now potentially be accomplished by a bare Council majority.

Ballot Error Misleads Voters, Measure GG Opponent Says

10/16/2026 2:41 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

But while arguments opposing Measure GG are included on the City Clerk's website, as well as on the sample ballot, the ballot itself says there is "no opposition" and only lists the names of supporters.

Mathew Millen, one of the opponents listed in the ballot arguments, believes the omission on the ballot itself will discourage voters from casting "No" votes.

Resident accuses Torosis and Chi of clearing the way for city land deals;

10/12/2026 12:05 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

sale rules dropped, airport limits weaker than voters were told.

In a letter to the Santa Monica Observer, resident Harriet Epstein wrote that Torosis and Chi "are setting up a mechanism for Santa Monica to sell off its valuable land holdings without any residents' knowledge or participation." She named Bergamot Station, several parking garages, and the airport, and said a longstanding rule on public hearings and comment for land sales had been replaced by an arrangement that could move property and debt out of public view. She said the change was placed on the consent calendar and urged voters not to re-elect Torosis.

Curious City 10/09/26: Oelsen, Brock, Negrete

10/12/2026 12:00 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

by Charles Andrews

City Settlement Extends Protections for Deed Restricted Units

10/12/2026 11:29 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Two Santa Monica property owners who failed to show deed-restricted affordable housing units were occupied by income-qualified tenants reached settlement agreements with the City, the City Attorney's office announced Wednesday.

Ballot Measure Raises Eviction Concerns

10/12/2026 11:25 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

"Measure GG is a deceptive campaign to evict tenants not now subject to eviction just because they currently earn more income than the income category that they qualified for without offering the tenant a unit that meets their current income," said Mathew Millen, a leader of Progressive Landlords of Santa Monica.

Council Unleashes Major Housing Developments on Single-Family Neighborhood

10/12/2026 11:24 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council last week voted to give final approval to an ordinance that allows tall high-end multi-family projects to replace 89 of Santa Monica's most affordable single-family homes.

Anti-Establishment Candidates Lead in Fundraising

10/12/2026 11:22 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The fundraising leader in the November 3 race for three open Council seats is local businessman Doug Trussler, whose campaign had raised $213,000 this year by the filing period that ended September 19, including $150,000 in personal loans. Trussler's campaign had spent $131,024.

Meanwhile, incumbent Lana Negrete and environmental activist Ashley Oelsen each raised some $100,000, with Negrete receiving $101,311 in contributions of $100 or more from 168 contributors and Oelsen $99,711 from 154 contributions, as well as $25,700 in personal loans.

Council Poised to Give Final Approval to Controversial Housing Ordinance

10/12/2026 11:19 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Homeowners in the Pico Neighborhood's Gandara Park area said they will continue fighting to stave off the immediate impacts of SB 79, a state law that allows multi-family developments of up to five stories within half a mile of the city's seven major transit zones.

SM.a.r.t Column: Eight Year Report Card

09/18/2026 3:23 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

As you can see, those 8 year old issues are still very present today. Our City, for example, has completely abandoned its water-independence goal; it has made no progress in eight years on Vision Zero—four people still die every year in traffic accidents—homelessness is still chronic, and our public debt has ballooned spectacularly.