ACTION Apartment Association

Council seeks to set 3% cap on annual rent adjustment for controlled units

07/21/2022 11:08 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Following a historically high annual rent adjustment of 6% for rent controlled units, city councilmembers have indicated a desire to cap all future increases at 3%.

The Rent Control Board’s initial ballot measure sought to give Rent Control Commissioners the ability to issue a freeze on rent increases for controlled units during declared public emergencies.

Councilmembers objected to this and other aspects of the ballot measure, subsequently directing staff to prepare two new ballot measures based on their suggestions.

According to the City Attorney’s Office, one of these measures is the 3% cap on annual rent increases. The other is a measure to authorize the City Council to impose additional rent limitations during a declared emergency.

Councilwoman McCowan will not run for reelection

07/21/2022 11:06 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Councilwoman Kristin McCowan will not run for reelection this year creating a second seat without an incumbent on the November ballot.

Santa Monica Landlord Settles Tenant Harassment Lawsuit Filed by City

07/21/2022 7:40 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The lawsuit filed in April alleges that the landlord -- Ross Vaisburd, Rolana Serebryanaya and related legal entities -- made the requested repairs and remodeled the unit "only after the tenants vacated."

They then listed the unit "for a much higher rent," according to a press release issued by the City Attorney’s Office on Wednesday.

De la Torre Free to Take Part in Voting Rights Lawsuit Decisions

07/21/2022 7:39 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

According to the settlement that went into effect Monday, "The City Council hereby withdraws and vacates its decision to exclude Councilmember de la Torre from closed sessions or any other participation in the Pico (Neighborhood Association) case.

Eleven Council Candidates Pull Nominating Papers

07/19/2022 9:25 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Armen Melkonians, whose online Residocracy group was a popular forum for slow-growth activists and an organizing platform that helped defeat a major development project, also pulled nominating papers after running in 2016.

So did Rent Board member Coroline Torosis, who has the strong backing of Mayor Himmelrich and Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR), which faces a crucial test of its power in November.

AND: https://www.smdp.com/first-batch-of-residents-begin-process-of-running-for-local-office/219575

Council battles over ballot measures, delays final vote

07/18/2022 9:31 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Despite hours of heated discussion last week, decisions on a pair of dueling ballot measures to raise taxes on property sales above $8 million were pushed to a July 26 Council meeting due to ongoing confusion and controversy over the specifics of each measure.

Rent Board Member Resigns

07/18/2022 9:12 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Rent Board Commissioner Naomi Sultan unexpectedly announced her resignation on Thursday, less than four months before she was slated to run for re-election.

Sultan's announcement came hours after the Board unanimously appointed Erika Lesley, a leader of the Santa Monica Black Agenda, to fill the post vacated by Nicole Phillis two months ago.

SMa.r.t. Column: We’re All Wet – Not!

07/18/2022 9:11 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

So, Santa Monica agrees with the State that there is a real-world water shortage issue that impacts all living things and it is most necessary to curtail overuse and waste of water. We probably all agree on that.

Development, the Santa Monica Water Emergency, and Cognitive Dissonance

It always comes back to development…

Santa Monica’s planning department, with council blessing, has sent a proposal to the State to show conformance with the RHNA mandates, but instead of showing suitable sites (SSI) for the mandated 8,895 units, they instead stretched that out to some 13,000 units, “to allow for commercial space uses, etc…” all of which results in requiring a re-write of the zoning code to increase heights pretty much throughout the town.

Council Amends Brock's Rival Transfer Tax Measure for Upcoming Vote

07/15/2022 12:30 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Despite a stiff lobbying effort by powerful opponents, the City Council on Tuesday voted to amend a property transfer tax proposed by Councilmember Phil Brock and vote on it in two weeks.

The move incensed Mayor Sue Himmelrich, who had just seen the Council vote to place her own transfer tax measure on high-end properties on the November ballot during the Council's first packed meeting in more than two years.

How is Mayor's Tax Measure Perverse? Let Me Count the Ways

07/15/2022 12:27 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

by Peter Borresen

It is perverse that the Mayor’s measure will deny our democratically elected Councilmembers, and hence the voters, from managing the transfer tax revenue, instead a hand-picked board of 11 cronies will give out monies to whomever they find suitable. It is a most blatant example of taxation without representation, and an invitation to political abuse. The council is absolutely right to be opposed to this loss of control over a huge amount of city tax money.