ACTION Apartment Association

SM.a.r.t Column: Climbing The Vertical Learning Curve

12/10/2024 12:01 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

It’s important to understand that the city didn’t arrive at this crisis overnight. The issues—declining tax revenues, rising employee benefit costs, aging infrastructure, and fiscal mismanagement—have been building for years. It’s like inheriting an old house where the original owner had been ignoring maintenance for decades. Now the roof is leaking, the foundation is cracking, and you’re scrambling to figure out which problem to address first.

The decisions the council makes now will shape the city’s future for decades.

Stop Wasting Our Tax Dollars

12/10/2024 11:33 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

by Maria Loya

Our residents deserve fair elections and we demand that the new City Council take their fiduciary responsibility seriously and stop wasting our tax dollars fighting the CVRA case.

CURIOUS CITY, 2012-2025* R.I.P. - Charles Andrews

12/04/2024 11:18 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

NOT IMMEDIATELY…

And not forever, yet. But its days are numbered. The very last one will be sometime in 2025. This is the last regularly-scheduled CURIOUS CITY, the loved and hated blast of uncomfortable truths (as I see them) that all of Santa Monica has held its collective breath for each Wednesday, for 13 years.

Local Rents Rose in November

12/04/2024 11:12 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

anta Monica rents rose in November for the third time this year, bucking a nationwide trend that saw rents dip during the slow rental season, according to Apartment List's monthly report.

The median rent in Santa Monica rose 1.3 percent last month and now stands at $2,338 for a one-bedroom apartment and $2,803 for a two-bedroom, according to the popular rental site.

Opinion: Santa Monica massively underfunding its police department

12/03/2024 9:58 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

by Cody Green

So, without having the resources of a large research firm, I did a dive into other cities’ general funds and police budgets compared to Santa Monica’s. What I found nearly knocked me off my chair. Santa Monica is underfunding its police Department by millions of dollars each year compared to other cities.

Workshops for landlords and tenants to be held this December

12/03/2024 9:55 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica residential landlords, tenants, property managers, service providers and city staff are set to discuss the latest information in landlord/tenant topics at the popular free annual Landlord/Tenant Forum on Monday, Dec. 9, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Main Public Library’s Martin Luther King Auditorium.

Push to Settle Voting Rights Case Fails

12/03/2024 8:37 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A last ditch lobbying effort to settle the 8 1/2-year-old voting rights lawsuit against the City before a new council is sworn in has failed.

Advocates of switching to district-based elections pushed hard over the holiday weekend for Mayor Phil Brock to hold a special meeting before four new Councilmembers take their seats next Tuesday.

New Council Won't Improve Public Safety, Poll Finds

12/03/2024 8:36 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A monthly poll of Santa Monica residents concerned with public safety are not confident the four newly elected Councilmembers will boost efforts to fight crime.

The Pulse Poll of "civically engaged" residents also found that increasing public safety and reducing homelessness remain top priorities and that the City is headed in the wrong direction.

The battle against 6% broker fees isn’t over after a surprise 11th hour court filing

12/02/2024 9:29 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The US Department of Justice threw even more doubt into a new way of paying for real estate brokers this week, raising concerns about a recent wide-ranging legal settlement.

The DOJ’s objections have left many Realtors—already uncertain about the future of their industry—scratching their heads over how to negotiate pay without breaking the law.

Santa Monica Key Player in 'Building Boom'

11/27/2024 9:06 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica is among a number of California cities poised "to unleash a building boom" after pro-housing advocate swept all four open Council seats, according to California YIMBY.