ACTION Apartment Association

Changes To SM Rent Law Proposed

02/12/2022 9:32 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Activist Santa Monica Rent Control Board Commissioners Caroline Torosis and Anastasia Foster proposed a list of changes to the Santa Monica Rent Control Charter Amendment they want the Rent Board to approve and to send to the City Council as recommendations for the Council to place them as initiatives on the November 2022 ballot. Their proposals are:

1. Eliminate any new 3-unit owner occupancy exemptions;

City's Housing Element Fails to Comply

02/12/2022 9:22 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica's plan to build nearly 9,000 new housing units over the next eight years does not comply with State law and must be revised, California Housing officials informed the City this week.

A Very Bad Deal for Residents and the City

02/11/2022 12:25 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Mary Marlow

Even if you don’t live south of the 10 freeway, you will want to mark your calendar for Thursday, February 17, at 7 p.m. to listen and give input at a developer-led community meeting on the largest new housing project since the 1960’s on Lincoln and Ocean Park Blvd (Gelson’s site).

Here’s the ZOOM meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82892453793

San Francisco Vacant Residential Unit Tax Ballot

02/10/2022 10:41 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Last month, San Francisco’s Budget and Legislative Analyst’s Office found that one in ten of the city’s homes and rental units are currently vacant. The report, which found that 40,458 homes and rental units had been left vacant for an extended period of time in 2019, shocked many in the city and across the state as California’s affordable housing crisis has gotten worse in recent years. The anger propelled Supervisor Preston to create the ballot petition in only a matter of days.

A controversial home-ownership model

02/10/2022 10:35 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Now, an L.A. developer has a new approach to the so-called tenancy-in-common, or TIC, model, in which residents share ownership of the property. Instead of converting old, rent-controlled buildings into TIC properties, the developer is replacing single-family homes with new townhomes.

L.A. City Council moves to implement housing densification law

02/10/2022 10:32 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The council passed a motion Tuesday introduced by councilmembers Paul Koretz and Bob Blumenfield, and seconded by Nithya Raman, instructing city planners and the L.A. Department of Building and Safety to prepare a memorandum to guide city departments and agencies in implementation of the law until the city adopts an official ordinance for its application.

SF Renters on Verge of Winning Collective Bargaining Rights

02/10/2022 10:27 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

City supervisors Monday gave the initial thumbs-up to legislation to protect the formation of tenant associations that, like unions, could collectively bargain with landlords. Negotiations could cover a broad array of concerns, including aesthetics, construction schedules and even rent levels building-wide. The three-person Rules Committee voted unanimously to approve the protections, which now move to the full Board of Supervisors.

Santa Monica City Council Adopts Midyear Budget Adjustments

02/10/2022 10:18 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica City Council made mid-year adjustments to the City’s budget based on updated revenues and expenditures and received a five-year financial forecast. Although future economic uncertainty remains a factor, Santa Monica is entering a phase of recovery and restoration.

New proposal for housing in parking garages

02/07/2022 11:57 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

One new idea, which was presented to the LA County Mental Health Commission in January, suggests sheltering people on the underutilized roofs of parking structures dotted around greater Los Angeles.

City to restore services and rehire over 30 positions

02/07/2022 11:55 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The staff report recommends allocating funding for additional full and part-time staff hours that total to the equivalent of 32.1 full-time positions spread across the City’s departments. The plan also allocates funding towards parks and recreation programming, housing resources and library services.