ACTION Apartment Association

Santa Monica Could Join in Challenge to State Housing Mandates

09/24/2021 4:44 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The three "Change" Council members will test their political clout on Tuesday with a vote on whether to take steps to challenge the State's housing mandates for Southern California.

An item placed on the agenda by Councilmember Phil Brock calls for the Council to request that a group representing Westside governments join a lawsuit against the State filed by their Orange County counterparts.

Deadline Looms to Apply for Rental Assistance

09/24/2021 4:43 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica officials are encouraging renters and landlords to apply for financial assistance with rent and utilities before the State eviction moratorium ends September 30.

So far, more than 867 Santa Monica households have received over $14 million in state rental assistance, officials said.

Proposal to split SMMUSD clears preliminary hurdle

09/20/2021 9:42 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At a virtual meeting on Sept. 19, the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization agreed with a recent staff report that said more time was needed to evaluate Malibu’s proposal to split the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District and the Committee approved the decision on an 8-2 vote.

SMa.r.t. Column: Densification Fiction Converted To Fact Through Repetition

09/20/2021 9:33 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

This storyline foretells what we are facing today with the rise of the Urban Growth Machine (UGM) as the State takes over city land regulation. The State has passed 100 or so pieces of land-use legislation since 2016 when it declared a 3.5 million point-in-time housing unit “shortage” that is entirely devoid of any quantitative expiration criteria. The declaration is essentially a permanent “solution” to a point-in-time, narrative-defined, “problem.”

California enacts 2 laws to slice through local zoning rules

09/17/2021 9:07 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

He signed the most prominent legislation despite nearly 250 cities objecting that it will, by design, undermine local planning and control.

The outcome marks the latest battle between what’s come to be thought of as NIMBY vs. YIMBY. While most agree there is an affordable housing shortage, proposed construction often runs into “not in my backyard” opposition.

“The housing affordability crisis is undermining the California Dream for families across the state, and threatens our long-term growth and prosperity,” Newsom said in announcing his approval.

He also announced the state will put $1.75 billion into what his administration is calling a new California Housing Accelerator, which he said will speed building 6,500 affordable multi-family units that had been stalled for lack of tax-exempt bonds and low-income housing tax credits.

California risks forfeiting millions meant for struggling renters

09/16/2021 1:05 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

California must step up its effort to distribute federal funds to renters struggling financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic or the state risks forfeiting millions of dollars in assistance, the state auditor warned Thursday.

City Council agenda-rent relief item

09/14/2021 8:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Council will vote on modifications to the requirements for Santa Monica tenants receiving rent relief from the City’s COVID-19 Rent Abatement Program. These changes would amend the requirements to demonstrate economic hardships to make it easy for certain applicants to reach the threshold. It would also add a requirement that tenants commit to remaining in their property for a minimum of 12 months following receipt of the approved abatement.

Expect a Rebellion Against Key Housing Bills

09/14/2021 8:38 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

For the last four years, this assault on neighborhoods has been a pipe dream of Scott Wiener, the increasingly radical, pro-developer Democratic state senator from San Francisco. The state Senate’s president, Democrat Toni Atkins of San Diego, is almost equally involved.

Before they break their arms while patting themselves on the back, these two lawmakers might want to examine the new realities of California’s referendum politics.

California legislators won’t extend eviction ban

09/13/2021 7:58 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The California eviction moratorium is scheduled to end after Sept. 30, but legislators aren’t planning to extend the protections for renters.

The road to affordable housing is paved with confusion

09/13/2021 7:54 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Prior to March 2020, the City did not have a system to track the number of units in its inventory, how many households were successfully placed or what waitlist priority group they came from.

“We don’t have that data,” said Housing Program Manager Jim Kemper. “It may be that we have it, but it would be a research project and it’s a research project we can’t take on.”