Work has now progressed past street level for the Pacific Landing development at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Pacific Street in Santa Monica. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/06/santa-monica-affordable-housing-development-takes-shape/

While droughts are common in California, this year’s is much hotter and drier than others, evaporating water more quickly from the reservoirs and the sparse Sierra Nevada snowpack that feeds them. The state’s more than 1,500 reservoirs are 50% lower than they should be this time of year, according to Jay Lund, co-director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California-Davis.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/drought-ravages-californias-reservoirs-ahead-of-hot-summer/205556

At the June 2 meeting, Council voted unanimously to open an application process that will run from June 3 to noon June 22. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/06/applications-open-to-fill-vacant-santa-monica-city-council-seat/

After nearly four hours in closed session, the City Council on Wednesday reported no action in the search for a new City Manager.

https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/June-2021/06_02_2021_Council_Takes_No_Action_on_City_Manager_Search.html

The City of Santa Monica has Released the Draft 2021 - 2029 Housing Element Update

PROGRAM 4.D: REZONE SELECTED PORTIONS OF R1-ZONE NEIGHBORHOODS TO INCREASE DENSITY

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/housing-element-update

Still, homeless agencies appear flummoxed by the rejection rate for permanent housing they’re now able to offer, something only recently available. Did they expect a population plagued by instability and a high component (about 20 percent) of serious mental illness to turn overnight into planners interested in delayed gratification?

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/06/is-permanent-housing-the-real-homeless-solution/

The City Council is expected to hire Montebello City Manager Rene Bobadilla as Santa Monica's new City Manager, making him the first Latino to run the city of some 93,000, The Lookout has learned.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/June-2021/06_01_2021_Council_Expected_to_Hire_Montebello_City_Manager.html

Santa Monica's North of Montana Neighborhood was the third most expensive zip code in the U.S. last year, tied with Beverly Hills, according to the annual ranking by Property Shark.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/June-2021/06_01_2021_North_of_Montana_Third_Wealthiest_Zip_Code_in_Nation.html

Assembly Bill 1487, authored by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), would create a “Homeless Prevention Fund” that would be administered by the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission, a state bar run grant administration that funds nonprofit civil legal aid services. According to AB 1487, the commission, would distribute grants, based on a competitive basis, to fund prescribed legal services, education, and outreach for tenants relating to eviction or displacement. The bill would require the commission to develop guidelines for the grant process in accordance with specified requirements. The bill would establish eligibility requirements for grant applicants, including that the applicant agrees to provide all of the services funded by the grant without charge to recipients.

Read More: https://californiaglobe.com/section-2/homeless-prevention-fund-bill-passes-assembly/

Some proposals included in the recently released document call for the increased density in existing neighborhoods as a way to acknowledge the impact that past discriminatory practices have had on housing development. Other propositions will allow the City to satisfy the Housing Element’s most basic requirements, but some local leaders have taken issue with such a mindset.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/draft-housing-element-released-to-public/205367