Black and Latino households or their descendants displaced by urban renewal projects in Santa Monica in the 1950s and 60s could soon be given priority for affordable housing.

The City Council on Tuesday will consider a pilot "Right to Return" program that would place as many as 100 "historically displaced households, including children and grandchildren" in line for City-funded and inclusionary housing.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/July-2021/07_07_2021_Council_to_Consider_Right_to_Return_Program.html

Because many of those companies are delighted to let employees stay home post-pandemic, thus cutting their real estate costs, billions of square feet of former office space are now vacant, most of it likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/07/low-cost-housing-state-keeps-ignoring-the-new-realities/

According to the SantaMonicaDailyPress, Commissioners discussed “creating a program that would allow up to 3 units to be constructed in R1-zoned parcels in the areas of 7th and 14th Streets between Montana Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard and 26th Street between Wilshire and San Vicente Boulevard.” 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/07/santa-monica-commissioners-consider-rezoning-neighborhoods/

 While the pandemic has devastated local businesses, slashed the city’s finances, increased homelessness and threw the city’s focus into chaos, we remain a place with deeply-embedded resources which, for most folks, have been flying under the radar in our community. These have taken root here for many years, but have received little or no attention from our city’s business leadership, political structure or city management. The result is a disconnect between many of those who prosper here, and those who could benefit from effective government action–and this includes most residents and businesses.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2021/07/sma-r-t-column-a-meeting-of-two-worlds/

Gov. Gavin Newsom has approved a three-month extension of California’s COVID-19 eviction moratorium.

Read More: https://caanet.org/governor-signs-short-term-extension-of-covid-19-eviction-moratorium/

Coauthored by Assemblymember Bloom, AB 832 extends the statewide eviction moratorium through September 30, while simultaneously providing financial relief to struggling tenants and their affected landlords. 

Read More on page 4: https://s3.amazonaws.com/smdp_backissues/070621.pdf

The Venice homelessness crisis is spilling over into Santa Monica this week with an increase in unhoused individuals setting up on local beaches.

Several agencies that work with the local homeless population have reported more people living on the streets near the south end of the beach in recent days and the spike in homelessness comes as a Los Angeles officials begin to tackle the recently overrun Venice Boardwalk.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/fallout-from-venice-homeless-crisis-hits-local-beaches/206349

Rents in Santa Monica rose at a higher rate in June than they did in neighboring Los Angeles, as well as the nation at large, according to a report released by Apartment List this week.

Santa Monica rents increased by 3.6 percent over the past month, compared to an average of 1.4 percent for Los Angeles and 2.3 percent nationwide, according to the monthly report.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/June-2021/06_30_2021_Santa_Monica_Rents_Continue_Rising.html

The Los Angeles City Council voted on a proposal Tuesday that asks the city's attorneys to draw up laws that would limit where homeless people can camp in public spaces.

Read More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/la-supports-new-plan-for-stricter-limits-on-homeless-camps/ar-AALF9DN?ocid=msedgntp

The Change faction on the City Council flexed -- and likely expanded -- its power Tuesday, with the appointment of Lana Negrete to fill a vacant Council seat.

It is the third seat filled by appointment in less than two and a half years and gives the Council its first majority not backed by one or both of the City's two major factions -- Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) and Santa Monica Forward.

The Council now has a majority that was not backed by SMRR or Forward, which represent the city's political establishment.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2021/June-2021/06_29_2021_Council_Appoints_Negrete_to_Fill_McKeowns_Seat.html