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Council to Launch Process on Tuesday to Replace Morena

06/19/2020 7:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council on Tuesday is expected to open the application process to replace outgoing Council member Greg Morena, paving the way for the fourth current member initially chosen by the Council.

The Council would have one month to replace Morena, who unexpectedly announced his resignation Wednesday ("Morena to Resign from City Council," June 17, 2020).

His replacement would serve until Morena's term expires in November 2022, City Clerk Denise Anderson-Warren told The Lookout.

Santa Monica Extends Eviction Moratorium Another Month

06/18/2020 9:30 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City on Wednesday extended its eviction moratorium to July 31 for tenants who can show they were unable to pay rent due to the economic fallout of the coronavirus crackdown.

Under the extension, tenants continue to have a year from the time the moratorium ends to come up with the back rent.

AND: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2020/06/17/santa-monica-extends-its-temporary-eviction-moratorium-to-july-31-2020

Who Will Rent the Massive White Elephants nearing completion on Lincoln Blvd?

06/18/2020 9:28 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

What will happen to the Massive White Elephant buildings nearing completion on Lincoln Blvd? Will young people earning $3000 a week at Google, Snapchat and Facebook line up to lease block NYC style apartments with freeway views?

Morena to Resign from City Council

06/17/2020 6:10 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Greg Morena will resign from the Santa Monica City Council next Wednesday after learning his position prohibits him from renegotiating his restaurant lease with the City.

Albright restaurant -- the business his family has owned on the Santa Monica Pier for 40 years -- has been shut down since a coronavirus emergency was declared three months ago.

AND: https://smmirror.com/2020/06/councilmember-greg-morena-resigns/

Oral Arguments Set for June 30 in Santa Monica Voting Rights Case

06/16/2020 9:46 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

More than four years after Latino activists filed a lawsuit challenging Santa Monica's election system, an Appeals Court panel will hold its final hearing in the case this month.

A three-judge panel from the 2nd District Court of Appeal, which includes Los Angeles County, is scheduled to hear oral arguments from both parties -- either by phone or video conferencing -- on June 30, according to the Court's calendar.

Rent Control Board elected to impose a $32 cap on rent increases

06/15/2020 9:24 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At its Thursday meeting, the Rent Control Board elected to impose a $32 cap on rent increases for rent-controlled tenants who pay more than $2,250 in rent. All other rent-controlled tenants will be subject to a maximum rent increase of 1.4%.

Read More at end of the article at: https://www.smdp.com/rent-control-board-backs-state-anti-eviction-measure/193013

Rent Control Board backs state anti-eviction measure

06/15/2020 9:23 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Santa Monica Rent Control Board is supporting a state bill that would protect renters across the state from eviction as they get back on their feet after the coronavirus pandemic.

The board voted Thursday to support the bill, which would prohibit landlords from evicting tenants unable to pay back rent during the pandemic and give renters 15 months to repay any back rent, protecting their credit during that period.

PART II -- What Went Wrong?

06/13/2020 9:05 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

On Sunday, May 31, a little over an hour before calling for the National Guard, Police Chief Cynthia Renaud arrived at Santa Monica Airport in a California Fire Department helicopter.

The previous night, Renaud had called from Sacramento, where she was attending her daughter's graduation, and ordered the deployment of 22 officers to supplement the 35 that were scheduled for regular duty on Sunday.

Over the weekend, violence had broken out in demonstrations around Los Angeles, and a peaceful protest was scheduled to begin in Santa Monica at noon that day.

Santa Monica homeless population shrinks by 8%

06/12/2020 12:52 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica’s homeless population fell by 8% this year, officials announced Friday.

The 2020 homeless count, which was conducted in January, found 907 people experiencing homelessness in Santa Monica, down from 985 counted in 2019.

In contrast, the city and county of Los Angeles both recorded a roughly 13% increase in homelessness in the 2020 homeless count. More than 66,000 people were experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County in January, about 41,000 of whom were living in the city of Los Angeles.

SMa.r.t. Column: The Great Santa Monica Loot-Out

06/12/2020 12:23 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The angst and anger of our community are still reverberating throughout Santa Monica. Everyone I have communicated with has a strong opinion about the events of Sunday, May 31st. The afternoon of looting was an “all-time low” for our city. The owners of Santa Monica Music Center called 911 seventeen times. The response, “You’re on your own. If you own a registered firearm, you’re welcome to guard your own business.” Residents need to understand how our treasured, independent merchants became part of a free-for-all swap meet downtown. By the way, downtown SM (DTSM) includes Lincoln Blvd. The district and zoning designations were expanded so the city council could let their crony developers build higher and more densely on Lincoln, feasting at the trough of residents. So, when we say looting, we include Lincoln.