The City of Santa Monica, facing a $224 million budget deficit, continues to appeal a court ruling mandating district elections–spending by some estimates over $10 million– saying that there are no further legal costs, a claim a lawyer for the plaintiffs describes as “disingenuous”.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2020/05/santa-monica-continues-district-election-appeal-despite-budget-deficit/

Today, the City of Santa Monica launched a new Economic Recovery section on its website santamonica.gov featuring a community survey and “Santa Monica Cares” business toolkit to aid the community with restarting the economy after the devastating impacts of COVID-19.  The new web pages will serve as a hub for community and business-related information throughout the Santa Monica recovery effort.

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2020/05/19/city-launches-new-section-of-santamonica-gov-focused-on-economic-recovery-and-community-resources

The Santa Monica Rent Control Board asked staff on Thursday to explore the possibility of a rent freeze before voting to allow landlords to increase rents by 1.4 percent next month.

The proposed increase -- which will likely be capped at $32 per month for rents of $2,250 and higher -- is based on a calculation called for in the rent control charter.

The Board is scheduled to finalize the rent adjustments at it June 11 meeting.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/May-2020/05_20_2020_Rent_Board_Sets_Rent_Adjustment.html

A major property rights advocacy firm is seeking the repeal of an emergency rule suspending evictions in California, claiming it "creates the perverse incentive" for all tenants to refuse to pay rent.

The Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), one of the nation's most powerful public interest law firms, contends that the rule issued on April 6 by the Judicial Council of California is ripe for abuse.

The order issued by the the rule-making arm of the California court system is meant to protect tenants during the coronavirus emergency by barring landlord's from initiating unlawful detainer actions.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/May-2020/05_19_2020_Emergency_Rule_Suspending_Evictions_Ripe_for_Abuse.html

Rent increases for rent-controlled apartments in Santa Monica will be limited to 1.4% this year and the Rent Control Board could approve a maximum monthly increase of $32 for renters who pay $2,250 or more in rent.

The proposed rent adjustment, which will go into effect Sept. 1, is slightly less than last year’s 2% increase and $44 cap. The percentage increase the board approves each year is determined by a formula in the city charter, but the board may also choose to set a dollar increase cap based on a separate formula. The Rent Control Board will vote on the dollar increase next month.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/rent-control-cap-2020/191105

Dear Editor,

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti recently issued an order that escalated his coronvirus mask edicts to require a mask be worn outdoors.

This was quickly followed by a similar edict for Santa Monica residents ("Santa Monica Orders Residents to Wear Face Coverings Outdoors," May 14, 2020).

We are constantly told by our political leaders that they make these authoritarian decisions "based on the science."

Yet, they do not cite a single scientific study that concludes the virus is readily transmissible in a brief outdoor encounter -- let alone in a beach city such as Santa Monica where there is virtually a continuous ocean breeze.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/letters/Letters-2020/05_18_2020_LETTERS_Enough_Already_with_the_Edicts.html

Reflecting the financial hit California is already seeing from the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday proposed cutting $6.1 billion from a variety of programs in a state budget he says prioritizes education, health and safety.

Newsom’s 2020-2021 budget estimates unemployment will climb to nearly 25 percent and overall tax revenues will drop by about a quarter, he said. It also calls for a 10% pay cut for all state workers.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/billions-in-cuts-proposed-as-california-revenue-plunges/191010

The city of Santa Monica could streamline the approval process for large housing projects downtown as part of ongoing efforts to fulfill a state mandate for the city to accommodate about 9,000 new homes by 2029. 

The Planning Commission voted 4-2 Wednesday to consider recommending that downtown developments larger than 90,000 square feet be subject to a development review permit rather than a development agreement. The commission will vote whether to recommend the proposal to City Council next week.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/planning-commission-to-consider-doing-away-with-downtown-development-agreements/190986

“We’re still out here, kicking and screaming,” a resident wrote to me, repeating her email to the Planning Commission about proposed changes to the city’s zoning codes. The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City called the proposed changes “Ill-Conceived and Misguided.” The leader of Northeast Neighbors stated, “We are offended by the use of the euphemism “streamlining” to silence the community about the future of downtown Santa Monica.”

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2020/05/sma-r-t-column-out-of-chaos-rebirth/

A Manhattan judge has denied tenants class-action status in a rent-overcharge lawsuit — a decision that landlord attorneys hailed as another sign that the courts are safeguarding owners from legislative overreach.

Read More: https://therealdeal.com/2020/05/14/landlords-notch-win-as-judge-denies-tenants-in-overcharge-case/amp/

AND: https://therealdeal.com/2020/04/03/high-court-decision-has-tenants-stewing-landlords-oohing/