ACTION Apartment Association

Santa Monica hasn’t built enough apartments

04/23/2020 9:53 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica is short on housing for individuals and families earning between $50,000 and $90,000, according to an annual report on the city’s affordable housing production.

Under a state law that requires cities to set targets for new development every eight years, Santa Monica is supposed to approve 700 market-rate units and 671 affordable units between 2013 and 2021. Developers of new apartment buildings are required to contribute to affordable housing in Santa Monica by constructing affordable units, paying a fee to the city to subsidize affordable development, or donating or selling land for affordable housing.

A City Council Moves Forward With Plan To Freeze Rent Hikes

04/23/2020 9:13 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to move forward with a plan to freeze rent increases for a period of about one year due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The city council voted to have the city attorney’s office draft an ordinance which would halt rent increases for 360 days for apartments that are protected by the city’s rent stabilization ordinance (RSO).

Curious City – THESE SQUIRRELLY TIMES

04/22/2020 9:12 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

ANOTHER PERSON WHO LOVED BILL

And his writing was Elaine Golden-Gealer. How can I not call her a local character? She’s a former folk singer (the Womenfolk) who has to look skyward to see the 5-foot marker, dresses razor sharp but unlike anyone else you’ve ever seen, and is an apartment building owner who ran for Rent Control Board. She told me she met Bill after she first read every one of his columns from 2004 – 2015, and that they agreed completely about local politics.

Santa Monica to open affordable housing waitlist

04/22/2020 9:10 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The city of Santa Monica will open its waitlists for affordable housing and rental subsidies Friday, May 1 as an increasing number of people lose work amid the coronavirus shutdown.

Both the affordable housing and Section 8 programs are typically available to low- and moderate-income households who either live in Santa Monica, work in the city at least 25 hours per week, participate in a local job training program or were employed in Santa Monica recently and now receive benefits from the city.

Letter to the Editor – Call the Council

04/22/2020 9:08 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

I urge you all to please call, text & email City Council today, and make very clear all the City services and programs you want The City of Santa Monica to keep. You very likely will lose these places and services if you do not make your voices heard. This includes services for you and your children and senior citizens.

City Council has already met twice last week (Saturday to announce the replacement of Rick Cole as City Manager, and earlier in the week, Tuesday, to push through draconian cuts to City employees, programs and services).

City Council is conducting closed door meetings...

New Housing Opportunities Open May 1

04/21/2020 8:17 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

As greater numbers of individuals and families struggle with unemployment and the economic impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the City of Santa Monica will open online applications for its Section 8 and Below Market Housing (BMH) programs beginning Friday, May 1, at 8 a.m.

This is an opportunity for Santa Monica residents and workers at varying income levels – from extremely low income to incomes as high as $94,700 for single households and higher for bigger families. You do not have to be experiencing a financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 to apply, but the City’s Housing Division recognizes that this comes at a particularly important moment as more and more people are vulnerable to economic hardship.

LETTERS -- Addressing Santa Monica’s Impending Financial Crisis

04/21/2020 8:15 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

by Kip Dellinger

What is necessary to start the process rolling is the appointment of an Emergency Director from outside the current City staff who will began to address a meaningful return to normal within the federal recommendations and forthcoming State guidance -- not to impose additional rules and requirements on City residents and businesses.

This will entail recommending difficult decisions and perhaps "bucking" some or all council members when doing so. It will certainly require the skills of someone capable of crisis management in the fiscal arena.

City Attorney Lane Dilg Tapped to Run Santa Monica

04/20/2020 9:23 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council on Saturday tapped City Attorney Lane Dilg to steer Santa Monica through the biggest crisis in its 145-year history after a coronavirus shutdown paralyzed its economic and social life.

Dilg -- who will replace Rick Cole as City Manager on an interim basis after his abrupt resignation Friday -- has had a varied career, but has no experience running a City government.

AND: https://smmirror.com/2020/04/city-selects-interim-city-manager/

City Manager Rick Cole resigns as budget cuts loom

04/17/2020 3:20 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

City Manager Rick Cole announced his resignation Friday in a post on the city of Santa Monica’s blog.

Cole, who was appointed city manager in 2015, resigned ahead of a May 5 vote on budget cuts needed to address the city’s projected $226 million budget gap as the economic impacts of coronavirus slash city revenues from sales, hotel and parking taxes.

AND: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/April-2020/04_17_2020_Cole_Resigns_as_Santa_Monica_City_Manager.html

Council Approves Voluntary Separation Program for Santa Monica City Workers

04/17/2020 9:48 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Hoping to avert massive layoffs due to the coronavirus shutdown, the City Council on Tuesday voted to offer lump sum payments to full-time municipal workers who voluntarily leave their jobs.

The Voluntary Early Separation Incentive Program (VESIP) unanimously approved by the Council offers $5,000 to full-time workers with at least five years of service and $15,000 for those with at least ten, plus 18 months of basic medical benefits.