Our City has been devastated by the coronavirus, by its economic fallout and just three weeks ago, by a looting disaster. The pain and panic of these disasters unleashed a flood of projects, proposals and policies to try to get us back to “normal” as quickly as possible. While some of these initiatives are no brainers, some are an attempt by certain groups to get dubious advantages unavailable in normal times, some are the same tired failed old bromides, and finally some are truly valuable to move our City toward a future better than the old dysfunctional “normal”. Citizens and policy makers both will be struggling to decide into which category any initiative must be placed. SMart (Santa Monica architects for a Responsible Tomorrow) would propose two principles to help us decide whether any proposal is worth pursuing:

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2020/06/sma-r-t-column-two-principles-for-a-new-city/

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.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/June-2020/06_18_2020_Council_to_Launch_Process_Tuesday_to_Replace_Morena.html

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.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/June-2020/06_17_2020_Santa_Monica_Extends_Eviction_Moratorium.html

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

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?

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2020/06/18/news/renting-post-covid-who-will-rent-the-massive-white-elephants-nearing-completion-on-lincoln-blvd/4704.html

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.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/June-2020/06_18_2020_Morena_to_Resign_from_the_Council.html

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

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.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/June-2020/06_15_2020_Oral_Arguments_Set_for_June_30_in_Voting_Rights_Case.html

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

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.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/rent-control-board-backs-state-anti-eviction-measure/193013

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.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2020/June-2020/06_12_2020_PART_II_What_Went_Wrong.html

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.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-homeless-count-2020-results/192975