The California Court of Appeal on Monday granted the City of Santa Monica's request to expedite its ruling in the voting rights lawsuit filed by Latino plaintiffs against the City.

The decision comes one week after the City asked the Court to grant "calendar preference" for the case to assure a ruling is made by July 10, 2020, so a City Council election can be held in November 2020 as scheduled.

The three-judge panel issued a short decision granting the ruling.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2019/May-2019/05_07_2019_Appeals_Court_Grants_Citys_Request_to_Expedite_Voting_Rights_Case.html

AND: https://smmirror.com/2019/05/court-of-appeal-to-make-cvra-decision-in-time-for-2020-election/

The Santa Monica Planning Commission will have an unscheduled vacancy after its former Chair submitted her resignation last month.

Amy Anderson, one of the seven members on the City's most visible and powerful board, submitted her resignation last month effective June 30.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2019/May-2019/05_07_2019_Seat_to_Open_After_Planning_Commissioner_Submits_Resignation.html

A proposed ban on tiny apartments in Santa Monica is dividing opinion within City Hall.

City Council voted in March to temporarily prohibit apartments smaller than 375 square feet, with exemptions for affordable or supportive housing projects, after a developer filed applications to build six buildings entirely composed of micro-apartments. A proliferation of tiny apartments would shift the city’s limited housing stock away from family housing, councilmembers said.

After Council voted, City of Santa Monica staff drafted an ordinance to permanently ban apartments between 220 and 373 square feet, or single-room occupancy units (SROs) for the Planning Commission to review.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/a-proposed-ban-on-tiny-apartments-in-santa-monica-is-dividing-opinion-within-city-hall/175313

After decades of being financially in the green, the City of Santa Monica is forecasted to go into the red over the next decade as it pays off $448 million in unpaid pensions to the state. 

At a special Santa Monica City Council study session on Tuesday, April 30, City staff previewed the budget strategy for the next two years.

The City predicts a lack in funding for the budget if they don’t reduce expenses.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2019/05/cutting-jobs-programming-for-city-budget-shortfall/

One died of an accidental overdose on a Santa Monica sidewalk. Another was stabbed to death in a walkway. A third hung himself in a shed.

They were among the 22 homeless people living in Santa Monica who died in 2018, none of them older than 65, according to an analysis of death records provided by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2019/May-2019/05_06_2019_Nearly_Two_Dozen_Homeless_People_Died_in_Santa_Monica_Last_Year.html

City manager Rick Cole confirmed at City Council’s Tuesday meeting that the upcoming 2019-2021 budget will include a proposal for a new historic preservation planner position. The plan, which is not yet finalized, will eliminate another vacant planner position to be “budget-neutral,” said Councilmember Ted Winterer.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/city-hall-considering-full-time-historic-preservation-position/175277

The Santa Monica Rent Control Board next week will review a proposed $5.3 million operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year that deviates little from the current budget.

The proposed budget for the fiscal y that begins July 1 calls for nearly $5.179 in operating expenses and revenues totaling nearly $5.312 million, resulting in a surplus of some $133,000, according to staff.

Most of the money -- $4.436 million -- will be spent on salaries and wages for 24 full-time workers, with $62,512 set aside for "as-needed employees."

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2019/May-2019/05_03_2019_Rent_Board_to_Review_Budget_for_Upcoming_Fiscal_Year.html

The Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office has filed a criminal complaint charging Miesha Charnae Grant with five counts of tenant harassment in violation of Santa Monica Municipal Code (SMMC) Section 4.56.020, one count of operating an unlawful business in violation SMMC Section 6.04.020, five counts of grand theft in violation of Penal Code Section 487, five counts of criminal contempt in violation of Penal Code Section 166, one count of vandalism in violation of Penal Code section 594, and one count of battery in violation of Penal Code section 242.   The charges relate to actions taken with respect to tenants in rent-controlled units at 1914 18th Street.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2019/05/city-attorney-files-multiple-charges-in-tenant-harassment-case/

In 2020, Los Angeles County will transition from polling places to vote centers. This new model will allow voters to cast a ballot at any vote center location in the County over an 11-day period.

Read More: http://vsap.lavote.net/vote-center-placement-project/

Thanks to Jay Johnson

See stats: JAY JOHNSON - RETROFIT.pdf