ACTION Apartment Association

Redistricting: It's Time for the Santa Monica City Council to Admit They Don't Know Better

12/12/2018 9:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

By Armen Melkonians

No decision was made by the Judge on Friday. The City's attorneys tried to sneak in a re-argument of the merits case, while also mentioning the word "appeal" at least several dozen times. The Judge said she had already decided on the merits and found that the City must abandon the illegal and discriminatory at-large election system. She said that she wanted to make it clear that she was not there to re-try the case but rather to discuss "proposals" for remedies from both sides.

Gleam Davis Selected as Santa Monica Mayor

12/12/2018 9:51 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City of Santa Monica has a new mayor: Gleam Davis, who was voted by councilmembers to replace former Mayor Ted Winterer at a special City Council meeting Tuesday evening.

AND

http://www.smdp.com/city-council-selects-mayor-gleam-davis-and-mayor-pro-tempore-terry-oday/171508

SMa.r.t. Column: Housing the 950 Homeless in SM

12/12/2018 9:42 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

We have a real conundrum as there is an infinite supply of homeless (currently 950 in SM) for a finite supply of facilities (currently 440 beds). There is a realistic fear that the provision of any additional units will only stimulate more arriving homeless. Should we be advocating for an increased presence and possibly opening the door to further disintegration of our beachfront town?

Planning Commission Approves Second of Pair of Oceanfront Residential Projects

12/12/2018 8:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The second of two residential developments slated for beachfront land at the end of Pico Boulevard was approved by the Planning Commission Wednesday.

Owned by the Beverly Hills-based owners of Casa del Mar and Shutters hotels, the project at 1828 Ocean Avenue -- as well as the smaller project at 1921 Ocean Front Walk approved last month -- will be used as permanent residential housing.

Santa Monica Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Eliminate Hurdle to Low-Income Housing

12/12/2018 8:52 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica Senator Ben Allen introduced legislation this week to eliminate an impediment to building affordable housing added to the California Constitution in 1950.

The bill would repeal Article 34, which requires cities to submit projects to a voter referendum when public funds are allocated to develop low-income rental housing.

City Council signs off on contested Venice homeless shelter

12/12/2018 8:34 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Amid both jeers and applause, the Los Angeles City Council gave the green light on Tuesday to a temporary homeless shelter in Venice.

The 154-bed shelter will be built on a former bus yard owned by Metro at Sunset and Pacific avenues. With the council’s approval, it’s set to open next year.

LA Approves Industry-Friendly Airbnb Regulations

12/12/2018 8:26 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

An ordinance regulating Airbnb and other home- sharing platforms in Los Angeles was unanimously approved Tuesday by the City Council, capping more than three years of debate.

Time to throw in the towel?

12/05/2018 8:39 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

DISAPPOINTED BUT NOT SURPRISED

That so few showed up at City Hall last week, to protest our City government’s enthusiasm to throw tons more good money after bad in their appeal of the lawsuit they lost to maintain at-large voting instead of districts, which the court found to be discriminatory.

Only one city of 24 in California chose to fight that challenge in court. Palmdale lost, like us, new elections were ordered.

LA Inches Closer To Regulating Airbnb-Like Rentals

12/05/2018 7:52 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A City Council committee approved a draft ordinance Tuesday regulating Airbnb and other home-sharing platforms in Los Angeles, moving the issue close to the finish line after three years of debate.

Allowing some low-income residents who live in rent-stabilized units to be home-sharing hosts has been one of the final outstanding issues, but it was not discussed in detail during Tuesday's meeting of the Planning and Land Use Management Committee, since a separate committee raised the issue.

New affordable housing complex ‘Arroyo’ opens in Santa Monica

12/04/2018 10:00 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica has a new housing complex that will aid in making living in the City viable for low-income residents. A ribbon cutting event was held Saturday, December 1 to officially to welcome The Arroyo, an affordable housing complex located off of Lincoln and Colorado.