ACTION Apartment Association

Vote NO on Proposition 10

11/02/2018 9:39 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

An Open Letter to Residents of Santa Monica by Jay Johnson

Don’t Make a Bad Situation Worse
Dear Santa Monica resident, As a former president of the Santa Monica Democratic Club, former Rent Board and Planning Commissioner, current Santa Monica Renters Rights member and property owner, I think Proposition 10 is a disaster for Santa Monica tenants and property owners. It is poorly written and is almost impossible to change if passed. It will harm tenants, condo and single family homeowners, multifamily property owners and taxpayers and will impact your rights, finances and the city housing landscape.

Read More on page 7: http://backissues.smdp.com/110218.pdf

Grants available for residents to make homes earthquake safe

11/02/2018 9:29 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monicans living in older homes can register for a $3,000 state grant through Nov. 13 to retrofit their houses to withstand an earthquake.

Residents who own and live in a single-family home can qualify for the Earthquake Base + Bolt grant if their house’s foundation and crawlspace are not already reinforced. Houses built before 1980 are likely to buckle or slide off their foundations, said Janiele Maffei, chief mitigation officer at the California Housing Authority.

Opponents of School Bond Mount Last Ditch Effort to Sway Voters

11/02/2018 9:23 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Opponents of Measure SMS argue that there was no public debate before the School Board placed the bond on the ballot in July and that there is no fixed list of projects it will fund. They think the bond should instead be placed on the 2020 ballot.

"People are printing their own fliers and walking them around," said Tricia Crane, who heads Northeast Neighbors, one of the groups opposing the bond.

Rent control is a hot-button issue in California again

11/02/2018 9:18 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

On November 6th four statewide ballot initiatives (or propositions) about housing will be put to voters. Potentially the most significant (Proposition 10) would allow local authorities to impose new rent controls.

But economists almost unanimously view rent controls as harmful and self-defeating.

Council Candidates solutions for Climate Change

11/01/2018 8:19 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

See Video at: http://www.smdp.com/council-candidates-solutions-for-climate-change/170384

Homelessness advocacy group seeks to educate the community, detractors and all

11/01/2018 8:18 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

As election day approaches, one topic will be beneath a magnifying glass — the city’s ongoing homeless epidemic. While some candidates have radically different views on how to solve the crises, one advocacy organization seeks to discuss their approach to the problem.

The Santa Monica Homelessness Steering Committee will hold its first “Coffee, Conversation and Change” event this Friday, an initiative meant to spark conversation to demystify homelessness and its accompanying challenges and stereotypes.

“This is the first of a series of coffee chats where during brief meetings we cover different topics associated with homelessness,” Tara Barauskas, Executive Director of the Community Corporation of Santa Monica said. “The idea is community members can come together, learn and voice their concerns and opinions.”

New program provides county-wide funding to fight homelessness

11/01/2018 8:16 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The County’s Board of Supervisors voted Oct. 30 to declare a state of shelter emergency in unincorporated areas of the County so homeless services providers in those localities can apply for $81 million in state Homelessness Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) funding.

School Bond Campaign Contributions Near $250,000, Dominated by Outside Firms

11/01/2018 8:04 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

October 31, 2018 -- The campaign for a local school bond has raised nearly $250,000, thanks to major contributions from companies outside Santa Monica and local PTAs, according to the latest campaign finance disclosure statements.

To date, $169,550 in cash contributions has come from 44 entities from outside Santa Monica, while the remaining $66,585 has come from 22 local contributors.

TL response

10/31/2018 8:19 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Mary Marlow

If you believe that we the people should be empowered to choose a new generation of leaders, vote Yes on Measure TL.

City Council Candidates Discuss Pension Liabilities

10/31/2018 8:13 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

See Video at: http://www.smdp.com/city-council-candidates-discuss-pension-liabilities/170380