ACTION Apartment Association

Election season formally opens

07/15/2024 10:04 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

This year, nominations open on Monday, July 15 and are scheduled to run through August 9. That date may be extended through August 14 for a specific office if at least one incumbent in that office declines to run for reelection. Eligible candidates must be US citizens, at least 18 years old on or before Election Day, and registered voters in the jurisdiction when Nomination Papers are issued.

The first opportunity to pull papers will be at a Candidate Workshop on July 15 at 10 a.m. in City Hall Council Chamber (Room 250). Individuals who cannot make the meeting can make appointments with city staff to receive their paperwork.

SM.a.r.t. Column: Food Water and Energy Part 1 of 3

07/15/2024 9:59 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

This was particularly notable given the increasing development that has already occurred in the last few years. Had we stuck to our water sustainability plan and reached zero imports by 2023, we would have reached full potential seismic survivability in water independence. However,

when the State crammed 9000 new units in the next 8 years into our built-out City, our water sustainability plan blew out the window. Our potential seismic shortfall ballooned from about 25% to about 35%.

Despite lowering rents, Westside less desirable as apartment option

07/12/2024 3:37 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

According to a new report by RentCafe, Western Los Angeles County, which includes Santa Monica, was deemed the “least competitive” market for apartment rentals out of California metro areas. This was determined by factors like the average apartment vacancy time before being rented out, the amount of prospective renters for a place, as well as lease renewal rate.

Council Shakes Up Two Major Boards

07/12/2024 3:10 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Change faction on the City Council flexed its political muscle Tuesday night and replaced a Planning Commissioner and Downtown Board member appointed four years ago by the rival faction.

Both Planning Commission Chair Ellis Raskin and Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. Board member Erika Lesley failed to win the necessary four votes needed to be reappointed to a second four-year term.

Both -- who were appointed in 2020 when the City's political establishment controlled the Council -- are running in the November 5 race for four open Council seats, three of them held by the Change faction.

With 376 Staff Members Making More than $200k, Santa Monica Cannot Find Money for More Police Officers

07/11/2024 9:34 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Data obtained from a public records request by John Alle and the Santa Monica Coalition. The breakdown obtained by the organization of residents, property, and business owners concerned with public safety is as follows:

24 city employees made between $450K-$600K

40 made between $400K-$450K

56 made between $300K-$400K

256 made between $200K-$300K

Interim City Clerk to Assume Permanent Post

07/11/2024 9:31 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A five-year veteran of the City Clerks’ Office, Newsome has held the top post since outgoing clerk Denise Anderson-Warren retired in December.

Opinion: Santa Monica massively underfunding its police department - Cody Greene

07/10/2024 12:30 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Having worked for the Police Department for 23 years it always seems as if we are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul with personnel. For example, the Directed Action Response Team was formed partly to direct resources to the out-of-control vendor issue on the Pier, and they were very successful at gaining back some sense of normalcy. The sacrifice was those employees had to be pulled from elsewhere in the department. The Police Department no longer has a plainclothes unit, a street interdiction team, a full-time mounted unit or a fully staffed downtown unit, all units the department formerly staffed. It’s always seemed like a game of Whack-a-Mole, solve an issue here but one pops up somewhere else. There are just never enough officers to keep the City as safe as everyone wants.

Council Poised to Place Two Tax Measures on Ballot

07/09/2024 3:22 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

At its meeting June 25, the Council unanimously voted to move ahead with a measure to modernize the business license tax that would generate approximately $3.9 million in its third year by removing auto dealer tax exemptions and raising the corporate headquarters rate.

In addition, at its meeting this Tuesday, the Council is expected to reconsider a Parking Facility Tax it rejected at its meeting last month that would generate approximately $6.7 million a year to enhance public safety.

Council Asked to 'Immediately Halt' Plan to Boost Safety Spending

07/09/2024 10:47 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

"However, the City faces a difficult economic climate, slow recovery, a challenging labor market, required deferred maintenance, and continued uncertainty in our legal liabilities."

Instead of reallocating existing resources, the Council "must pursue new revenue opportunities to address our public safety needs," Negrete said.