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09/18/2018 8:44 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

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Santa Monica Forward Endorses Two Incumbents, Challenger

09/17/2018 8:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

September 17, 2018 -- City Councilmember Kevin McKeown, long considered a slow-growth advocate, has received the endorsement of Santa Monica Forward, a political group largely backed by developers.

The pro-growth group also endorsed incumbent Pam O'Connor and challenger Greg Moreno for three open seats on the City Council, the Lookout has learned.

The endorsement by the group -- which spent nearly $744,000 to defeat slow-growth Measure LV on the 2016 ballot -- is expected to come with a hefty developer warchest to independently back the three candidates.

Chronicle Recommends: No on Prop. 10

09/17/2018 8:48 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

By suppressing the supply of homes through restrictive zoning and other means, local government officials have done more than most to plunge California into the current housing crisis. Proposition 10 would entrust another vast swath of housing policy to the very same officials — and probably yield similar results.

Prop 10 threatens California’s ability to fix the affordable housing crisis

09/17/2018 8:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The most immediate threat to a housing solution is Prop 10, the well-intentioned but flawed rental housing initiative that will be on the ballot this November. If passed, this initiative will make the housing crisis worse, not better. Most importantly, it doesn’t increase the number of affordable housing units in the state, nor does it make it easier to build affordable housing in communities of color. It provides incentives for landlords to convert rental units to condos or short-term vacation rentals, further reducing the number of rental units available drives up costs even higher.

PLF asks Supreme Court to give homeowners meaningful protection from excessive fines

09/14/2018 10:20 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Our friends at Institute for Justice have convinced the Supreme Court to soon decide in the case Timbs v. Indiana whether the Constitution restrains states (and not just the federal government) from imposing excessive fines.

When a Missouri city fines a homeowner $180,000 for choosing to plant flowers instead of grass, or a Florida city fines a homeowner $58,000 for failing to register a burglar alarm with a local bureaucrat, alarm bells go off in most people’s minds. Government violates a natural right when it responds to minor violations of the law with such excess. Yet in both cases, the respective courts just shrugged.

The lack of meaningful protection from excessive fines should trouble every responsible American.

Attorneys: Voting rights case verdict will likely come after November election

09/14/2018 10:17 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Despite the end of oral arguments in the local California Voting Rights Act lawsuit Tuesday, the verdict regarding the legality of Santa Monica’s government will
likely come after the Nov. 6 election, according to attorneys on both sides of the case. An attorney for plaintiffs Maria Loya and the Pico Neighborhood Association told the Daily Press they have not decided whether to ask the judge to throw out the election results, should they win the lawsuit.

Staff report: what the Rent Control Board may do if Prop 10 passes

09/12/2018 10:18 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Administrative item to consider regulatory approaches to the establishment of base rents, to avoid economic dislocation; to remain in effect only until the Charter may be amended in 2020; and to go into effect only if the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act is repealed at the November 6, 2018 statewide general election.

Number of controlled units: 27,375

Santa Monica Voting Rights Trial Ends

09/12/2018 9:31 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

September 11, 2018 -- After six weeks of testimony from City Council members, experts and community leaders, the voting rights lawsuit against the City of Santa Monica ended Tuesday with testimony from the defense's final witness, Councilmember Gleam Davis.

The plaintiff now have two weeks to file a closing brief, followed by 20 days for the defense (which successfully asked for an extra six days) and another ten days for the plaintiffs to submit a response.

If the two sides take the maximum time allotted, Superior Court Judge Yvette M. Palazuelos will have all the documents needed by October 25 to render a ruling.

It remains unclear what impact a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs -- Latino activist Maria Loya and the Pico Neighborhood Association (PNA) -- would have on the November 6 election.

AND

http://www.smdp.com/davis-testimony-ends-argument-phase-of-voting-rights-trial/169247

LA County Supervisors Approve Rent Stabilization Policy for Unincorporated Areas

09/12/2018 9:28 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

September 11, 2018 -- An measure authored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl to protect renters who could face homelessness due to escalating rents was approved by the County Board on Tuesday.

The policy stabilizes rents for an estimated 200,000 renters -- many of them elderly -- in unincorporated areas of LA County, which claim a total population of 1 million residents.

The policy sets a 3 percent annual cap on rents for six months with the base rent set as of Tuesday. The Board directed County agencies to draft an ordinance within 60 days.

OPINION: Not Waiting for Sacramento to Tackle Pension Liability

09/12/2018 9:25 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

By Rick Cole

When it comes to assets and liabilities, the City of Santa Monica has one of the strongest balance sheets among the 482 cities in California. We have consistently earned AAA (the highest) rating from all three national bond rating agencies.

So it is significant that the challenges facing CalPERS (our state’s public employee retirement system) are so stark that even Santa Monica has real cause for concern.

As City Manager, I’m responsible for submitting balanced budget recommendations to the City Council. So I’m convening a committee of 11 members to meet to understand, debate and look for answers to this sobering financial challenge.