John Alle, Special to the Observer

It is my understanding that over 18,000 letters sent over the last 6 months to individual Councilmembers and our Mayor have not been received. One Santa Monica Councilmember informed me and another constituent of such, and stated there was a so-called "black hole" in which constituent letters were placed. The same Councilmember told me that letters expressing opposition to the ongoing Needle Distribution Program had never been received.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2024/03/21/opinion/span-classbrnwsbreaking-news-spanare-emails-sent-to-the-santa-monica-city-councilmembers-being-diverted-or-possibly-deleted/8179.html

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors gave final approval Tuesday to regulations for operating short-term rentals in unincorporated areas. 

Under the new rules, hosts with Airbnb or Vacation Rentals By Owner, VRBO, will be required to register and pay a fee of $914 on an annual basis.

The county rules also restrict short-term rentals to a host's primary residence -- prohibiting the use of accessory dwelling units, rent-restricted primary residences and vacation rentals for short-term rental use.

Tuesday's agenda also includes items that would express disapproval of LA's needle exchange program in Santa Monica parks and make minor changes to the noise ordinance.

An item placed on the agenda by Mayor Phil Brock, Negrete and Parra asks staff to draft a resolution that "should reflect the City’s opposition to the program in Santa Monica, as it is misguided and does not achieve the goal of reducing harm.

"The program encourages continued use of illegal and dangerous drugs, and people are dying as a result," according to the item.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2024/March-2024/03_18_2024_Land_Reparations_Needles_and_Noise.html

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled Tuesday to give final approval to regulations for operating on short-term rentals in unincorporated areas.

Under the new rules, hosts with Airbnb or Vacation Rentals By Owner, VRBO, would be required to register and pay a fee of $914 on an annual basis.

Read More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/la-county-board-of-supervisors-expected-to-ok-rules-for-short-term-rentals/ar-BB1ka2Qg?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=3ba82f5b5eff43c6aba2e2682f5b60f1&ei=77

Neil Shekhter, who was once the city’s most prolific and controversial developer, has lost control over another three local properties as part of an ongoing inability to repay bank loans.

Read More: https://smdp.com/2024/03/15/lawsuits-undermine-neil-shekhters-once-grand-real-estate-empire/

As part of the settlement, the NAR agreed to no longer require a broker advertising a home for sale on MLS to offer any upfront compensation to a buyer’s agent. The rule change leaves it open for individual home sellers to negotiate such offers with a buyer’s agent outside of the MLS platforms, though the home seller’s broker has to disclose any such compensation arrangements.

Read More: https://smdp.com/2024/03/16/real-estate-lawsuit-settlement-upends-decadeslong-policies-that-helped-set-agent-commissions/

Dan Hall is the first person to formally declare their intent to run for City Council in this year’s election.

Four seats will be up for election in November, all currently occupied by incumbents (including Gleam Davis, Phil Brock, Oscar de la Torre and Christine Parra). Hall is the first person to publicly announce an intent to run but formal paperwork to become a candidate won’t be available for several months.

Read More: https://smdp.com/2024/03/18/first-candidate-declares-run-for-city-council/

By suggestion, I attended the March 4th ARB (Architectural Review Board) meeting that addressed the Gelson Lincoln Boulevard Project.  After the session, I came away with thoughts about the process that the state has initiated and has seemingly tied the hands of our ARB. Particularly the ability to provide professional guidance within the ARB member’s capabilities.  This meeting highlighted how California municipalities face a pressing (affordable) housing crisis, and state lawmakers took action to increase housing production, though seemingly not with providing affordability as a guiding light.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2024/03/sm-a-r-t-column-can-california-arbs-balance-affordable-housing-with-community-character-in-the-face-of-new-housing-laws/

See the Santa Monica portion at: https://youtu.be/x1TNe7A8yiA

See the full documentary at: https://dailycaller.com/stream/lawless/

We do not have a homeless crisis in Santa Monica. We have an enforcement problem, a transient addict problem, and a mental illness crisis that won't be solved by apartments

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2024/03/11/opinion/two-santa-monicas-in-numbers/8162.html