Thus, Community Corp improves the neighborhoods where we operate. We preserve historically significant structures for the future and replace neglected properties with buildings at the forefront of architectural innovation. We create homes for working families who make a long-term investment in their neighborhood, bring students to Santa Monica schools, keeping them vibrant, and enable our community’s seniors to age in place.

Read More: http://smdp.com/affordable-housing-turning-challenges-into-opportunities/167690

Incumbent Pam O’Connor and Residocracy founder Armen Melkonians have both pulled papers to run for City Council, representing opposite ends of a spectrum that already includes a dozen candidates.

O’Connor had declined in the past few months to say whether she would run for reelection, raising the possibility of an open seat in play. With her decision to pull papers, all three incumbents will be asking for voters to send them to Council Chambers for four more years.

O’Connor, Melkonians and others now have until August 10 to gather at least 100 signatures in support of their candidacy. The potential candidate pool also includes Sue Himmelrich (incumbent), Kevin McKeown (incumbent), Mike Farid, Mary Marlow, Greg Morena, Linda Armstrong, Scott Bellomo, Mary Sampson, Ashley Powell and Whitney Scott Bain.

Read More: http://smdp.com/controversial-candidates-pull-papers-for-november-election/167681

July 20, 2018 -- Speculation that Pam O'Connor would not run for a record seventh term on the Santa Monica City Council was put to rest Thursday when she pulled nominating papers.

O'Connor -- a champion of public transit and development and a political lightening rod for the City's slow-growth movement -- pulled the nominating petitions, which must be signed by 100 registered Santa Monica voters, in the late afternoon.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2018/July-2018/07_20_2018_OConnor_to_Seek_Reelection_to_Santa_Monica_City_Council.html

The City Attorney recommends that the City Council review and consider adopting the attached resolution (Attachment A) placing a measure on the November 6, 2018 ballot that would amend Section 1804 of the City Charter to: a) maintain base rent ceilings for existing residential tenancies; and b) establish base rent ceilings for new residential tenancies commencing on or after April 1, 2018, for purposes of calculating maximum allowable rents within the City.  The measure would become effective only if the Affordable Housing Act, a statewide voter initiative that would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (“Costa-Hawkins Act”) is adopted at the Statewide General Election on November 6, 2018. 

Read More: http://santamonicacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=1146&MediaPosition=&ID=3172&CssClass=

Ted Winterer

As I head off for some fishing, camping, and hiking, I want to share my thoughts on the last six months of the 2017-18 fiscal year as well as what lies ahead.

Read More: http://smdp.com/highlights-from-the-last-six-months-and-what-lies-ahead/167640

July 20, 2018 -- The Miramar Hotel is partnering with Santa Monica's largest affordable housing provider to build a housing project as part of the redevelopment of the century old Downtown hotel, Miramar officials announced this week.

The building developed by the Miramar and Community Corporation of Santa Monica would be built across from the relocated hotel entrance on Second Street on a site currently used for hotel parking.

The number of units in the building, as well as their size and income mix, will be set during the City’s approval process, which is expected to take place next year, Miramar officials said.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2018/July-2018/07_20_2018_Miramar_Partners_with_Community_Corp_to_Develop_Affordable_Housing_Project.html

July 18, 2018 -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors signed off Tuesday on a program that would boost the local water supply and improve water quality.

The "Safe Clean Water Program" -- which would be funded by a parcel tax on the November ballot -- includes projects and programs that "capture, clean, and conserve stormwater," Board officials said in a statement.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2018/July-2018/07_18_2018_County_Supervisors_Give_Go_ahead_for_Safe_Clean_Water_Program.html

We've rounded up the latest rental listings via rental site Zumper to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to hunting down housing in Santa Monica if you don't want to spend more than $2,600/month on rent.

Read More: http://abc7.com/realestate/renting-in-santa-monica-what-will-$2600-get-you/3773300/

The number of Airbnb listings in Santa Monica has decreased by 17 percent in the past year, following a city-wide enforcement effort and recent judge’s ruling intended to crack down on illegal listings, according to data from AirDNA, a Denver-based tracking firm. There were 1,016 total available listings in Santa Monica in June 2018, compared to 1,215 in June 2017, including entire homes, private rooms and shared rooms for rent.

Despite the decline, the number of listings in June was still more than triple the number of operators legally registered with the city.

Read More: http://smdp.com/data-shows-declining-airbnb-listings-as-city-cracks-down/167593

Elaine Golden-Gealer, Naomi Sultan, Joseph Bonoventura and Lori Brown received applications for the Rent Control Board.

Read More: http://smdp.com/first-candidates-pull-papers-for-local-office/167579

AND 

https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2018/July-2018/07_17_2018_Twenty_Candidates_Pull_Nominating_Papers_on_First_Day_of_Santa_Monica_Election_Season.html