ACTION Apartment Association

Evictions, rent hikes push Oregon to statewide rent control

02/22/2019 9:39 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Faced with a housing shortage and skyrocketing rents, Oregon is poised to become the first state to impose mandatory rent controls, with a measure establishing tenant protections moving swiftly through the Legislature.

Many residents have testified in favor of the legislation, describing anxiety and hardship as they face higher rents. Some have gone up by as much as almost 100 percent — forcing people to move, stay with friends or even live in their vehicles.

Future City Council elections to be determined by 7 district map

02/21/2019 10:07 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Future City Council elections will be determined by a seven-district map drawn by the plaintiffs in the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) case because the City of Santa Monica did not propose its own map, the judge in the case wrote in her statement of decision.

The City argues that Judge Yvette Palazuelos’s final ruling in the case, which requires City Council members to be elected in seven districts determined by a map drawn by plaintiffs Maria Loya and the Pico Neighborhood Association, undermines the democratic process. The City’s lawyers say state elections code requires that voters deserve to have a say in how districts are drawn.

Santa Monica Councilmembers' Political Futures Could be Shaped by Thursday's Vote

02/21/2019 9:48 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

When the City Council votes Thursday on whether to appeal the voting rights lawsuit against the City, the decision could help determine some of the members' political futures.

Under the map Superior Court Judge Yvette M. Palazuelos ordered the City to use for a district-based election, three of the Council members on the dais would be ousted if they remain in their designated districts.

The map places Mayor Gleam Davis and Councilmembers Kevin McKeown and Sue Himmelrich in the same northside district predominantly composed of homeowners.

Water Rate Increase is Entirely Intended to Subsidize Development in Santa Monica

02/21/2019 9:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

By January 8, when the City Council voted to increase water rates in the city, there had already been well-above-average rainfall throughout California. To date, California has received 18 trillion gallons of rain this season. This is nearly half the volume of Lake Tahoe.

Staff presented three reasons for the hike, all allegedly going toward creating "water self-sufficiency" for the city.

1. Preliminary design of water treatment plant capacity and efficiency improvements

2. Purchase of a new groundwater well

3. Annual replacement of water mains that have hit the 100-year mark

Special Council meeting scheduled to plan CVRA response

02/20/2019 10:24 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

City Council is holding a special meeting Thursday to discuss a court ruling that found the City of Santa Monica’s election system discriminated against its Latino population.

Judge Yvette Palazuelos issued a final ruling in the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) case against the City Friday, ordering that future City Council elections will be determined by a seven-district map drawn by the plaintiffs in the case, Maria Loya and the Pico Neighborhood Association (PNA).

Palazuelos said the City must hold a special election to elect a new City Council on July 2 because the current Council won their seats in an illegal election system. Each of the seven districts will elect one councilmember.

Here's Our Chance by Charles Andrews

02/20/2019 10:19 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

On Friday Judge Yvette Palazuelos issued her final ruling in the district voting lawsuit the City lost. She ruled that Santa Monica must have a special City Council election, by districts rather than at large, on July 2. Which means that every current Council member will be out, deemed to have been seated by “unlawful elections,” and have to run in their own districts if they want back on the Council. All seven seats are now up for grabs.

This is quite an opportunity for change, but before you dance your jig of hallelujah, understand that the same ugly heads will be lurking in all seven districts, funding six-figure PACs to elect their favored folk who will do their bidding. Union 11 will organize to back and support, with phone calls, mailers and demonstrations, candidates who will give them as many union wage-paying hotels as possible, hotels everywhere, hotels to the sky.

Santa Monica celebrates Section 8 protections

02/20/2019 10:04 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

David Van Court applied for a Section 8 voucher to stay in his home. Low-income tenants in the program pay 30 to 40 percent of their monthly income in rent and the Housing Authority pays the rest of the rent directly to the landlord.

Tenants in the program cannot rent apartments that are priced higher than the market rate, as determined by the Housing Authority. The Santa Monica Housing Authority caps payment at $1,512 for a studio, $1,930 for a one bedroom, $2,640 for a two bedroom and $3,366 for a three or four bedroom unit.

Nicole Gougis to Lead Criminal Division of the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office

02/20/2019 9:59 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

City Attorney Lane Dilg has selected Nicole Gougis as the new Chief of the Criminal Division beginning today, February 19. She comes to Santa Monica from the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office where she has been a prosecutor in the Metropolitan and Central Trials branches since 2007.

Gov. Newsom Comes To LA To Talk Affordable Housing

02/20/2019 9:40 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

He will host what he described as a "candid conversation" with mayors of cities whose housing plans are out of compliance with state law.

LONG BEACH, CA – Gov. Gavin Newsom will visit Long Beach City College Tuesday to highlight how the state government is partnering with cities and counties to address the housing cost crisis.

Newsom will host what he described in his State of the State address as "a candid conversation" at LBCC with mayors of cities whose housing plans are out of compliance with state law.

City Likely Faces Uphill Battle in Voting Rights Case, Experts Say

02/20/2019 9:39 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City of Santa Monica likely faces an uphill battle if the Council votes on Thursday to appeal last week's Superior Court decision in the voting rights case filed by Latino plaintiffs, election experts told the Lookout.

In her final ruling last Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Yvette M. Palazuelos ordered the City to hold a district-based election by July 2 for all seven council seats.

She also prohibited council members not elected under districts from serving after August 15 ("Judge Orders Special District Elections for Council in Final Ruling," February 15, 2019).

The experts interviewed by the Lookout, including one who provided information on background, agree that the City's odds of winning on appeal are not favorable.