By Charles Andrews
From his October 18, 2017 column on page 5

Locally, we have “representatives” who can’t get a report together in 12 years on a lousy flat playing field they promised, to submit to the Coastal Commission, but can for a complex state-of-the-art City Services Building costing $100 million (if we’re lucky), then rent a bus to take their overpaid experts to go fight for that and the multitens-of-millions of our dollars giveaway ECLS building, leaving locals to drive there, if they can, at their own expense and time off. I’m surprised they didn’t outfit the bus with a long banner reading, “LET THEM EAT CAKE!”

The City Attorney’s Office has invited the general public to the premiere screening of a unique animation video about fair housing on October 18, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Martin Luther King Auditorium at the Santa Monica Public Library (601 Santa Monica Blvd.). The sixty-second video “Follow John to Learn About Fair Housing” brings to life the characters from John the wheelchair user, to his friends, family and then finally his landlord. The video will also be digitally launched that same day, minutes after its premiere, at: https://youtu.be/ttGwtZHLPH8

Read More: http://smdp.com/city-attorneys-office-launches-new-fair-housing-video/162950

The City’s largest housing developer will be back in front of the Planning Commission Wednesday, seeking approval for a new 67,000 square foot mixed-use building on Lincoln Boulevard that will result in 100 new apartments and nearly 300 underground parking spaces.

At the moment, 1430 Lincoln Blvd is a boarded up parking lot across from Hi De Ho Comics. The proposal from NMS Properties envisions a five-story building and nearly 6,000 square feet of retail when it is finished.

Read More: http://smdp.com/more-mixed-use-projects-before-planning-commission/162934

October 17, 2017 -- The City of Santa Monica is considering the one-time use of up to $500,000 in federal block-grant funds for an affordable apartment project in Venice for the homeless, according to a report from the City's housing manager.

The City’s federal Community Development Block Grant funds would be spent to rehabilitate 14 existing affordable units at 102 Navy Street, one block south of the Santa Monica border.

Read More:   https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2017/October-2017/10_17_2017_City_of_Santa_Monica_Considers_Using_Grant_Funds_for_Homeless_Apartments_in_Venice.html

With the images of Mexico City’s devastating earthquake still fresh in everyone’s minds, the Rent Control Board stressed urgency during last week’s discussion of mandatory earthquake retrofit costs.

The Board is considering whether owners should be allowed to pass through the costs of retrofitting their building to rent controlled tenants.

“I think we are up against the clock when facing the big one and it’s scary because we are behind,” board member Nicole Phillis said. “There are 1,300 buildings that are vulnerable and I’m concerned with creating an incentive system that would get retrofits sooner.”

About 550 buildings owners will have received notices to inspect their buildings by the end of October, however, some buildings will not receive notices until August 2018, according to the City’s notification schedule.

The board unanimously agreed that they need to hear much more from the community and stakeholders before they make a decision.

Read More: http://smdp.com/threat-of-the-big-one-looms-over-rent-control-board-discussions/162898

October 15, 2017 -- The California Coastal Commission last week signed off on two major public projects that will further transform Santa Monica's Civic Center.

The projects -- a three-building childcare center on the current Civic Center surface parking lot and a nearly $75 million addition to City Hall -- will not hurt access to the beach, the commission decided.

“The unanimous approval for both projects reaffirms a decade of thoughtful planning and community engagement in achieving the goals of the 2005 Civic Center Specific Plan,” said Santa Monica City Manager Rick Cole.

Read More:   https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2017/October-2017/10_16_2017_California_Coastal_Commission_%20Approves_Santa_Monica_Civic_Center_Projects.html

AND

http://smdp.com/162929/162929

October 13, 2017 -- Tenants and apartment owners wrestled Thursday over the possibility of allowing Santa Monica landlords to raise rents to help pay the cost of mandatory seismic retrofitting, including nearly 1,300 multi-family buildings under rent control.

Each side staked out opposing positions in a public hearing before the City Rent Control Board, which is looking at the impact of the law, adopted in March, that covers almost 2,000 buildings considered at risk of serious damage in the event of an earthquake.

Read More:   https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2017/October-2017/10_13_2017_Santa_Monica_Rent_Board_Weighs_Hikes_for_Earthquake_Retrofits.html

Tens of thousands of dollars are on the line for the owners of rent controlled buildings this week, as the Rent Control Board (RCB) considers whether to allow them to pass along earthquake retrofit costs to their tenants. Their decision will impact the rents of as many as 10,000 individual apartments in the City, according to staff estimates. 

The Board will hear public comment on the issue Thursday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers inside City Hall.

Read More: http://backissues.smdp.com/101117.pdf

by Michael Millman

So, Los Angeles provided a pass through wherein the Tenants pay 50% of the cost, amortized over seven years, with a financial cap of $38 per month. Again, San Francisco provided a 100% contribution by Tenants, amortized over 10 years. Many Small Family-Owned Apartments in Santa Monica are held by senior citizens, disabled, and elderly persons on fixed incomes who will not otherwise qualify for conventional lending. The Santa Monica Housing Committee, which has access to $60,000,000 has failed, and continues to fail and refuse, to provide any low interest loans to Apartment Owners; none.

Read More on page 6: http://backissues.smdp.com/101117.pdf

Santa Monica also prohibits smoking in common areas of all multi-unit housing (both apartments and condos), and inside units for all residents who moved in after November 22, 2012.

Read More on page 4: http://backissues.smdp.com/101117.pdf