ACTION Apartment Association

City Manager Rick Cole: How Santa Monica Can Do More for its Homeless Population

09/26/2017 8:05 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

We already do a lot in Santa Monica, but obviously the explosion in the regional homeless population (up 23% in one year in LA County) is hitting us with a 26% increase in our annual count here in Santa Monica.

No one pretends we can solve homelessness in 8.3 square miles, but Santa Monica is determined to do everything we can within our borders. As to what's new, we are doing several new things and are working on more:

· In July we completed a pilot joint effort between Police Patrol and Human Services to conduct weekly 3 am operations in Palisades Park. Overnight camping there is illegal. But rather than just issuing citations, Police used the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) data used by local non-profit homeless service agencies during the interaction to connect homeless individuals to resources that correspond to their needs (housing, employment, mental health services etc.)

Pregnant Culver City Woman Who Alleged Housing Discrimination Reaches Agreement With Landlord

09/25/2017 2:39 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

CULVER CITY, CA – A settlement has been reached between a couple and their former landlord, an actress who they sued alleging that their lease in Culver City was wrongfully ended prior to Christmas 2015 because the woman was pregnant at the time. The couple alleged housing discrimination and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

Tackling social challenges together

09/22/2017 11:38 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

By Rick Cole, Santa Monica City Manager

Over the next several months, we will be convening a series of community conversations about crime, community policing, homelessness and the selection of our next Police Chief. We will be inviting both existing community organizations and neighborhoods to host these discussions, but also seeking volunteers who will open up their homes, condos and apartments to their neighbors and friends.

Read More at page 5: http://backissues.smdp.com/092217.pdf

A Look at Santa Monica Shows Possible Impact on WeHo of Change in Short-Term Rental Ordinance

09/22/2017 8:08 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica’s experience with short-term rentals suggests partial legalization and increased enforcement can change the mix and growth of rentals, but it may be harder to cut the number dramatically. That is according to a report by WeHo by the Numbers based on data from an independent website called Inside Airbnb and other sources.

West Hollywood currently prohibits short-term rentals of residential units for 30 days or less. The city is planning to legalize at least some hosted home-sharing, in which the resident stays with the guests. At the same time, the city is going to strengthen enforcement with the help of a specialized contractor, Host Compliance.

See the full report: http://wehobythenumbers.com/2017/09/18/what-do-santa-monicas-results-suggest-we-might-expect-from-partial-legalization-of-short-term-rentals/

Santa Monica Provides Lesson as Interest in Rent Control on the Rise

09/21/2017 2:39 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

By Niki Cervantes and Jorge Casuso

September 21, 2017 -- Almost 40 years after Santa Monica voters passed one of the nation’s most stringent rent control laws, the controversial legislative measure used to cap skyrocketing rents is piquing renewed interest across the state.

A new poll released this week shows six in ten voters across California -- and even more in metro L.A. –- would embrace such a law in their cities.

Santa Monica’s tale of housing woe offers some harsh reality for those interested in following its lead as one of the original rent control pioneers when local voters approved a law in 1979 that placed strict limits on rental increases.

Crime Is Punishing Us

09/21/2017 2:28 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

by Charles Andrews

What if this sudden, steep rise in crime and bumper car traffic survival is partly a shiny object? To make people forget you rammed through a Downtown Community Plan that turns a large parcel of taxpayer-funded City land, large enough for a face-changing, legacy-building, community-serving historic city center square, into instead a 12-story behemoth hotel complex that pleases the developers and unions but few others.

That you’re in the process of ramming through an obscenely expensive City Services Building ($75M, maybe double that by the time you’re through) that could be built for half that and still be a mightily sustainable and useful edifice (but not a pinnacle, award-garnering
achievement perfect for enhancing politicians’ resumes).

That you are still pulling tricks...

What If My Landlord Offers Me Money To Move Out?

09/21/2017 8:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

by Andrea Cavanaugh, Consumer Specialist, Santa Monica Consumer Protection Division

A spate of buyout offers, fueled by a red-hot real-estate market, prompted the Santa Monica City Council to pass new regulations in 2015.

The new rules require owners to:

Before any buyout offer, give tenants a form provided by the Rent Control Board, advising them of their rights:
they don’t have to accept a buyout;
they can change their minds within 30 days; and
they can consult with an attorney and the Rent Control Board before accepting;
Make all buyout agreements in writing;
File all buyout agreements with the Rent Control Board; and
Retain for five years copies of disclosures signed by tenants, along with the dates the disclosures were given to tenants.

Santa Monica's One of The Best Places To Live In America: Report

09/20/2017 7:27 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Money's list for 2017 takes into account a healthy economy, affordable homes, and a high quality of life.

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By Emily Holland (Patch Staff)

SANTA MONICA, CA – Santa Monica has made Money's list of the best places to live in America – are you surprised? Coming in at number 18 out of 100, the website sites the accessibility of the coast, gorgeous views, the walkability and environmentally conscious efforts of the local bike share program. In addition to the perfect weather, its high school graduation is 92% and Moody's Analytics predicts continued job growth in the area through 2021, according to Money.

The median home price in Santa Monica is $533,083, and the median household income is $82,963, according to Money.

AND: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2017/September-2017/09_20_2017_Santa_Monica_Ranked_18th_in_Money_Magazines_Top_100_Best_Places_to_Live.html

To read more about the study or to read the rest of the list: http://time.com/money/collection/best-places-to-live-2017/

Homeless Hygiene Requires City Action Immediately

09/19/2017 8:18 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

By David Pisarra

There’s an epidemic of Hepatitis A going on in San Diego and if we’re not proactive, it could be just as bad here. We have a huge homeless population, and if they’re not using bathrooms on a regular basis it could become a health hazard for our city.

I know that port-a-potties are unsightly and expensive. But good lord we have to do something to address these health issues that we are facing. We pay a huge amount of money in social support to services like Samoshel, and Ocean Park Community Center to provide services to the homeless and they need to tapped for solutions.

Wellbeing index issues second set of findings

09/19/2017 8:16 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

BY LEA YAMASHIO AND MATTHEW HALL
Daily Press Staff

City Hall has released the second draft of the City’s Wellbeing Index and the results are similar to the inaugural findings: life in Santa Monica is pretty good but there are still areas to be improved.

The index measures six dimensions, Outlook (tracking social media commentary on life), Community (how residents involve themselves in local issues), Place and Planet (feelings on open space, buildings and social environment), Learning (academic and life experience), Health (how healthy people feel and the resources available to help them) and Economic Opportunity (the ability of residents to improve their economic situation).