Among the Consent Calendar items are the proposed adoption of a resolution for the 2024 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report, the awarding of a contract to Global Power Group, Inc. as the primary source and Bay City Electric Works as the secondary source to provide emergency generator maintenance and repair at water and wastewater facilities and a second reading and adoption of an ordinance to adopt the 2022 California Green Building Standards Code and adopt a 2022 local amendment relating to concrete requirements for newly constructed buildings.

Read More: https://smdp.com/2024/05/13/tuesdays-city-council-meeting-is-full-on-affair-with-a-variety-of-topics-up-for-discussion/

Four council seats are up for election this year. They are currently held by Davis, Mayor Phil Brock, Oscar de la Torre and Christine Parra. 

Read More: https://smdp.com/2024/05/28/councilwoman-davis-will-not-seek-reelection/

According to a May Los Angeles rent report from Apartment List, Santa Monica apartment prices dropped over the past month by 0.6%, one of only six out of the 26 Los Angeles metropolitan area cities to see a decrease throughout April and into May. The median one-bedroom apartment price in Santa Monica now stands at $2,340 per month, while the median two-bed is at $2,805.

Read More: https://smdp.com/2024/05/24/rent-prices-slightly-down-while-local-real-estate-is-sellers-market/

The city alleges that Atef intentionally discriminated against a tenant with a disability. The tenant, who is immunocompromised and has lived at the property since 2021, requested multiple times in the past year for reasonable accommodation to remediate toxic mold in her unit and to be temporarily relocated during the process. Atef allegedly refused the request, stating that his building is not suitable for tenants with “special conditions” or those with respiratory issues.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2024/05/city-files-lawsuit-against-landlord-over-alleged-discrimination-and-harassment/

AND: https://smdp.com/2024/05/23/pico-landlord-facing-multiple-tenant-harassment-lawsuits/

The program -- spearheaded by the LA County Board of Supervisors --- "is an effort to reduce evictions of tenants for non-payment of rent," County officials said.

The funds will be distributed to "qualified landlords adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic" to cover "unpaid rent and eligible expenses dating from April 1, 2022 to the present."

"To qualify, units must still be occupied by impacted tenants," County officials said.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2024/May-2024/05_23_2024_County_Launches_Second_Round_of_Rent_Relief_Program.html

AND: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2024/05/24/los-angeles-county-re-launches-rent-relief-program-with-68-million-in-grant-funding

Introduced by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), SB 951, which removes layers of discretionary permitting in the Coastal Zone, passed 35 to 0 and will had to the Assembly.

Meanwhile, SB 1037, which fines cities that egregiously violate state housing laws, passed 23 to 9. Both bills must be approved by the house by August 31.

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2024/May-2024/05_21_2024_Two_Housing_Bills_Clear_Senate.html

The city's focus on addressing a non-existent housing crisis, local climate crisis, and supposed issues of racism and equity, not to mention a war on the other side of the world, while ignoring the real and pressing problems of crime, drugs, and homelessness, is a dereliction of duty. Santa Monica has become a shadow of its former self, in a span of about just a half a decade, due to the misguided priorities of its leaders.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2024/05/21/opinion/a-call-on-city-leaders-to-clean-up-this-mess-crime-homelessness-overpriced-affordable-housing-and-more/8310.html

In a mostly quiet neighborhood of older homes and small apartment buildings, some residents have drawn their own no-go zones around what might sound like a crash pad for traveling backpackers: hostels.

At least two of them have popped up on West View Street in Mid-City Heights in the past few years, with more in surrounding neighborhoods.

Read More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/illegal-hostels-are-popping-up-in-l-a-neighborhoods-to-some-residents-ire/ar-BB1mLJEb?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=e65a6a45bdf64af5a75f81453ce2bbde&ei=32

You might have already seen his posts on the social media app Nextdoor, but long-time Santa Monica local Stephen McMahon has come up with an ingenious way to discourage the homeless from making camp and taking drugs in his building’s courtyard parking space and thus also preventing the inevitable repeat burglaries.

His idea is straightforward and is a testament to the axiom that necessity is the mother of invention. He combined the concept of blue flashing light — that is known to keep people awake, which is why it’s often used in warehouses and on heavy machinery — together with the extremely annoying sound of crickets and created a deterrent that he has proved to be highly successful.

Read More: https://smdp.com/2024/05/20/little-blue-box-hopes-to-chirp-away-at-crime/

One of the most effective ways to influence state policy is through grassroots organizing and advocacy. This involves building a broad-based coalition of residents, community organizations, and advocacy groups who are committed to advancing affordable housing solutions. By working together to educate the public, mobilize supporters, and pressure elected officials, these coalitions can help to create the political momentum needed to secure increased funding and stop incentives for market-rate housing. Such assistance needs to be applied only to the affordable housing portion. 

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2024/05/sm-a-r-t-column-a-path-forward-for-santa-monica-part-ii/