ACTION Apartment Association

Santa Monica Rents Dip but Still 80 Percent Higher than National Median

04/03/2018 1:34 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

April 3, 2018 -- Median rents in Santa Monica dipped for the second month in a row in March, but were nonetheless 80 percent higher than their counterparts nationwide, a new tally of rents across the U.S. has found.

The analysis, from Apartment List, showed rents for two-bedroom units were up 1.4 percent from the same month last year in Santa Monica, lagging California’s average increase in rents of 2.9 percent and the national average of two percent.

Still, of 55 cities in Southern California analyzed, Santa Monica placed fairly low on the list of median cost for two-bedroom units...

Rent Control Board unlikely to pursue immediate reform in 2018 election

04/03/2018 10:44 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

As tenant advocacy groups gather signatures to put rent-control reform on the November ballot, Santa Monica’s Rent Control Board is looking at the local possibilities if it succeeds. At their March meeting, the RCB expressed doubt it would be able to build consensus fast enough to draft a tandem measure to immediately expand its authority to either limit rents or expand rent control to more units if the Affordable Housing Act passes.

The Board, which supports the repeal Costa Hawkins, the statewide law that limits local rent control laws, would need to draft language for a measure to give to City Council by June to make the 2018 election. The City Council has the final authority to submit a local ballot measure by August. Several members said the timeline was simply too tight.

Apartment Project Near Freeway that Triggered Health Concerns Returns to Santa Monica Planning Commission

04/02/2018 3:20 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

April 2, 2018 -- A proposed apartment complex on Lincoln Boulevard, initially deemed by City officials as being too imposing and too close to the Santa Monica Freeway, heads back to the Planning Commission on Wednesday with a recommendation of approval after changes to the blueprints.

Developed by WNMS Communities, the five-story, 69,896-square-foot mixed-use project at 1650 Lincoln Boulevard, is one of many such developments meant to turn the commuter thoroughfare into more of a family neighborhood.

City mounts new effort to torpedo voting lawsuit

03/30/2018 10:57 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City of Santa Monica has filed a new argument to have a lawsuit challenging its voting system thrown out of court.

The city filed a summary judgment motion last week asking the court to rule in its favor and terminate the lawsuit before going to trial.

Plaintiffs (Pico Neighborhood Association, including co-chair Oscar de la Torre and his wife Maria Loya) have accused the city of violating the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) with the use of at-large elections. The suit seeks to force the City to move to a district-based system.

Victory in PLF’s challenge to Seattle’s “implicit bias” rule

03/30/2018 10:43 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Today, a trial judge ruled that Seattle can’t deny landlords the right to choose their own tenants. Seattle’s “first in time” rule forced landlords to offer any vacant unit to the first qualified applicant. Representing several small-time landlords, PLF challenged the rule in Yim v. City of Seattle. The trial court granted our clients a win on all their constitutional claims.

Think Prop. 13 isn't helping you? Guess again.

03/30/2018 10:27 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

How high would your taxes be without Proposition 13? Try our new online tax calculator!

From: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

Guess no more! Your property taxes may be a game to politicians but not to the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the taxpayer's resource. Enter the estimated current market value of your home to find out how much you could be paying in property taxes without Proposition 13.

Read More and access the calculator at: https://www.hjta.org/how-high-would-your-taxes-be-without-proposition-13/

Single-Family Homeowners Need to Wake Up

03/28/2018 2:07 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Letter to the editor - Robert Kronovet

My fellow homeowners across California: rent control will require you to register every single vacant bedroom and occupied bedroom in your home.

Mark my words. It takes a flick of a pen or the landing of a gavel and we become slaves of the state.

L.A. votes to fight state lawmaker's push for high-density housing

03/28/2018 8:30 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to oppose a bill allowing residential buildings of four to eight stories on streets near public transit, despite objections from business leaders and groups that favor higher-density housing.

The 13-0 vote makes L.A. the largest municipality in California to come out against Senate Bill 827, which would loosen or eliminate restrictions on height, density, parking and design for residential projects near bus and rail stops.

Strict Rent Control Likely Coming to New Apartments

03/28/2018 8:11 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Letter to the Editor

Should Costa Hawkins be repealed the city will impose vacancy control on new-build apartments and thus no new apartments will be built in Santa Monica -- ever. They will only ever, ever build condos. They won’t be tricked a third time.

Members of Temporary Citizens Panel on Santa Monica City Finances Resist Being Disbanded

03/27/2018 11:45 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

March 27, 2018 -- With their urgent calls for curbing rising employee-related costs at Santa Monica City Hall going unheeded, members of an ad hoc panel of citizens reviewing City finances are trying to win more time to make their case.

The ad hoc advisory committee, established in May, is mandated to be disbanded next month, as its boss -- the City Council’s Audit Subcommittee -- takes final action on an outside audit of City employee compensation and performance.