Construction is the major theme of tonight’s Rent Control Board meeting, as the members discuss the City’s massive new seismic safety retrofit ordinance and tweak tenant protections. The Board will consider changes to an ordinance that allows rent control tenants to pay reduced rent while there is significant construction at their building that effects habitability or reduces services unless the construction is necessary and reasonable.

“These draconian decrease regulations will likely give birth to a new cottage industry that we can call ‘Decreases R Us,’” Building owner Wes Wellman said. “Activists will organize tenants on every retrofit to pursue rent decreases from an enabling and compliant rent control administration.” 

Condon says the City is currently working on an analysis of construction and will likely discuss pass through costs this summer.

Read More on page 1: http://backissues.smdp.com/041317.pdf

CITY OF SANTA MONICA Ordinance Numbers 2537-2540 (CCS) (City Council Series) The following ordinance summaries are for Ordinance Numbers 2537 through 2540, which were adopted by the City Council at its meeting of March 28, 2017: Ordinance Number 2537 amends the California State Building Codes to adopt updates to seismic retrofit requirements and adopting enhancements to local tenant laws. 

Ordinance Number 2538 amends Santa Monica Municipal Code 8.96 relating to Abatement of Nuisances to include additional requirements related to vacant buildings. 

These ordinances will become effective thirty days after adoption. The full text of the ordinance is available from the Office of the City Clerk located at 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, California 90401; phone (310) 458-8211

Read More on page 5: http://backissues.smdp.com/041317.pdf

Fair Housing Workshop: The City’s Attorney’s office is sponsoring a fair housing workshop on Tuesday, April 18 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m. registration) at the Santa Monica Main Library (Sixth Street and Santa Monica Blvd.). The workshop will explain the laws that prohibit housing discrimination. There will also be a panel on disability issues in rental housing. The presenters include Chancela Al Mansour, Executive Director of the Housing Rights Center; Denise McGranahan, Senior Staff Attorney at Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles; Andrea Cavanaugh, Consumer Specialist, City of Santa Monica; and Gary Rhoades, Deputy City Attorney, City of Santa Monica.

All owners, property managers, tenants, advocates, and attorneys are invited to RSVP and attend free of charge. A continental breakfast will be provided and library parking will be validated. Please reserve your spot by April 14, by going to www.smconsumer.org. On the right side of the home page, click the “Save the Date and Register! Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office Hosts Fair Housing Workshop” link.

Read More on pg. 3: http://backissues.smdp.com/041217.pdf

Reservations: http://www.smconsumer.org

Reserve your spot by April 14, by going to www.smconsumer.org. On the right side of the home page, click the “Save the Date and Register! Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office Hosts Fair Housing Workshop” link. 

The official release event is open to the public and will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Civic Center East Wing. 

The plan builds on past efforts to incentivize housing, revitalize the Third Street Promenade, preserve historic assets, stimulate art and cultural activities, and address sustainability.

Read the article: http://smdp.com/downtown-community-plan-released-today/160519

Visit the website: http://www.downtownsmplan.org/

Rent control is firmly established in liberal bastions like Berkeley, San Francisco, and Santa Monica, but it’s a new idea in the city of Santa Rosa. A June vote on whether to endorse or block the city council’s decision to impose rent control will either open the door to a new surge in rent control ordinances or make other cities and state legislators think twice about going further down the road of regulation.

Read More: http://www.housingfinance.com/policy-legislation/showdown-looms-as-rent-control-battle-rages_o

AND

Calls for rent control increasing across California

REGULAR RENT CONTROL BOARD MEETING 

Council Chamber, City Hall, 1685 Main Street 

 THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2017 – 7:00 P.M.

See Agenda item # 12:  https://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/Rent_Control/About_the_Rent_Control_Board/Agendas_and_Minutes/2017/RcB041317.pdf

Now’s your chance to clean out your garage. Drop off your old leftover paint for recycling.

City of Santa Monica City Yards • 2500 Michigan Avenue

Read More on page 6: http://backissues.smdp.com/040717.pdf

Also, read more at: http://www.paintcare.org/ca

AB 1506   Vacancy Control  Bill is on Hold

As state bill that would let cities dramatically expand rent control has been put on hold for a year by its author amid fierce opposition from landlords.

The proposal from Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) would repeal the landmark Costa-Hawkins Act, a 1995 law that barred rent caps on single-family homes and apartments built after that year.

Read More: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rent-control-bill-20170405-story.html

The “question should continue to be asked by residents: Who stands to benefit from the planned massive development of our downtown?” said Tricia Crane in an email to members of Northeast Neighbors this week, urging them to attend the meeting.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2017/April-2017/04_06_2017_Final_Draft_of_Santa_Monica_Downtown_Plan_to_Be_Released_Next_Week.html

Now momentum is building behind another failed strategy: rent control. Assemblyman Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica, has introduced a bill to repeal a 1995 state law — the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act — that limits the scope of local rental control laws. Bloom and his three co-sponsors hope to take away rent-control exemptions for duplexes, condos and single-family homes and to let local-rent control laws cover far more properties than now allowed, including newer housing stock.

Rent control is no solution to a housing crisis caused by a housing shortage. 

Read More:  http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/editorials/sd-california-housing-crisis-rent-control-20170403-story.html