December 12, 2016 -- Ballot-weary Santa Monica voters will return to the polls for a rare March election to determine the fate of yet another tax measure.

The quarter-cent tax measure -- which would generate about $355 million per year for its proposed 10-year lifetime -- was placed on the ballot last week by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to fund homeless services.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/December-2016/12_12_2016_Santa_Monica_Backs_County_Sales_Tax_for_Homeless_Services.html

The City has just confirmed to us that NMS has 18(eighteen) pending Santa Monica projects, 15 in our Downtown, that have not yet been approved. And we understand that NMS has additional sites in Santa Monica that will likely lead to even more NMS development applications.

Read More:  http://www.smobserved.com/story/2016/12/09/opinion/smclc-demands-city-of-sm-halt-processing-of-18-development-applications-by-nms/2344.html

Now the City is embarking on a new experiment: the new City Services building, to be constructed on a narrow lot behind City Hall. The costs of the project have increased to new highs for municipal support buildings. The City expects the 50,000 square-foot building to cost nearly $85 million, or about $1,700 per square foot. 

Read More: http://smmirror.com/2016/12/oped-sm-a-r-t-money-and-energy-in-santa-monica/

December 9, 2016 -- While the City Council searches for the first new head of Santa Monica’s legal department in more than 20 years, longtime Assistant City Attorney Joseph Lawrence will fill that role on an interim basis beginning December 31.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/December-2016/12_09_2016_Lawrence_Picked_as_Santa_Monica_Interim_City_Attorney.html

December 8, 2016 -- The City Council on Tuesday ordered a review of Santa Monica ’s dealings with its largest local housing developer after a judge found evidence of wrongdoing during a recent contract dispute with a Boston developer.

The motion, which was unanimously approved, asks staff to verify the information that NMS Properties, led by developer Neil Shekhter, and all related entities provide in agreements to build and operate housing in Santa Monica.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/December-2016/12_08_2016_Santa_Monica_City_Orders_Review_of_NMS_Holdings.html

December 8, 2016 -- Trying to mend fences after the defeat of a contentious slow-growth measure in November’s election, the Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday ordered staff to study giving voters final say on major development proposals or requiring a council super majority for approval.

The council, whose members generally opposed Measure LV as too restrictive, “won the battle” in seeing it solidly rejected by voters, said Council Member Kevin McKeown.

But the only way to “win the war” over development in Santa Monica is to start a “conversation” with those who supported the initiative, he said.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/December-2016/12_08_2016_Santa_Monica_City_Council_Reconsiders_Public_Vote_on_Development.html

In January, staff members will publish the list of buildings they consider “seismically vulnerable.” Once the building’s owners are notified of the city’s concern, they will have a strict timeline to get their building inspected and then fix any problems.

Read More: http://smdp.com/city-says-thousands-of-apartments-vulnerable-to-earthquake-damage/158913

The Court has now issued further rulings. The Court "ordered the real estate mogul to cede all control of [the nine projects in dispute in that lawsuit, including in Santa Monica,]" according to the L.A. Business Journal.

Read More:  http://www.smobserved.com/story/2016/12/05/opinion/smclc-demands-city-of-sm-halt-processing-of-18-development-applications-by-nms/2344.html

and:

http://smmirror.com/2016/12/santa-monica-transparency-project-calls-into-question-all-nms-related-funding/

The Neighborhood Resource Officer program exemplifies community oriented policing in its truest form.

Read More and see map: https://www.santamonicapd.org/nro/

A Southern California developer recently found to have committed of fraud and forgery will potentially face the scrutiny of City Hall concerning current and future projects in Santa Monica.

On Friday, a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge ruled local developer Neil Shekhter, founder and CEO of NMS Properties, committed a “broad variety” of fraud and forgeries, including providing a fabricated contract to the court, as well as destroyed evidence. The case surrounded a joint venture between NMS and hedge fund AEW and concerns seven properties in Santa Monica, one in Los Angeles and one in West Hollywood.

Because of the ruling, Shekhter will cede control of the nine properties.

Read More: http://smdp.com/nms-to-lose-control-of-local-properties/158871