October 21, 2015 -- With a dearth of housing funds, Santa Monica is turning to private developers to build projects such as the proposed 64-unit affordable housing development reviewed by the City's Architectural Review Board (ARB) on Monday.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2015/October-2015/10_21_2015_64_Unit_Affordable_Housing_Complex_Proposed_For_Downtown_Santa_Monica.html

The public planning process around the 4th/5th/Arizona mega-parcel goes back many years. 

Read More: http://smdp.com/urban-plaza/151610

I see the development proposal before you, on city-owned land on Arizona, between 4th and 5th Streets as harbinger of a potentially threatening, irreversible future ...

Read More: http://smdp.com/open-letter-city-council/151614

ONE OF THE MAJOR ARGUMENTS proffered for building more low-income housing here is to maintain community diversity. “We don’t want Santa Monica to turn into another Beverly Hills,” is a frequent comment from the prodevelopment/affordable housing/Santa Monica Forward lobby

Read More on page 4: http://smdp_backissues.s3.amazonaws.com/101915.pdf

October 19, 2015 -- Facing stiff opposition from slow-growth advocates, the Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday will explore ways to reduce office space at a major mixed-use development proposed for a City owned site in the heart of Downtown.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2015/October-2015/10_19_2015_Santa_Monica_Council_Takes_Another_Look_at_Major_Downtown_Project.html

State legislation related to affordable housing, rent control and landlord/tenants was more notable this year for what failed than what succeed, according to a report presented to the Rent Control Board last week.

Read More on page 1: 

http://smdp_backissues.s3.amazonaws.com/101615.pdf

October 16, 2015 -- With little controversy, the City Council voted 6-0 on Tuesday for a mixed-use development on Fifth Street between Santa Monica Boulevard and Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2015/October-2015/10_16_2015_Council_Approves_Downtown_Santa_Monica_Mixed_Use_Project.html

October 15, 2015
 -- In an act that several council members said was the beginning of transforming Santa Monica’s Lincoln Boulevard into a pedestrian friendly street, the City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a mixed-use development to replace a long-existing Denny’s.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2015/October-2015/10_15_2015_Santa_Monica_Council_Approves_Dennys_Replacement_Project.html

State legislation related to affordable housing, rent control and landlord/tenants was more notable this year for what failed than what succeed, according to a report presented to the Rent Control Board last week.

Read More: http://smdp.com/mixed-bag-renters-sacramento/151429

October 14, 2015
 -- In a move aimed at increasing government transparency, the Santa Monica City Council gave the go-ahead to start posting much of the correspondence members receive online on the City’s website.

Read More:  http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2015/October-2015/10_14_2015_Santa_Monica_to_Start_Posting_City_Council_Correspondence_Online.html