Maybe you’re not aware of the tsunami of development that is coming our way. How about a 12-story behemoth (maybe a little less) in the middle of Downtown, on land paid for and belonging to we the people, but being turned over to a private developer for a relative song? It seems like not the right direction or right anything to many of us residents, yet our City Council loves it and is scrambling to make small adjustments they think will make it acceptable, before approving it outright. Did I mention we have an 84′ height limit Downtown?

Read More: http://smdp.com/war-for-the-soul-of-santa-monica/154733

Affordable housing occupied a significant slice of last week’s City Council meeting.

Council moved forward with the potential sale of the Mountain View Mobile Home Park, modified municipal code relating to tenant protections, and authorized the creation of a new position that will aid renters facing the loss of their homes.

Read More: http://smdp.com/housing-talks-abound-at-city-council/154725

Planning Commission will hopefully finish their multi-month discussion of the old Post Office site and hear preliminary proposals for a pair of downtown developments at a special meeting this Wednesday.

Read More: http://smdp.com/joint-downtown-developments-at-wednesdays-planning-commission-meeting/154706

An independent investigation into the City of Santa Monica’s ethical procedures has determined Santa Monica officials experienced “lapses in judgment” in relation to the Elizabeth Riel case and that the City can enforce its anti-corruption laws.

Read More: http://smdp.com/ethics-report-identifies-shortfalls-in-city-procedures/154696

A Santa Monica landlord is facing allegations of using fire to illegally evict rent-controlled tenants after flames ripped through an Ocean Front Walk building late last year, with low-income residents claiming they were literally left out in the cold with nowhere to sleep.

Read More: http://smmirror.com/articles/News/Elderly-Disabled-Residents-Left-Outside-in-the-Cold/45358

The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has reviewed this initiative closely. We want to inform our membership and our community why we have voted unanimously to strongly oppose it.

Read More: http://smdp.com/why-the-chamber-is-opposing-the-anti-housing-pro-traffic-land-use-voter-empowerment-luve-initiative/154682

A new position in the Santa Monica government is expected to serve the role of prime contact and facilitator for renters forced to leave their residences temporarily or permanently for reasons outside their control.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/April-2016/04_18_2016_Relocated_Santa_Monica_Tenants_Getting_More_Help_.html

Our recently adopted City Zoning Ordinance envisions adding dense new housing in the downtown area. We can now see how well that housing goal is being met. What is undoubtedly true is that recent housing approvals have been massive. In the past nine months the Planning Commission has permitted four large downtown mixed-use projects

Read More: http://smdp.com/downtowns-housing-conundrum/154669

April 14, 2016 -- Nearly 16 years after the Santa Monica government purchased the Mountain View Mobile Home Park to settle a legal dispute, the City is looking for a new buyer of the 4.8-acre property with 105 rent-controlled lots.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/April-2016/04_14_2016_City_Could_Sell_Santa_Monica_Trailer_Park.html

April 14, 2016 -- Santa Monica is already part of the most expensive rental market in the country, and rents are expected to continue rising in the Los Angeles area through 2018, according to two studies released this week.

Read More: http://surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2016/April-2016/04_14_2016_LA_Area_Rental_Prices_to_Continue_to_Soar_Report_Predicts.html