ACTION Apartment Association

Santa Monica Is Case Study in Voter Discrimination, Report Contends

10/12/2023 10:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Santa Monica's switch to at-large elections in 1946 exemplified a nationwide effort to disenfranchise Black and Latino voters, according to a joint study released this month.

The 47-page report -- authored by professors from UC Berkeley, the University of Michigan and Harvard -- was released as Santa Monica is fighting a Voting Rights lawsuit that would upend its electoral system ("Supreme Court Reverses Voting Rights Ruling," August 23, 2023).

Santa Monica Below Market Housing (BMH) Program

10/12/2023 7:26 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Santa Monica Housing Division staff will be hosting informational workshop about the City's Below Market Housing (BMH) waitlist and program.

City Council Approves Metro-Adjacent Affordable Housing Proposal

10/09/2023 9:02 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The project, at the block bounded by Olympic and Colorado and 4th and 5th Streets, includes AMCAL’s proposal to acquire the adjacent 27,176 square foot office/commercial building at 1640 5th Street, known as the “Comma Building”, from Lincoln Properties, for additional housing units.

“Affordable Home-Ownership” TORCA 2.0 by Peter Borrensten

10/07/2023 11:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

It is admitted there were flaws in the original TORCA which the Santa Monica Housing Commission’s proposed ‘TORCA 2.0’ is explicitly designed to fix. TORCA 2.0 will allow non-profits to buy rent control buildings that are offered for sale, and will then offer to sell to tenants the units they are renting, at prices affordable to even the lowest incomes. And renters can choose to buy without timelimits, at any time in the future. Renters who do not wish to buy can continue renting under rent-control and will then be permanently protected from Ellis or owner-movein evictions.

'The tenant from hell': She checked into a luxury Airbnb, then refused to pay or leave.

10/04/2023 8:09 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

When Elizabeth Hirschhorn's Airbnb stay ended in April 2022, she simply didn't move out. She’s been living there rent-free ever since, and she refused to budge unless Jovanovic paid her a relocation fee of $100,000, according to a settlement offer reviewed by The Times.

City to Begin Negotiating Record 570-Unit Project

10/03/2023 2:01 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The City Council last week gave the go-ahead to execute an exclusive negotiating agreement that could result in the largest residential development in Santa Monica history.

Affordable housing developer AMCAL Multi-Housing, Inc. -- which was chosen from among 11 bidders -- is proposing a 338-unit project on a 1.85-acre site on City owned land near the Expo terminus Downtown, a company representative told the Council.

Newsom signs law to bolster eviction protections for renters

10/02/2023 9:58 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Under the new law, landlords moving into their units or renting to family also must identify the people moving in. In addition, the rental must be occupied within three months of eviction and they must live in the unit for at least a year. Those who evict tenants to renovate properties must include copies of permits or contracts, among other details, when serving eviction notices.

Landlords who do not follow through will have to allow evicted tenants to move back under the original lease terms.

Private security company quits DTSM contract

09/29/2023 2:04 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The private security company set to take over patrols in Downtown Santa Monica has withdrawn from the contract after concerns were raised over an individual who is or was affiliated with the company.

Interview With Downtown Activist on Being Attacked by Homeless Suspect (Video)

09/29/2023 1:46 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

John Alle, co-founder of Santa Monica Coalition, was attacked in Palisades Park while filming.

See Video: https://smmirror.com/2023/09/video-interview-with-downtown-activist-on-being-attacked-by-homeless-suspect/

Local Rents Continue Rising Amid Nationwide Drop

09/28/2023 10:17 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Bucking a nationwide trend, Santa Monica rents rose 2.1 percent in September, but the rate of growth has flattened after soaring last year, according to the latest monthly report by Apartment List.