With many of L.A.’s COVID-19 renter protections now gone, evictions in 2023 have been rising well above pre-pandemic levels. Due to new rental housing regulations put in place by L.A.’s city council earlier this year, City Controller Kenneth Mejia is now able to track where those evictions are playing out across the city.

Read More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/as-la-evictions-rise-city-controller-releases-map-showing-where-renters-are-getting-pushed-out/ar-AA1fC1jU?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=300f3b7d28b449edaad0d9edea7887c0&ei=28

Decavalles-Hughes has led the City’s Finance Department for the past 12 years, overseeing the management of the city investment portfolio, preparation of the budget, financial reporting, purchasing, payroll, accounts payable, business and revenue operations, internal audit, and risk management.

Read More: https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2023/08/21/city-manager-david-white-announces-retirement-of-finance-director-gigi-decavalles-hughes

The cleared site at 1527 Lincoln Boulevard is poised for the erection of a novel eight-story establishment that will encompass 210 residential units including 21 that qualify as affordable housing. The structure will also feature ground floor commercial space and a three-level parking facility capable of housing 321 automobiles and 270 bicycles.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2023/08/site-for-210-unit-development-cleared-on-lincoln-boulevard/

Locally, Santa Monica for 2023 came in at $48.95 billion for taxable values, which is a 5.3% increase over last year’s numbers. That includes 16,821 single-family homes, 4,068 apartment complexes, 2,672 commercial-industrial parcels for a grand total of 23,561 taxable properties. Yes, it’s a solid growth at $48.95 billion.

Read More: https://smmirror.com/2023/08/latest-santa-monica-assessment-roll-shows-5-3-increase-in-taxable-property-values/

The City Council will take up nine items placed by Councilmembers on Tuesday's agenda, with most tackling hot-button issues.

The items include revisiting ways to force LA County's needle exchange program indoors and test the loyalty of Councilmembers to striking hotel union workers

Read More: https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2023/August-2023/08_18_2023_Councilmember_Items_Crowd_Tuesdays_Agenda.html

Nearly 300 apartments built for unhoused people are sitting empty in the city of Los Angeles more than two months after being declared ready for move in, largely due to longstanding bureaucratic rules.

Read More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/hundreds-of-la-apartments-built-to-ease-homelessness-are-sitting-empty/ar-AA1foznW?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=41fa074696ff46f59667184c744e8dfc&ei=36

By Houman Hemmati MD PhD

Instead of spending potentially $1 billion or more to house our approximately 1,000 homeless (1000 X $1 million/homeless) in Santa Monica by building new ocean-adjacent condos on the most expensive land on earth, imagine if we used a fraction of that sum to provide permanent fully-OWNED housing for our homeless in Detroit, offering them the dignity of homeownership, immediate housing security, and a fresh start.

Read More: https://www.smobserved.com/story/2023/08/17/opinion/a-sustainable-affordable-and-compassionate-solution-for-our-homeless-crisis/7744.html

Responding to pleas from Mayor Karen Bass and city and county housing officials, HUD has agreed to exempt local housing providers from the rules that required applicants to produce identification and document their homeless status and income before moving into their apartments.

Read More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-scores-a-u-s-policy-shift-to-expedite-homeless-housing/ar-AA1fllZA?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=fc3e5ec6bf324306a1734ad1a86fb68a&ei=19

Under current law, evictions are prohibited without just cause, however a “no-fault” just cause classification exists that allows an owner to occupy the property either themselves, or an occupancy by the owner’s spouse, domestic partner, children, grandchildren, parents or grandparents. Currently under advisement by the state’s Appropriations Committee, SB 567 would amend current law to require the property owner, partner or family member to occupy the property for a minimum of 12 continuous months as the person’s primary residence. 

Read More: https://smdp.com/2023/08/15/eviction-loophole-restriction-broached-by-state-legislature/

How has all this happened to our city and what if anything can we do about it? As a result of the rapidly rising crime, drugs and homelessness violence The Shores Residents Association (TSRA) has invited Council Member Phil Brock to hold a Town Hall here outlining plans of the council to stem these horrific developments. 

Read Moe on page 5: https://s3.amazonaws.com/smdp_backissues/081223.pdf