ACTION Apartment Association

L.A. developer aims to tear down homes to build apartments

08/01/2023 8:23 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Jha is banking his business on moments like these. Jha has spent the last six years paging through state laws and city zoning codes. His homework leads him to snap up single-family homes where he decides the law will let him build much bigger, no matter what anyone else thinks.

Jha is taking advantage of an opportune moment when California politics are turning away from the slow-growth mantra that has dominated in established cities and suburbs over the last half century.

New Cap On Rent Hikes Takes Effect For Tenants In LA And Orange Counties

08/01/2023 8:13 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The statewide Tenant Protection Act covers renters living in most apartment buildings constructed more than 15 years ago.

The law links allowable annual rent hikes with inflation. Because inflation has been cooling in the L.A. area, the legal limit on rent hikes for covered tenants is declining slightly, from 10% to 8.8%.

Statewide expansion of rent control qualifies for 2024 ballot

07/31/2023 1:59 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The newly qualified measure, known as the Justice for Renters Act, would repeal Costa-Hawkins.

SMa.r.t. Column: Counseling The City Council

07/31/2023 1:51 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

This week, our SMa.r.t. column is authored by concerned resident Nikki Kolhoff. Nikki has been an active voice in the community for many years, focusing on both City and SMMUSD issues that impact us all. The current issue Nikki is addressing here is something all residents should be concerned about, namely the unwarranted sale/lease of our historic Civic Center Auditorium and the behind-the-doors manner in which the City Staff and Council have proceeded without public input and participation.

Planning Commission Appointments Expose Council Rift

07/31/2023 9:45 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Fresco headed a group of activists called Save the Civic, and in 2013 was appointed to the Civic Working Group tasked with advising the City Council on options for the future of the iconic auditorium.

Fresco was backed by four Councilmembers -- Phil Brock, Oscar de la Torre, Christine Parra and Lana Negrete -- during three previous rounds before she was appointed in the final round.

Fonda-Bonardi, a local architect and slow-growth advocate, was backed by the same four Councilmembers but failed to win the five votes needed.

Council Ends Negotiations to Sell Civic Auditorium for Affordable Housing

07/28/2023 8:58 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Negotiations with Community Corp were held as the City has been earmarking land to sell or lease so it can meet a daunting State mandate to plan for 6,168 new affordable housing units over the next eight years.

It has not been revealed how Community Corp planned to make housing work on the three-acre Civic Center site with the sprawling low-slung auditorium this is designated a local historic landmark.

Negotiations with Community Corp were terminated amid growing opposition to the Council's closed door negotiations to sell what is Santa Monica's most iconic building.

City Hires Communications Manager

07/28/2023 8:56 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Lauren Gold Howland was tapped by City Manager David White to "manage the comprehensive dissemination of information to the public and staff" starting August 14, City officials announced Wednesday.

Howland will provide information on City programs, initiatives and events and will serve as the City’s official spokesperson, officials said.

Howland will serve in the City Manager’s Office, Office of Communications, with an annual salary of $161,316.

Council unanimously approves Downtown private security plan after considerable questioning

07/27/2023 9:10 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

This will take the form of a pilot program and is currently planned for a period of 12 months at a cost of $1.7 million. Private security firm Covered 6 will have the honor of keeping the Promenade prim and proper following a 90ish minute discussion this week that covered several elements of operations in the downtown zone.

Santa Monica: A Symphony Unfolding

07/26/2023 1:08 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

In the broad tableau of our nation’s stories, Santa Monica has etched its own unique symphony. Once, our city was a sonorous harmony of prosperity and unity, a place where families blossomed and dreams took flight. But of late, discordant notes of homelessness and crime have pierced our symphony, disrupting the rhythm of our collective lives.

Our city, a radiant star in the Golden State’s firmament, now finds itself at a crucial crossroads.

Council Delays Fines for Leaf-Blower Violations

07/26/2023 9:34 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Gardeners in Santa Monica can continue using gas-powered leaf blowers for half a year without fear of being fined after a crackdown approved by the Council goes into effect next month.

The reprieve was pushed by Councilmember Phil Brock as the Council unanimously voted on Tuesday to crack down on violators who have blown off a 1990 law that bans all motorized leaf blowers.