Agenda packet — Santa Monica City Council, July 26, 2022 (part 4 of 5)

Woo hoo and I applaud you for it!

Furthermore, the city is losing millions of dollars in tax revenue to Los Angeles and Culver City, which have cannabis dispensaries that are located right outside the City. I have no doubt that a ballot measure for a cannabis business license tax will pass at the upcoming election. This measure would benefit Santa Monica residents immensely. More importantly, it would allow people to legally purchase cannabis tinctures and other products that they consume for medical purposes.

I hope that you consider taking up this important measure. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Tyler Brandow
Item 11.C
07/26/22
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07/26/22

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Packet Pg. 928 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax on cannabis) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: James Marks <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 12:04 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Santa Monica Agenda Item Email - July 26

EXTERNAL
Honorable Mayor and City Council Members,

My name is James Marks and I am writing to you so that you consider supporting Agenda Item 11.C, a ballot measure for a cannabis business license tax in Santa Monica.

There are no licensed cannabis retailers in the City of Santa Monica. Cannabis tax revenue could help alleviate some of the economic hardships we’ve experienced during the pandemic. The City of Santa Monica is losing potential revenue due to the unregulated and illegal cannabis market in the area.

Thank you for considering this action.

James E.Marks ll‐ Blue
PS‐ Every day above Ground with Family and Good Health is a GOD (good) day, despite all the things life may and will throw your way !!!
Item 11.C
07/26/22
11 of 11 Item 11.C
07/26/22

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Packet Pg. 929 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax on cannabis) Cannabis Tax
July 26, 2022

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Packet Pg. 930 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax • Consider placing a commercial cannabis tax on the November 8, 2022 ballot
• Tax would be contingent on future City Council actions regarding legalization of sale of non-medicinal cannabis.

Council Direction

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Packet Pg. 931 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax • Develop a comprehensive set of regulations to allow for the sale, distribution, delivery, and consumption of nonmedicinal cannabis in Santa Monica.
• Plan to place a cannabis business license tax ballot measure on the November 2024 general election ballot.
or
• Approve a resolution placing a cannabis tax measure on the November 8, 2022 ballot.

Options

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Packet Pg. 932 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax Cannabis Tax Measure - Background
June 2015 Council approved permitting two medical marijuana dispensaries (legal in State since1996)
Nov. 2016 California voters legalized recreational cannabis Fall 2022 Approved medical establishments expected to open May 2022 Council direction to pursue steps towards allowing nonmedicinal cannabis activity in Santa Monica
June 2022 Council direction to consider placing a cannabis tax on the ballot
• The state has taxed cannabis retail and cultivation since 2018. Recent state law (AB 195) has suspended tax on cultivation as of July 2022; the 15% retail excise tax remains.

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Packet Pg. 933 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax • Voter support for multiple tax measures on the same ballot • Timing and amount of potential revenue
• Cannabis state-level tax & regulatory environment
• Lack of community process
Cannabis Tax Measure - Items for Consideration

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Packet Pg. 934 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax Voter Support for Multiple Tax Measures
• Santa Monica urgently requires additional funding for public safety, homelessness/ housing displacement programs, and restoration of other City services • Having multiple tax measures on the ballot could jeopardize success of one or all • The ballot will include a TOT measure and possibly two competing transfer tax measures
• Council-directed ballot measures for TOT and DTT could together bring in $13-$25M annually (if voters approve)
• Rough revenue estimate for proposed cannabis tax is $0.5-$1M annually • The ballot will also include a SMC bond measure

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Packet Pg. 935 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax Potential Revenue Timing – Cannabis Tax
• Community process & Council vote to legalize
commercial nonmedicinal cannabis
12-24 months
at earliest
• Regulatory program developed
• City & state licensing requirements met
• Retail establishments begin sales
Staff believes the City is unlikely to receive any material revenue benefit from presenting a cannabis tax in 2022 vs. 2024

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Packet Pg. 936 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax State Regulatory Environment
• The State is in the process of reviewing and changing its tax structure and other regulations to assist legal businesses (AB 195 removes cultivation tax & shifts collecting/ remitting responsibilities) • Additional time to study state activity and other city’s responses to changing regulations/ taxes could improve the City’s future tax and regulatory structure

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Packet Pg. 937 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax Business License and Sales Tax application
Sales Tax 10.25% (the City receives two percentage points from standard allocation and Measure GSH).

Business
License Tax

0.125% to 0.5% of a business’s gross receipts
Affected businesses would pay existing taxes on sales happening prior to the City establishing a cannabis tax (in the unlikely event any occur).

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Packet Pg. 938 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax Alternative-Proposed Tax
Activity
Rates (% of gross receipts)
adjustments above rate cap must go to voters
Initial Rate Maximum Rate
Adult-use Retailers 3% 10%
Distribution 1% 10%
Manufacturing 1% 10%
Cultivation 1% 10%
Testing Laboratory 1% 10%
Medicinal 2% 10%
• Council could adjust rates by resolution up to the maximum rate • Rates above could generate $0.5-$1M based on two establishments

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Packet Pg. 939 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax Alternative-Other City Comparisons
City Rates (Adult-use retail)
Los Angeles • 10% gross receipts
Long Beach • 8% gross receipts
Malibu • 2.5% gross receipts
Culver City • 6-10% with an initial rate of 6% gross receipts

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Packet Pg. 940 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax Cannabis Tax
“Shall the measure to establish a business license tax on commercial adult-use nonmedicinal cannabis retailers up to 10% of gross receipts, and to tax medicinal cannabis retailers up to 10% of gross receipts, and to tax cannabis distribution, manufacturing, cultivation, and laboratory testing up to 10% in gross receipts, which all together could generate an estimated $1 million annually until repealed, be adopted?” Proposed Ballot Language

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Packet Pg. 941 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax Recommendation
• Approve staff recommendation to continue with research and activity towards a comprehensive nonmedicinal commercial cannabis program, including a proposed tax in November 2024
Alternative Action
• Approve the resolution to place the cannabis tax on the November 8, 2022 ballot, designate Council member(s) to prepare ballot arguments, and directing the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis
Recommendation

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Packet Pg. 942 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (5204 : 3 Ballot measure for business license tax City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: July 26, 2022
Agenda Item: 11.D
1 of 9
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Douglas Sloan, City Attorney, City Attorney's Office, Administration Subject: Adoption of Resolutions for Proposed Ballot Measures on the November 8, 2022 Election Amending Article XVIII of the City Charter Recommended Actions

1. Per City Council direction on July 12, 2022, adopt the attached resolution (Attachment A) placing a measure on the November 8, 2022, ballot that would amend Article XVIII of the City Charter reduce the Annual General Adjustment from 6% to 3%, effective January 1, 2023 to be placed on the November ballot; and

2. Per Council direction on July 12, 2022, adopt the attached resolution (Attachment B) placing a measure on the November 8, 2022, ballot that would amend Article XVIII of the City Charter to authorize the Rent Control Board to freeze or modify otherwise-allowed annual general adjustments to rent ceilings during a declared state of emergency by the President of the United States, the Governor, or upon a declaration of a local emergency by the City Council or Director of Emergency Services, while maintaining the landlord’s ability to petition for an upward rent adjustment; and

3. Authorize City Councilmembers to file written arguments for or against and direct the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis for each measure.

Executive Summary
At its April 28, 2022 meeting, the Santa Monica Rent Control Board (the “Board”) voted to recommend that the City Council place on the ballot for the November 8, 2022, general election amendments to the City Charter, as follows:

1. Add new Section 2304.5 to Article XXIII of the City Charter to require the registration of all Nonrentcontrolled Rental Units;

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2. Modify Article XVIII, Section 1806(a)(8)(iv) and (v) of the City Charter to require that an owner intend to occupy a unit for at least three years instead of one year before evicting a tenant, and occupy the unit within sixty (60) days of vacancy;

3. Modify Article XVIII, Section 1803(e) of the City Charter to allow Rent Control Board Commissioners to be elected to a maximum of three full terms to align with City elected officials; and

4. Modify Article XVIII, Section 1803(d) of the City Charter to state that an election need not be held if the number of qualified candidates does not exceed the number of open Rent Control Board positions.

At its June 9, 2022 meeting, the Board voted to propose an additional charter amendment giving the Board discretion to modify or suspend the annual general adjustment during declared emergencies.

The City Council considered the Board recommendations at its July 12, 2022 meeting and provided the following direction to City staff:

5. Instead of adding new Section 2304.5 to Article XXIII of the City Charter to require the registration of all Nonrentcontrolled Rental Units, prepare an ordinance at a later date for Council consideration, to require such registration given that Article XXIII already gives the City Council flexibility to implement its housing policies by ordinance, and more time is needed to receive community and staff input before adoption of such a program;

6. Revise the proposed ballot language to require an owner to intend to occupy a unit for two years, unless extenuating circumstances exist;

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7. Retain existing Charter language regarding term limits of Rent Board Commissioners;

8. Add new ballot measure language that would lower the cap on the annual general adjustment from 6% to 3% and reduce the 2022 general adjustment from 6% to 3% effective January 1, 2023; and

9. Revise the proposed ballot language to allow the City Council to suspend or reduce rent adjustments during a federal, state, or local declared state of emergency.

Discussion
The July 12, 2022 staff report (Attachment C) provides the justification for the proposed charter amendments for owners to evict tenants for owner-occupancy; revise election procedures; revise Commissioner term limits; and authorize the Rent Control Board to freeze or reduce otherwise-allowed annual general adjustments to rent ceilings during a federal or state declaration of emergency. Council agreed with these provisions with some modifications but requested that a ballot measure also allow for the emergency freeze or adjustment upon a declaration of a local emergency by the City Council or the Director of Emergency Services. Council also requested that staff come back with language to reduce the existing 6% cap on the Annual General Adjustment in Article XVIII of the City Charter.

Reducing the current cap on the Annual General Adjustment On or about November 6, 2012, Section 1805 of the City Charter was amended to allow for an Annual General Adjustment to the rent ceiling based upon the percentage increase in the CPI, with a maximum increase of 6%. The Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code sections 1954.50 to 1954.535), allows owners to charge fair market rents upon vacancy of controlled rental housing units in accordance with Civil Code section 1954.52 (also known as “vacancy decontrol”). Due to vacancy decontrol allowed by the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act and the unprecedented spike in inflation due to the global pandemic’s interruption of supply chains and fluctuations in demand, the current 6% cap creates an imbalance in the dual goals of maintaining affordable rents while providing owners with a fair return.

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The global pandemic due to COVID-19 has caused unprecedented hardships, disruptions, and long-term impacts that continue to negatively affect Santa Monica’s residents. Reducing the rent cap from 6% to 3% would strike the correct balance in times of higher inflation given that property owners continue to have the benefit of setting the initial rents at any amount upon a vacancy and, thus, can account for any maintenance cost increases. Moreover, an owner would still be able to petition for a rent increase if the reduced adjustments would prevent the owner from obtaining a fair and reasonable return.

While there has been some relief in the form of rental assistance, and other efforts to prevent displacement, those programs are winding down while the pandemic’s impacts continue to be felt. The County of Los Angeles extended its eviction moratorium on January 25, 2022. This moratorium applies to tenants residing in incorporated cities within the County of Los Angeles. Effective June 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022, a residential tenant whose household income is at 80 percent Area Median Income or below and who is unable to pay rent incurred from June 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022 is protected from eviction under the County Moratorium, so long as the reason for the nonpayment was financial impacts related to COVID-19, and the residential tenant has provided notice to the landlord to this effect and self-certified their income level and financial hardship within certain timeframes (see https://dcba.lacounty.gov/noevictions/ for more information on the County’s eviction moratorium as well as self-certification forms).

Inflation rates continue to spike and rising costs are hampering residents’ ability to recover from the loss of income and unexpected expenses that many experienced during the pandemic’s first two years. COVID-19 cases are increasing even as mitigation measures, such as masking and social distancing, are no longer required.

Other rent stabilization jurisdictions have been able to adjust to these conditions by freezing, lowering, or implementing caps on rent increases for controlled units, including Oakland (3% cap), City of Los Angeles (freeze), City of Beverly Hills (3.1% cap for

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eligible units, freeze for others), Los Angeles County unincorporated areas (freeze) and City of West Hollywood (freeze), among others.

The existing Annual General Adjustment formula in City Charter Section 1805 also provides for a dollar-amount ceiling, which is based upon the average of the 85th percentile of maximum allowable rent for all rent-controlled units and the 85th percentile of the maximum allowable rent for all rent-controlled units with a base-rent established before January 1, 1999 multiplied by the 6% annual general adjustment (effective September 1, 2022). According to the Rent Control agency, this dollar cap is $140.00 per month. Similar to the 6% cap, a $140.00 per month increase imposes severe hardship on tenants.

Assuming that the voters approve a reduction in the annual general adjustment cap from 6% to 3% with a $70.00 per month cap, this change would be effective as of January 1, 2023.

To accomplish this change, Section 1805(a) could be amended as follows:
(a) Annual General Adjustment. No later than June 30 each year, the Board shall announce the percentage by which rent ceilings for eligible units will be generally adjusted effective September 1 of that year.
(1) The adjustment shall be equal to seventy-five (75) percent of the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers, Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange County
region, or any successor designation of that index that may later be adopted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) as reported and published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the twelve (12) month period ending as of March of the current year.
(2) In determining the allowable percentage increase, numbers of .04 and below shall be rounded down to the nearest tenth

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decimal place and numbers of .05 and above shall be
rounded up to the nearest tenth decimal place.
(3) Subparagraph 1 of this subsection notwithstanding, in no event shall the general adjustment be less than zero percent or greater than six (6) three (3) percent; and
(4) Notwithstanding the Board’s June 2022 announcement of the 2022 general adjustment, commencing on January 1,
2023, the 2022 general adjustment during the period from January 1, 2023 through August 31, 2023, shall be three percent (3%) of the maximum allowable rent (MAR) in effect as of August 31, 2022, with a maximum dollar amount limit of seventy dollars ($70) (“Adjusted GA”). The Adjusted GA shall be the general adjustment by which the MAR is
calculated for purposes of future general adjustments.

Authority to suspend or modify the general adjustment during emergencies At its July 12 meeting, the City Council considered the Rent Control Board’s proposal to amend the Charter to give the Board the authority to suspend of modify the otherwiseallowed Annual General Adjustment during declared states of emergency in order to protect tenants’ health and safety. The Council, instead, directed staff to bring back proposed language to give the City Council that authority instead of the Rent Control Board. This is problematic, however, insofar as the Board would still be responsible for regulating rent controlled units and overseeing or processing the petition process for rent adjustments based upon fair return. Therefore, staff is recommending that the Board be allowed to suspend or modify Annual Rent Adjustments upon a declaration of a local emergency by the City Council or the Director of Emergency Services.

To effectuate this change, staff is recommending that the Council reconsider its direction and approve language that would amend Article XVIII to give the Board that authority as proposed. Staff’s recommendation is based on two factors: 1) the structure of the Charter and its delegation of authority; and 2) competing state law which

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would preclude suspension of rent increases by the City Council outside the rent control framework in Article XVIII of the City Charter.

State law governs rent increase limits for units not covered by Rent Control. As a result, the City Council cannot amend the Charter to limit rent increases for non-controlled residential rental units because that would conflict with state law. Given that only rentcontrolled units would be impacted by this change, any amendment must be to Article XVIII, which is under the purview of the Rent Control Board. The Board governs the Rent Control Law and is responsible for its administration, including petitions for hearings for rent adjustments.

The Board’s authority, however, would be limited under this proposal in that it can only be exercised after the City Council or other governing body has declared a local, state or federal emergency and only if necessary to protect the public’s health and safety.

And, as always, property owners can avail themselves of the rent increase petition process if a suspension or modification of the annual adjustment precludes them from receiving a fair and reasonable return. Ideally, the County’s eviction moratorium should work in concert with the voters’ approval of the Annual General Adjustment formula and the City’s financial support to rent-burdened tenants to fill the gap for the period during which the 6% increase remains in effect. As explained, above, based upon the existing Annual General Adjustment formula in the City Charter, the 6% Annual General Adjustment (or $140.00 per month cap), will become effective on September 1, 2022, and will likely result in more rent-burdened Santa Monica households, on top of an existing affordability crisis worsened by COVID. In less than two years, Santa Monicans have received approximately $38M in COVID rent relief. Despite this assistance, the pandemic, rising consumer prices, low wages, and rising rents place households at risk of homelessness.

In June, the City’s Community Services Department (CSD) and Rent Control agency released a Housing Needs Survey which was available online and on paper at City Hall, Parks, Libraries, and key service providers, included in the Rent Control summer mailer, promoted on City social media channels, and available through 311. The survey, which

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gathered data about current needs and the expected impacts of the Rent Control General Adjustment, closed in mid-July. Data analysis is underway.

CSD staff will provide an update to Council later this summer on the means and methods to provide Santa Monicans facing severe rent burdens due to the pandemic, household income, rising rents, disability, age, and/or other criteria with local homelessness prevention assistance this fall, first tapping budgeted $750,000 ARPA dollars. Staff will draw on the City’s experience with the early-pandemic Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which was able to operate quickly and efficiently, due to a simple program design and a sole-source partnership with a local non-profit. In the fall, CSD staff will present the HOME ARP Allocation Plan for the expenditure of an additional $2.2M of federal one-time funds. In the meantime, the City has executed an agreement with LAFLA to implement the expanded eviction prevention services approved by Council on May 11th. County COVID-19 tenant protections remain in place for households at 80% of AMI through December 31, 2022.

Environmental Analysis
The proposed resolutions and/or ordinance are exempt from the provisions of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to 15061(b)(3) of the State Implementation Guidelines (common sense exemption). Based on the evidence in the record, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed resolutions and/or ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment.

Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
Based on past practice, the Rent Control Board would reimburse the City for any additional costs incurred by the City as a result of placing the measures and/or ordinance on the November ballot.

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Prepared By: Susan Cola, Assistant City Attorney
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:

A. RC-ExA-Resolution Art XVIII
B. RC-ExB-Resolution for Emergency Authority
C. RC-ExC-July 12, 2022 Staff Report
D. Written Comments
E. PowerPoint Presentation

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1 City Council Meeting: July 26, 2022 Santa Monica, California RESOLUTION NUMBER _________ (CCS)
(City Council Series)

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA

SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS A MEASURE TO AMEND ARTICLE XVIII OF THE

CITY CHARTER TO REVISE REQUIREMENTS FOR OWNERS TO EVICT TENANTS

FOR OWNER-OCCUPANCY, REVISE ELECTION PROCEDURES, AND LOWER THE

CAP ON THE ANNUAL GENERAL ADJUSTMENT AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2022, AND AUTHORIZING

CITY COUNCILMEMBERS TO FILE WRITTEN ARGUMENTS FOR OR AGAINST THE

MEASURE AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF THE MEASURE.

WHEREAS, the City’s Rental Control Law (Article XVIII of the City Charter, also referenced as “RCCA”) prohibits evictions of tenants except as enumerated in the law; and
WHEREAS, owners or qualified relatives who wish to move into their units and reside there permanently may evict current tenants to do so, but only if they meet the requirements set forth in the RCCA; and
WHEREAS, one of those requirements is the owner or relative “intend in good faith to move into the unit within thirty (30) days after the tenant vacates and to occupy the unit as a primary residence for at least one year”; and
WHEREAS, the Santa Monica Rent Control Board (the “Board”) has heard input from the public on the feasibility of requiring owners or their qualified relatives to intend

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Packet Pg. 952 Attachment: RC-ExA-Resolution Art XVIII [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 to occupy the unit for a longer period, instead of one year, upon evicting an existing tenant; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of placing both a requirement to occupy the unit within a certain time frame and a good faith intent to live there for a certain period is to ensure the eviction is not used as a pretext for the owner to rent the unit to a new tenant paying market rates; and
WHEREAS, in light of the foregoing recitals, the Board has recommended the City Charter be amended to modify Article XVIII, Section 1806(a)(8)(iv) and (v), to require an owner intend to occupy a unit for at least three years, and occupy the unit within sixty days of vacancy; and
WHEREAS, after consideration of the Board’s recommendation, the City Council desires the City Charter be amended to require an owner intend to occupy a unit for at least two years, unless extenuating circumstances exist; and require the owner to occupy the unit within sixty days of vacancy; and
WHEREAS, on or about November 6, 2012, Section 1805 of the City Charter was amended to allow for an Annual General Adjustment to the maximum rent ceiling, based upon the CPI, with a maximum increase of 6%; and
WHEREAS, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code sections 1954.50 to 1954.535), allows owners to charge fair market rents upon vacancy of certain rental housing units in accordance with Civil Code section 1954.52 (also known as “vacancy decontrol”); and
WHEREAS, due to vacancy decontrol allowed by the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, several other jurisdictions in the state have lowered their annual general

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Packet Pg. 953 Attachment: RC-ExA-Resolution Art XVIII [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 adjustment caps to address the imbalance caused by allowing a higher cap on the annual general adjustment in addition to vacancy decontrol; and WHEREAS, the global pandemic due to COVID-19 has caused unprecedented hardships, disruptions, and long-term impacts that continue to negatively affect Santa Monica’s residents; and
WHEREAS, reducing the rent cap from 6% to 3% would strike the correct balance in times of higher inflation given that property owners continue to have the benefit of setting the initial rents at at any amount upon a vacancy and, thus, can account for any maintenance cost increases; and
WHEREAS, while there has been some relief in the form of an eviction moratorium, rental assistance, and other efforts to prevent displacement, those programs are winding down while the pandemic’s impacts continue to be felt; and WHEREAS, inflation rates continue to spike and rising costs are hampering residents’ ability to recover from the loss of income and unexpected expenses that many experienced during the pandemic’s first two years; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 cases are increasing even as mitigation measures, such as masking and social distancing, are no longer required; and WHEREAS, other rent stabilization jurisdictions have been able to adjust to these conditions by freezing, lowering, or implementing caps on rent increases for controlled units, including Oakland (3% cap) and City of West Hollywood (freeze), among others; and

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Packet Pg. 954 Attachment: RC-ExA-Resolution Art XVIII [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 WHEREAS, an owner would still be able to petition for a rent increase if the maximum increase of 3% would prevent the owner from obtaining a fair and reasonable return. To accomplish this, Section 1805(a) could be amended as follows:
(a) Annual General Adjustment. No later than June 30 each year, the Board shall announce the percentage by which rent ceilings for eligible units will be generally adjusted effective September 1 of that year.
(1) The adjustment shall be equal to seventy-five (75) percent of the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers, Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange County
region, or any successor designation of that index that may later be adopted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) as reported and published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the twelve (12) month period ending as of March of the current year.
(2) In determining the allowable percentage increase, numbers of .04 and below shall be rounded down to the nearest tenth decimal place and numbers of .05 and above shall be rounded up to the nearest tenth decimal place.
(3) Subparagraph 1 of this subsection notwithstanding, in no event shall the general adjustment be less than zero percent or greater than six (6) three (3) percent; and

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Packet Pg. 955 Attachment: RC-ExA-Resolution Art XVIII [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 (4) Commencing on January 1, 2023, the general adjustment during the period from January 1, 2023 through August 31, 2023, shall be three percent (3%) of the maximum allowable rent (MAR) in effect as of August 31, 2022, with a maximum dollar amount limit of seventy dollars ($70) (“Adjusted GA”).

Notwithstanding the Board’s June 2022 announcement of the 2022 general adjustment, the Adjusted GA shall be the
general adjustment by which the MAR is calculated for
purposes of future general adjustments.

WHEREAS, currently, the RCCA requires that an election be held even if there are only as many candidates as open Board positions; and
WHEREAS, the Rent Control Board has proposed an amendment to the RCCA that an election is not necessary when the number of qualified candidates does not exceed the open positions. To accomplish this, Section 1803(d) could be amended as follows:

Section 1803(d) ELECTION OF COMMISSIONERS: Commissioners shall be elected at general municipal elections in the same manner as set forth in Article XIV of the Santa Monica Charter, except that the first Commissioners shall be elected at a special municipal election held within ninety (90) days of the adoption of this Article. The elected Commissioners shall take office on the first Tuesday following their election. If, upon the City Clerk’s determination of the qualified candidates, the number of candidates does not exceed the number of vacant positions, no election will be held

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Packet Pg. 956 Attachment: RC-ExA-Resolution Art XVIII [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 6 and the qualified candidates shall be seated upon swearing in by the City Clerk.

WHEREAS, the City Council has considered and approved the Board’s recommendation because these amendments are in the public interest as they would strengthen tenant protections from unnecessary displacements and would streamline elections to improve governmental functions; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10403, the City Council has previously requested the County of Los Angeles consent and agree to the consolidation of all aspects of a General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2022, for the purpose of electing members of the Santa Monica City Council, the Santa Monica Rent Control Board, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, and the Santa Monica College Community College District.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AND PROCLAIM AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. At the General Municipal Election called for November 8, 2022, the following measure shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Santa Monica:

PROPOSITION " ": Shall the City Charter be
amended to require the owner of a rent-controlled
unit intend to occupy that unit for at least two years
before evicting a tenant, unless extenuating
circumstances exist; require the owner to occupy the
unit within 60 days of vacancy; reduce the maximum
Annual General Adjustment from 6% to 3%; and not
require an election if the number of qualified
candidates does not exceed the number of open
Board positions?
Yes ________
No ________

11.D.a
Packet Pg. 957 Attachment: RC-ExA-Resolution Art XVIII [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 7 SECTION 2. That the City Clerk shall file a certified copy of this resolution with the Board of Supervisors and with the county election department of the County of Los Angeles.

SECTION 3. That the City of Santa Monica recognizes additional costs may be incurred by the County by reason of the addition of this measure to the ballot and agrees to reimburse the County for any additional costs.

SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall transmit to the City Attorney, in accordance with applicable law, a copy of the proposed measure. The City Attorney shall prepare an impartial analysis of the measure, which shall not exceed 500 words in length. The impartial analysis for each measure shall be filed by the date set by the City Clerk for the filing of primary arguments. In accordance with applicable law, not less than 10 calendar days before the City Clerk submits the official election materials for printing, the City Clerk shall make a copy of all applicable elections materials available for public examination in the City Clerk’s office.

SECTION 5. The City Council authorizes its members, as follows, to file written arguments for or against the measure described above and which is contained in Exhibit 1 to this Resolution, which Exhibit is incorporated by reference herein:

FOR: _____________________________________________
AGAINST: _____________________________________________
All written arguments filed by any person in favor of or against the measure, including any rebuttal arguments, shall be accompanied by the names and signatures of the persons submitting the argument as required by applicable law, and any names, signatures, and arguments may be filed until the time and date fixed by the City Clerk in

11.D.a
Packet Pg. 958 Attachment: RC-ExA-Resolution Art XVIII [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 8 accordance with applicable law, after which no change may be submitted to the City Clerk unless permitted by law.

SECTION 6. The City Clerk shall cause the text of the measure, which is contained in Exhibit 1, together with the City Attorney impartial analysis, and any arguments for or against the measure, as well as any rebuttals, to be mailed to all qualified voters with the sample ballots. In addition to other notices and publications required by law, the City Clerk, not less than forty (40) days and not more than sixty (60) days before the General Municipal Election, shall cause the text of the measure to be published once in the official newspaper and in each edition thereof during the day of publication. The City Clerk is authorized to give such notices and to fix such times and dates as are required by law or which are appropriate to conduct properly the election.

SECTION 7. The provisions of Resolution Numbers 11425 and 11426 are referred to and incorporated into this resolution for more particulars concerning the conduct of General Municipal Election to be held on November 8, 2022, and in all respects the election shall be held and conducted as provided for by applicable law. The City Clerk is authorized and directed to procure and furnish any official ballots, notices, printed materials and all supplies or equipment that may be necessary in order to properly and lawfully conduct the election.

SECTION 8. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.

APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________

DOUGLAS SLOAN
City Attorney

11.D.a
Packet Pg. 959 Attachment: RC-ExA-Resolution Art XVIII [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 9 Exhibit 1
Section 1806(a)(8)(iv) and (v) of Article XVIII of the City Charter shall be amended to read as follows :
(iv) The landlord or enumerated relative must intend in good faith to move into the unit within thirty (30) sixty (60) days after the tenant vacates and to occupy the unit as a primary residence for at least one year two years, unless extenuating circumstances exist.
(v) If the landlord or relative specified on the notice terminating tenancy fails to occupy the unit within thirty (30) sixty (60) days after the tenant vacates or fails to occupy the unit as a primary residence for at least two years, unless extenuating circumstances exist, the landlord shall:

A. Offer the unit to the tenant who vacated it.

B. Pay to said tenant all reasonable expenses incurred in moving to and/or from the unit.

Section 1805(a) of Article XVIII of the City Charter shall be amended as follows:
(a) Annual General Adjustment. No later than June 30 each year, the Board shall announce the percentage by which rent ceilings for eligible units will be generally adjusted effective September 1 of that year.
(1) The adjustment shall be equal to seventy-five (75) percent of the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers, Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange County region, or any successor designation of that index that may later be adopted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) as reported and published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the twelve (12) month period ending as of March of the current year.
(2) In determining the allowable percentage increase, numbers of .04 and below shall be rounded down to the nearest tenth decimal place and numbers of .05 and above shall be rounded up to the nearest tenth decimal place.
(3) Subparagraph 1 of this subsection notwithstanding, in no event shall the general adjustment be less than zero percent or greater than six (6) three (3) percent; and
(4) Commencing on January 1, 2023, the general adjustment during the period from January 1, 2023, through August 31, 2023, shall be three percent (3%) of the maximum allowable rent (MAR) in effect as of August 31, 2022, with a maximum dollar amount limit of seventy dollars ($70) (“Adjusted GA”).

Notwithstanding the Board’s June 2022 announcement of the 2022 general adjustment, the Adjusted GA shall be the general adjustment by which the MAR is calculated for purposes of future general adjustments.

11.D.a
Packet Pg. 960 Attachment: RC-ExA-Resolution Art XVIII [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 10 Section 1803(d) of Article XVIII of the City Charter shall be amended to read as follows:

11.D.a
Packet Pg. 961 Attachment: RC-ExA-Resolution Art XVIII [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 City Council Meeting: July 26, 2022 Santa Monica, California RESOLUTION NUMBER _________ (CCS)
(City Council Series)

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA

SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS A MEASURE TO PROVIDE THE RENT

CONTROL BOARD WITH AUTHORITY TO DISALLOW OR,

ALTERNATIVELY, MODIFY OTHERWISE-ALLOWED ANNUAL

GENERAL ADJUSTMENTS TO RENT CEILINGS DURING A STATE OF

EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED

STATES OR THE GOVERNOR, OR UPON THE DECLARATION OF A

LOCAL EMERGENCY BY THE CITY COUNCIL OR DIRECTOR OF
EMERGENCY SERVICES, WHILE MAINTAINING THE LANDLORD’S

ABILITY TO PETITION FOR AN UPWARD RENT ADJUSTMENT, AT

THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY
NOVEMBER 8, 2022, AND AUTHORIZING CITY COUNCILMEMBERS

TO FILE WRITTEN ARGUMENTS FOR OR AGAINST THE MEASURE

AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF THE MEASURE.

WHEREAS, the City’s Rental Control Law (Article XVIII of the City Charter, also referenced as “RCCA”) prohibits evictions of tenants except as enumerated in the law; and
WHEREAS, the Rent Control Board derives its authority solely from the language of the Charter; and
WHEREAS, administrative bodies, such as the Board, do not have general police powers and cannot act in a way that contravenes the instrument from which they were created; and

11.D.b
Packet Pg. 962 Attachment: RC-ExB-Resolution for Emergency Authority [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 WHEREAS, the Rent Control Board, unlike the Governor, a city, or a county, has not been granted emergency powers; and
WHEREAS, the Board is not the governing body of the City of Santa Monica, and for that reason has no emergency powers under the Emergency Services Act nor does any other state law grant emergency powers to a municipal administrative agency; and WHEREAS, the global pandemic due to COVID-19 has caused unprecedented hardships, disruptions and long-term impacts that continue to affect Santa Monica’s residents; and
WHEREAS, while there has been some relief in the form of an eviction moratorium, rental assistance and other efforts to prevent displacement, those programs are winding down while the pandemic’s impacts continue to be felt; and WHEREAS, inflation rates continue to spike and rising costs are hampering residents’ ability to recover from the loss of income and unexpected expenses that many experienced during the pandemic’s first two years; and WHEREAS, COVID-19 cases are increasing even as mitigation measures, such as masking and social distancing, are no longer required; and WHEREAS, other rent stabilization jurisdictions have been able to adjust to these conditions by implementing temporary freezes on rent increases for controlled units; and
WHEREAS, because these jurisdictions are not Charter cities, they have the flexibility to enact measures through ordinance changes passed by the governing body; and
WHEREAS, by contrast, changes to Santa Monica’s Charter can only be accomplished by a vote of the citizens of Santa Monica; and

11.D.b
Packet Pg. 963 Attachment: RC-ExB-Resolution for Emergency Authority [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 WHEREAS, the Rent Control Board has proposed an amendment that would give the Rent Control Board the discretion to respond to future public health emergencies by suspending otherwise-allowed annual general adjustments if such a suspension is necessary to protect the public’s health and safety; and WHEREAS, the City Council, after consideration of the Board’s recommendation, believes it necessary to empower the Board with authority to modify or disallow rent increases upon the declaration of an emergency during a state of emergency declared by the President of the United States or the Governor, or upon the declaration of a local emergency by the City Council or Director of Emergency Services; and WHEREAS, the proposed amendment is not a blank check; this authority could only be utilized during a declared state of emergency; and WHEREAS, the Board would also be required to make findings that the public’s health and safety is at risk and that implementing a rent increase freeze would mitigate the risks of displacement and the attendant public health harms; and WHEREAS, an owner would still be able to petition for a rent increase per the petition process in Section 1805 of the City Charter during a state of emergency declared by the President of the United States or the Governor, or upon the declaration of a local emergency by the City Council or Director of Emergency Services if the Board imposes a rent freeze or modification that would prevent the owner from obtaining a fair and reasonable return; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has proposed language for the Board to disallow or modify rent increases during states of emergency:

11.D.b
Packet Pg. 964 Attachment: RC-ExB-Resolution for Emergency Authority [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 or, alternatively, modify otherwise-allowed annual general adjustments to rent ceilings during a state of emergency declared by the President of the United States or the Governor, or upon the declaration of a local emergency by the City Council or Director of Emergency Services. Nothing in this section precludes a landlord from filing a petition for an upward rent adjustment per Section 1805 of the City Charter. Section 1805.

WHEREAS, the City Council has considered and approved the Board’s recommendation because these amendments are in the public interest because they would provide protections to tenants during a declared state of emergency; and WHEREAS, pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10403, the City Council has previously requested that the County of Los Angeles consent and agree to the consolidation of all aspects of a General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2022, for the purpose of electing members of the Santa Monica City Council, the Santa Monica Rent Control Board, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, and the Santa Monica College Community College District.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AND PROCLAIM AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. At the General Municipal Election called for November 8, 2022, the following measure shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Santa Monica:

PROPOSITION " ": Shall the City Charter be amended to
allow the Rent Control Board to disallow or modify annual general rent adjustments for rent controlled units during a declared state of emergency by the President of the United States, the Governor, or the City Council or Director of Emergency Services while maintaining the landlord’s ability to petition for a rent adjustment per Section 1805 of the City Charter?
Yes _____
No _____

11.D.b
Packet Pg. 965 Attachment: RC-ExB-Resolution for Emergency Authority [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 SECTION 2. That the City Clerk shall file a certified copy of this resolution with the Board of Supervisors and with the county election department of the County of Los Angeles.

SECTION 3. That the City of Santa Monica recognizes that additional costs may be incurred by the County by reason of the addition of this measure to the ballot and agrees to reimburse the County for any additional costs.

FOR: ____________________________________________
AGAINST: _____________________________________________
All written arguments filed by any person in favor of or against the measure, including any rebuttal arguments, shall be accompanied by the names and signatures of the persons submitting the argument as required by applicable law, and any names, signatures and arguments may be filed until the time and date fixed by the City Clerk in accordance with applicable law, after which no change may be submitted to the City Clerk unless permitted by law.

11.D.b
Packet Pg. 966 Attachment: RC-ExB-Resolution for Emergency Authority [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 6 SECTION 6. The City Clerk shall cause the text of the measure, which is contained in Exhibit 1, together with the City Attorney impartial analysis, and any arguments for or against the measure, as well as any rebuttals, to be mailed to all qualified voters with the sample ballots. In addition to other notices and publications required by law, the City Clerk, not less than forty (40) days and not more than sixty (60) days before the General Municipal Election, shall cause the text of the measure to be published once in the official newspaper and in each edition thereof during the day of publication. The City Clerk is authorized to give such notices and to fix such times and dates as are required by law or which are appropriate to conduct properly the election.

The City Clerk is authorized and directed to procure and furnish any official ballots, notices, printed materials and all supplies or equipment that may be necessary in order to properly and lawfully conduct the election.

SECTION 8. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.

APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________

DOUGLAS SLOAN
City Attorney

11.D.b
Packet Pg. 967 Attachment: RC-ExB-Resolution for Emergency Authority [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 7 Exhibit 1
Section 1804(a) Temporary Freeze shall be added to the City Charter (i) Rents shall not be increased during the one hundred-twenty (120) day period following the date of adoption of this Article.
(ii) Notwithstanding Section 1805, the Board may, in its discretion and in order to protect the public’s health and safety, disallow or, alternatively, modify otherwise-allowed annual general adjustments to rent ceilings during a state of emergency declared by the President of the United States or the Governor, or upon the declaration of a local emergency by the City Council or Director of Emergency Services Nothing in this section precludes a landlord from filing a petition for an upward rent adjustment per Section 1805 of the City Charter..

11.D.b
Packet Pg. 968 Attachment: RC-ExB-Resolution for Emergency Authority [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: July 12, 2022
Agenda Item: 11.B
1 of 17
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Douglas Sloan, City Attorney, City Attorney's Office, Administration Subject: Adoption of Resolutions for Proposed Ballot Measures on the November 8, 2022 Election Amending Articles XVIII and XXIII of the City Charter Recommended Actions
Staff recommends that the City Council:

1. Adopt the attached resolution (Attachment A) placing a measure on the November 8, 2022 ballot that would amend Article XXIII of the City Charter to establish a rent registry for Nonrentcontrolled Rental Units; or, alternatively, approve the first reading of an ordinance to establish a rent registry for Nonrentcontrolled Rental Units (Attachment B).

2. If the resolution placing an amendment to Article XXIII of the City Charter on the November 8, 2022, ballot (Attachment A) is approved, authorize City Councilmembers to file written arguments for or against the measure and direct the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis.

3. Adopt the attached resolution (Attachment C) placing a measure on the November 8, 2022, ballot that would amend Article XVIII of the City Charter to • Revise requirements for owners to evict tenants for owner-occupancy; • Revise election procedures;
• Revise Commissioner term limits; and
• Authorize the Rent Control Board to impose a rent freeze during a declared emergency.

4. If the resolution placing an amendment to Article XVIII of the City Charter on the November 8, 2022, ballot (Attachment C) is approved, authorize City Councilmembers to file written arguments for or against the measure and direct the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis.

Executive Summary
At its April 28, 2022, Board meeting, the Santa Monica Rent Control Board voted to recommend that the City Council place on the ballot for the November 8, 2022, general election amendments to the City Charter, as follows:

11.D.c
Packet Pg. 969 Attachment: RC-ExC-July 12, 2022 Staff Report (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 of 17
1) Add new Section 2304.5 to Article XXIII of the City Charter to require the registration of all Nonrentcontrolled Rental Units; 2) Modify Article XVIII, Section 1806(a)(8)(iv) and (v) of the City Charter to require that an owner intend to occupy a unit for at least three years instead of one year before evicting a tenant, and occupy the unit within sixty (60) days of vacancy;
3) Modify Article XVIII, Section 1803(e) of the City Charter to allow Rent Control Board Commissioners to be elected to a maximum of three full terms to align with City elected officials; and
4) Modify Article XVIII, Section 1803(d) of the City Charter to state that an election need not be held if the number of qualified candidates does not exceed the number of open Rent Control Board positions.

At its June 9, 2022 meeting, the Board voted to propose an additional charter amendment giving the Board discretion to modify or suspend the annual general adjustment during declared emergencies.

The Board believes that these amendments are in the public interest because they would provide greater transparency about rental and occupancy rates for all rental units; would strengthen tenant protections from unnecessary displacements; would streamline elections to improve governmental functions; and would protect tenants during a declared state of emergency. The attached Santa Monica Rent Control Board staff reports dated April 28, 2022, (Attachment D) and June 9, 2022, (Attachment E), respectively, explain in greater detail the reasons for these proposals.

Discussion
a. Registration of rental units not subject to the Rent Control Law.

Requiring the registration of all rental units could assist the City in a greater understanding of the scope of the affordable housing crisis in Santa Monica and in

11.D.c
Packet Pg. 970 Attachment: RC-ExC-July 12, 2022 Staff Report (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 of 17
determining more effective ways to mitigate its impact, an impact that is driving housing instability, displacement, and greater numbers of the unhoused population. i. Existing law
All units subject to the City’s Rental Control Law (Article XVIII of the City Charter, also referenced as “RCCA”) must be registered with the City’s Rent Control agency.

Owners must provide information related to unit size, base rent, amenities and other basic information. In addition, units must be re-registered following a vacancy and rerental. In this way, the agency obtains basic information about each rental unit to allow it to administer and enforce the law more effectively. This information also helps inform the agency about rental rates and trends as well as the loss/gain of controlled units and the effectiveness of measures to maintain and increase the controlled rental housing stock.

Currently, the City Charter does not require registration of Nonrentcontrolled Rental Units. Like the registration requirements for controlled units, registration of uncontrolled units would assist City officials in monitoring and mitigating the affordable housing crisis and ensure that the tenant protections in the City Charter are followed. Moreover, with the state limits on rent increases and eviction protections, tenants would be better informed as to their rights.

To accomplish this, the Rent Control Board recommended that Article XXIII of the Santa Monica City Charter be amended to require owners to register with the City Nonrentcontrolled Rental Units. Article XXIII governs the City’s housing policies, including tenant protections, in non-controlled rental units. ii. Other jurisdictions
Most jurisdictions with some form of rent control or tenant protections require the registration of rental units. The table below illustrates the requirements of some of these cities.

11.D.c
Packet Pg. 971 Attachment: RC-ExC-July 12, 2022 Staff Report (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 of 17
Jurisdiction Type of units
Initial
registration? Re-registration?
West Hollywood Controlled units Yes
Upon vacancy and rerental
Los Angeles Controlled units Yes Annual
LA County Controlled units Yes Annual
Culver City All rental units Yes
Annual, upon new tenancy
and changes in housing
services
Berkeley
Controlled and
partially exempt units Yes
Upon vacancy and rerental; annually for PE units
Beverly Hills Controlled units Yes
Upon vacancy and rerental
iii. Other considerations
The requirement to register rental units and provide basic information such as the rental rate, ownership details, occupancy dates and amenities is not a new concept.

In fact, most jurisdictions that provide any tenant protections either in the form of rent limits or just-cause eviction protections require the registration of rental units to gauge the effectiveness of the laws and to aid in enforcement. These requirements have been in place for decades in some jurisdictions, including Santa Monica. The RCCA has required the registration of rent controlled rental units since its enactment. iv. Potential requirements for a rent registry for Nonrentcontrolled Rental Units in the City Charter, Article XXIII

11.D.c
Packet Pg. 972 Attachment: RC-ExC-July 12, 2022 Staff Report (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 of 17
Article XXIII of the Santa Monica City Charter provides, among other things, eviction protections for tenants living in Nonrentcontrolled Rental Units. Section 2302(a) defines Nonrentcontrolled Rental Units as: “All residential rental units in the City of Santa Monica except those units that are subject to rent control pursuant to Article XVIII of this Charter or are single-family homes.” Section 2305, titled “Implementation”, describes the broad authority of the City Council to “protect community health, safety and welfare by, among other things, adopting ordinances, resolutions or regulations to implement and effectuate the provisions of this Article, including, but not limited to, provisions relating to exemptions, just cause, notices, comparability of units, and good faith. Additionally, the City Council may create any administrative mechanisms it deems necessary for this Article’s implementation.” Requiring the registration of uncontrolled rental units that are subject to this Article could arguably be accomplished through an ordinance or regulation since it could reasonably be construed as a mechanism to ensure that landlords are adhering to the just cause provisions. An annual registration requirement along with a requirement to explain the reasons for changes in tenancy could greatly enhance these tenant protections.

Alternatively, the City Council could propose an amendment to the City Charter to require registration of these Nonrentcontrolled Rental Units. A new section could be added to Article XXIII requiring that the units subject to this article must be registered as set forth in the section and accompanying regulations. The City could also require that rental units subject to Article XXIII be registered annually to ensure rental rates and vacancy/tenant information is kept current and require registrations to be updated upon a new tenancy or changes in housing services as Culver City has done.

As part of the annual registration, the City could require owners to provide some or all of the following information:
1) Occupancy status and commencement date of the current tenancy; 2) The amount of rent the current tenant is paying;

11.D.c
Packet Pg. 973 Attachment: RC-ExC-July 12, 2022 Staff Report (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 6 of 17
3) The reason the prior tenant vacated the unit, if known; 4) The water/utility metering status of the unit;
5) The amenities provided with the tenancy;
6) Any changes in ownership information; and
7) Any other information the City deems necessary.

To cover the reasonable expenses necessary to administer the rent registry and provide counseling services and enforcement, the City could establish an annual per unit fee that would be charged to property owners.

A new section, 2304.5, could be added to read:
2304.5 Registration of Nonrentcontrolled Rental Units
(a) Registration required. Upon issuance by the City of Santa Monica of a valid written Rent Registration certificate, as set forth in this Section 2304.5, no Landlord shall demand or accept Rent for a Nonrentcontrolled Rental Unit (NRU) without first serving on the Tenant, or displaying in a conspicuous place, such Rent Registration certificate.
(b) Registration Process.
(1) A Landlord shall provide Rent amount and Tenancy information for every Rental unit on a Rent Registration form provided by the City. The Rent Registration form shall be submitted on a date to be determined by the City and on that date each year thereafter. Registration is complete only when all of the following information is provided: ownership information; property information; year built and certificate of occupancy date; number of bedrooms and bathrooms for each NRU; the amount of Rent in effect at the time of registration; a description of housing services; water/utility metering status of the unit; and the property vacancy rate. If any NRU has been vacant for more than 30 days, the Landlord shall provide the date of vacancy and whether the vacancy is due to a buyout agreement.

11.D.c
Packet Pg. 974 Attachment: RC-ExC-July 12, 2022 Staff Report (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 7 of 17
(2) Every NRU Rent Registration certificate shall be updated annually, as required by Section 2304.5(b)(1), upon a new tenancy, or when there are changes in housing services.
(3) If an NRU is vacant for more than 30 days, the Landlord shall provide a certification to the City of the duration of the vacancy, and that the NRU shall be secured against unauthorized entry.
(4) For every property for which a Landlord is required to procure a Rent Registration certificate pursuant to this section, the Landlord shall post a notice in a form provided by the City, providing information about this Subchapter 2304.5 and City contact information. Notices must be posted in a conspicuous location in the common area, at the entry or entries to the building or units, or other similar location or locations as necessary to provide Tenants a reasonable opportunity to view the notice.

If there is no common area or similar location, this requirement may be satisfied by mailing the notice to each Tenant of the building, by certified mail, return receipt requested. The notice shall be written in English and Spanish, and in any other languages as required by the City. (c) Notice of Rent information deficiencies and opportunity to cure; Appeals; and Final Administrative Decision.
(1) The City shall provide written notification to the Landlord of a failure to comply with this section and allow fifteen (15) calendar days to respond. The City shall not issue a Rent Registration certificate for the NRU until the Landlord has substantially complied by providing the rental information as required by this section.
(2) Any Landlord disputing the City’s notification of deficient registration may file a written appeal with the City Manager or designee within ten (10) calendar days of the date of the notice of deficiency. The City Manager or designee shall provide a written notice within thirty (30)

11.D.c
Packet Pg. 975 Attachment: RC-ExC-July 12, 2022 Staff Report (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 8 of 17
calendar days of its appeal decision, which shall be a final administrative decision.
(d) Registration fee.
(1) A fee for the registration of NRU’s may be established by resolution of the City Council. Such fees are intended to recover the City’s reasonable costs associated with the administration and enforcement of this section.
(2) A Landlord may pass through to the Tenant fifty percent (50%) of the annual fee for the registration of the Tenant’s NRU (the pass-through fee) if such Tenant continuously occupied the NRU during the period covered by the completed registration. The City may establish applicable conditions and procedures governing the pass-through. The pass-through fee is not considered Rent and should appear as a separate line item on the Rent statement. A Landlord may collect a maximum of one-twelfth (1/12) of the pass-through fee per month.

Adopting this registration requirement as an ordinance provides more flexibility in modifying or adding provisions to facilitate implementation which cannot be anticipated at this stage. On the other hand, adding this registration requirement as a charter amendment would make it much more difficult to repeal since it would require voter approval, assuming the measure passed in November 2022. b. Good faith requirements for owner-occupancy evictions The RCCA prohibits evictions of tenants except as enumerated in the law. Owners or qualified relatives who wish to move into their units and reside there permanently may evict current tenants to do so, but only if they meet the requirements set forth in the RCCA. One of those requirements is that the owner or relative “intend in good faith to

11.D.c
Packet Pg. 976 Attachment: RC-ExC-July 12, 2022 Staff Report (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 9 of 17
move into the unit within thirty (30) days after the tenant vacates and to occupy the unit as a primary residence for at least one year.”1
The Board has heard input from the public on the feasibility of requiring owners or their qualified relatives to intend to occupy the unit for at least three years, instead of one year, upon evicting an existing tenant. The purpose of placing both a requirement to occupy the unit within a certain time frame and a good faith intent to live there for a certain period is to ensure that the eviction is not used as a pretext for the owner to rent the unit to a new tenant paying market rates. i. Existing tools to prevent sham evictions and their
effectiveness.

Currently, if an owner or relative fails to move into the unit within 30 days, the landlord is required to re-offer the unit to the displaced tenant and pay the tenant any expenses incurred in the unlawful displacement.2 Moreover, owners cannot set a new initial rent for the first tenancy following an owner-occupancy eviction; the Maximum Allowable Rent (MAR) for this tenancy is the same MAR as the previous tenancy.4 Other protections include a requirement that the owner offer to the displaced tenant any unit that becomes vacant within a year of the tenant’s displacement, including the unit from which the tenant was evicted.3 The Board also has the ability to determine whether the first tenancy is a legitimate tenancy or a sham, in which case the landlord cannot set the initial rent for a subsequent tenant.6 The table below illustrates the rate of evictions for owner-occupancy in the 5 years preceding the current COVID-19-related eviction moratoria, the current status of the units, and whether they have been re-rented. This information is based upon copies 1 RCL Section 1806(a)(8)(iv).
2 RCL Section
1806(a)(8)(v). 4
Regulation
3301(b)(1).
3 Regulations 9002(d)(4) and
9002(g). 6 Regulation 3301(k).

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Packet Pg. 977 Attachment: RC-ExC-July 12, 2022 Staff Report (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 10 of 17
of eviction notices filed with the agency, notices of ownership changes and vacancy unit registrations.

Notices by
year from
2015 to
2019
Avg
property
size
Current
status
Rent still
restricted? New tenancy?
2019 - 5 4 units
1 sold to new
owner Yes 1 – May 2020
2018 - 7 5 units
1 Ellis, 1 sold
to new owner
6 restricted; 1
market
1 – 2020; 2021
(market rate)
2017 - 11 5 units
3 sold to new
owners
8 restricted; 3
market
5 new tenancies:
12018, 4-2019
2016 - 7 5 units
6 sold to new
owners
3 restricted; 4
market
6 new tenancies:
1-
2016; 3-2018; 1-
2019; 1-2021
2015 - 5 3 units
3 sold to new
owners Yes None
There are two instances of the re-rental of a formerly owner-occupied unit at the year mark, but more typical is the re-rental around two years or later. There does not seem to be a pattern as to the frequency of re-rental following an owner-occupancy exemption. The units that were owner-occupied in 2016 have mostly been re-rented while the units owner-occupied in 2015 all remain owner-occupied.

It is important to note that the good faith requirement to intend to live in the unit for a certain period of time serves as evidence of bad faith in an enforcement proceeding if

11.D.c
Packet Pg. 978 Attachment: RC-ExC-July 12, 2022 Staff Report (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 11 of 17
the owner or relative moves out before the requisite time period is up. Such evidence is typically supported by other evidence to show that the eviction was carried out in bad faith.
ii. Good faith requirements in other jurisdictions
The table below illustrates the requirements for other jurisdictions.

Jurisdiction
Time to
occupy
unit
Period of
residency
Evidence of
bad faith
Right to return if
vacated within
period?
West
Hollywood 90 days
12 consecutive
months
Rebuttable
presumption
Yes, if re-offered
for rent
Los Angeles 3 months
2 consecutive
years Yes
Yes, if tenant
notified owner
LA County 60 days
3 years unless
extenuating
circumstances Yes Yes
Culver City 3 months 36 months Yes No
Berkeley 3 months
36 consecutive
months Yes Yes
iii. Potential impact of extending length of residency requirement The residency requirement is a statement of intent before owners can evict a tenant using this section. So, if this change is made, an owner would have to declare an intention to reside in the unit for at least three years. An owner who vacates the unit within that time period would be presumed not to have acted in good faith in evicting the tenant under this section.

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Packet Pg. 979 Attachment: RC-ExC-July 12, 2022 Staff Report (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 12 of 17
Based on past practices, Rent Control staff has found that the agency’s most effective tool in deterring sham evictions has been the bar to setting a new initial rent for the first tenancy following an owner-occupancy eviction as well as the tenant’s right to rerent the unit if the owner vacates it within a year. The requirement to re-register the unit when it is re-rented allows the agency to enforce the limits on the MAR as well as to determine whether the tenancy itself is legitimate.

To implement this change, RCCA Section 1806(a)(8)(iv) could be amended to read:
(iv) The landlord or enumerated relative must intend in good faith to move into the unit within thirty (30) sixty (60) days after the tenant vacates and to occupy the unit as a primary residence for at least one year three years.

To strengthen this requirement, the Board has recommended a requirement that owners re-offer the unit to the displaced tenant if the owner vacates the unit within three years. In addition, currently, owners must move into the unit within 30 days after a tenant vacates. If the owner fails to take possession within 30 days, the owner must re-offer the unit to the displaced tenant. Many owners who genuinely intend to occupy the unit as their primary residence find it difficult to make the transition that quickly. And most jurisdictions allow at least 60 days for owners to move into the unit after the tenant vacates.

To implement these changes, Section 1806(a)(8)(vi) and (v) could be amended as follows:
(iv) The landlord or enumerated relative must intend in good faith to move into the unit within thirty (30) sixty (60) days after the tenant vacates and to occupy the unit as a primary residence for at least one year three years.
(v) If the landlord or relative specified on the notice terminating tenancy fails to occupy the unit within thirty (30) sixty (60) days after the tenant

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vacates or fails to occupy the unit as a primary residence for at least three years, the landlord shall:

A. Offer the unit to the tenant who vacated it.

B. Pay to said tenant all reasonable expenses incurred in moving to and/or from the unit.
c. Election administration
Term limits
RCCA Section 1803(e), Term of Office, states “Commissioners shall serve a maximum of two full terms.” The Santa Monica City Charter also sets term limits for its councilmembers. Article VI, Section 600 allows councilmembers to serve up to three terms. For both agencies, terms are four years. The City Charter also states that term limits apply to appointed terms as well as elected terms. The RCCA does not specify whether appointed terms count toward the term limits.

In order to align with the City Charter and to have greater efficiency and cost reductions in the administration of elections, the Board has proposed that the RCCA be amended as follows:

Section 1803(e) TERM OF OFFICE: Commissioners shall serve a maximum of two three full terms. These term limits shall not apply to appointed terms, only elected terms.

Election efficiency
Currently, the RCCA requires that an election be held even if there are only as many candidates as open Board positions. The Board has proposed an amendment to the RCCA that an election is not necessary when the number of qualified candidates does not exceed the open positions. To accomplish this, Section 1803(d) could be amended as follows:

Section 1803(d) ELECTION OF COMMISSIONERS:

Commissioners shall be elected at general municipal elections in the

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same manner as set forth in Article XIV of the Santa Monica Charter, except that the first Commissioners shall be elected at a special municipal election held within ninety (90) days of the adoption of this Article. The elected Commissioners shall take office on the first Tuesday following their election. If, upon the City Clerk’s determination of the qualified candidates, the number of candidates does not exceed the number of vacant positions, no election will be held and the qualified candidates shall be seated upon swearing in by the City Clerk.
d. Emergency Authority to Freeze Rents
i. The Board does not currently have the authority to alter or suspend the General Adjustment in an emergency.

It is well-settled that the Rent Control Board derives its authority solely from the language of the Charter. Administrative bodies, such as the Board, do not have general police powers and cannot act in a way that contravenes the instrument from which they were created.4
The Board, unlike the Governor, a city, or a county, has not been granted emergency powers. The Board is not the governing body of the City of Santa Monica, and for that reason has no emergency powers under the Emergency Services Act. Nor does any other state law grant emergency powers to a municipal administrative agency; so the Board’s emergency powers, if any exist, must be found in the statute that created it, the City Charter. But nothing in the City Charter, from which the Board solely derives its authority, grants it such powers. To the contrary, the Board’s powers are circumscribed by the Charter, which lists only 15 things that the Board may or must do.5 One of those 4 Ocean Park Associates v. Santa Monica Rent Control Bd. (2004) 114 Cal.App.4th 1050, 1064, quoting from Kerr’s Catering Service v. Department of Industrial Relations (1962) 57 Cal.2d 319, 329-330. In Ocean Park, the Court struck down the Board’s practice, not provided for by the Charter, of allowing the Administrator to file rent decrease petitions on behalf of all tenants in a building when an individual petition revealed the presence of a common-area issue.
5 SMMC § 1803(f). See, also, Westsiders Opposed to Overdevelopment v. City of Los Angeles (2018) 27 Cal.App.5th 1079, 1086 (“A charter city may not act in conflict with its charter, and any act that is …

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things is “to make adjustments in the rent ceiling in accordance with [Charter] section 1805”, under which the adjustment is made according to a mandatory formula.

Section 1805 sets out the formula by which the Board must “announce” the annual adjustment to rent ceilings to controlled units. Nothing in that section allows the Board to alter that formula or suspend otherwise-allowed rent increases. ii. Proposed Charter amendment would give the Board authority to suspend rent increases in an emergency.

The global pandemic due to COVID-19 has caused unprecedented hardships, disruptions and long-term impacts that continue to affect Santa Monica’s residents.

While there has been some relief in the form of an eviction moratorium, rental assistance and other efforts to prevent displacement, those programs are winding down while the pandemic’s impacts continue to be felt. Inflation rates continue to spike and rising costs are hampering residents’ ability to recover from the loss of income and unexpected expenses that many experienced during the pandemic’s first two years.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases are increasing even as mitigation measures, such as masking and social distancing, are no longer required.

Other rent stabilization jurisdictions have been able to adjust to these conditions by implementing temporary freezes on rent increases for controlled units. 6 Because these
jurisdictions are not charter cities, they have the flexibility to enact measures through ordinance changes passed by the governing body. By contrast, changes to Santa Monica’s Charter can only be accomplished by a vote of the citizens of Santa Monica.

The proposed amendment would give the Board the discretion to respond to future public health emergencies by suspending otherwise-allowed annual general adjustments if such a suspension is necessary to protect the public’s health and safety. not in compliance with the charter is void [citation]. A city charter operates as a limitation over all the municipal affairs which the City is assumed to possess; it is not a grant of power.”) 6 See, e.g. City of Los Angeles and City of West Hollywood

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The proposed amendment is not a blank check; this authority could only be utilized during a declared state of emergency. The Board could also be required to make findings that the public’s health and safety is at risk and that implementing a rent increase freeze, or modifying the otherwise-allowed increase, would mitigate the risks of displacement and the attendant public health harms. Moreover, an owner would still be able to petition for a rent increase if the inability to impose the general adjustment would prevent the owner from obtaining a fair and reasonable return.

This amendment would provide the Board with the authority, which the Charter does not currently provide, to address a future public health crisis and its financial impacts.

Proposed language for Board authority to deny rent increases during states of emergency:

Section 1804(a) Temporary Freeze
(i) Rents shall not be increased during the one hundred-twenty (120) day period following the date of adoption of this Article.
(ii) Notwithstanding Section 1805, the Board may, in its discretion and in order to protect the public’s health and safety, disallow or, alternatively, modify otherwise-allowed annual general adjustments to rent ceilings during a state of emergency declared by the President of the United States or the Governor, or upon the declaration of a local emergency by the City Council or Director of Emergency Services, unless such individual adjustment is necessary to obtain a fair and reasonable return per the petition process in Section 1805.

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the record, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed resolutions and/or ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment.

Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
Based on past practice, the Rent Board would reimburse the City for any additional costs incurred by the City as a result of placing the measures and/or ordinance on the November ballot.

Attachment A – Resolution to place an amendment to Article XXIII of the City Charter on the November 8, 2022, ballot to establish a rent registry for Nonrentcontrolled Rental Units
Attachment B – Ordinance to establish a rent registry for Nonrentcontrolled Rental Units
Attachment C – Resolution to placement amendments to Article XVIII of the City Charter on the November 8, 2022, ballot
Attachment D - April 28, 2022, Rent Control Staff Report Attachment E – June 9, 2022, Rent Control Staff Report
Prepared By: Susan Cola, Assistant City Attorney
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:

A. RC-ExA-Resolution Art XXIII
B. RC-ExB-Ordinance
C. RC-ExC-Resolution Art XVIII
D. RC-ExD-042822 RC staff report
E. RC-ExE-060922 RC staff report

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Packet Pg. 985 Attachment: RC-ExC-July 12, 2022 Staff Report (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2022 10:48 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: FW: Rent increase consideration
From: Cindy McQuade <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2022 1:52 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Rent increase consideration

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members,
I am personally overwhelmed to face any additional rent increases, especially after being affected financially by this Pandemic.

I am a 68 yr young long time Santa Monica resident. I was working at Santa Monica UCLA MEDICAL CENTER when the pandemic hit. I no longer feel safe to continue working in a hospital. I had hoped to work for many more years, even part‐time, to supplement my social security.

Sadly and shockingly my social security benefits are not enough to live on. I have already had to touch my retirement savings and I'm only 68. I am sure there are others struggling as I have been or even in more dire circumstances. Believe me, I am grateful for what I have and well aware many have so much less and suffer greatly.

How strange, after 2 years of the Pandemic we are now dealing with inflation. I am not an economist. I am a social worker. I have spent my career trying to help others navigate a system with a poor safety net and never enough resources. Over the years we have all seen homelessness increase.

We have to lift those struggling, not add to their burdens. This is not the time to add additional rental burdens on tenants. We do not own property to fall back on. We pay month to month, not as an investment, as a safe home, our sanctuary.

Please put yourselves in another person's situation as you make thoughtful and wise decisions.

Thank you,
Cindy McQuade
934 12th Street
SM 90403
(310) 395‐8721
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
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Packet Pg. 986 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2022 10:48 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: FW: Rent control
From: Peter Ryan <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2022 1:02 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Rent control

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, At your meeting on July 26th we urge you to:

Please maintain your July 12th vote to support a 3% cap (not 4%) and place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment cap from 6% to 3%. In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board.

If legally permissible, please enact immediately an Emergency Order limiting rent increases to 3% starting on September 1st. If you don't have the legal authority to do so, please provide in the ballot measure a way to compensate tenants for the excess 3% paid until the election results are certified. Without this important step, an unconscionably high 6% increase will be forever baked into rent-controlled rents, instantly eroding affordability for the life of the tenancies of thousands of renters.

Reject the competing developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure because it provides no money for affordable housing for struggling lowincome renters and seniors, and contains no funding for schools to help close the achievement gap.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
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Packet Pg. 987 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 And please add your own personal story!
You can also attend the City Council meeting in person on July 26th and speak directly to Councilmembers.

We heard from many of you in the past couple of weeks and we know you care about your family, your neighbors and yourself, and you do not want to live in an economically-gated Santa Monica (a Beverly Hills by the Sea). Thank you for contacting City Councilmembers. PLEASE

TAKE THE TIME TO GO THE EXTRA STEP OF WRITING TO COUNCIL FOR THEIR JULY 26TH MEETING. Please tell your family, friends and neighbors about this community mobilization effort and ask them to join us in telling Councilmembers to protect renters NOW! Failure is not an option, but success depends on all of us.

Thank you for your support.

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Packet Pg. 988 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2022 10:43 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: FW: Maintain Santa Monica Rent Control Standards From: Lisa Joy LoMurray <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2022 11:32 AM
To: Lisa Joy LoMurray <[email protected]>
Subject: Maintain Santa Monica Rent Control Standards

EXTERNAL
Hi -
It is essential that you work to keep Santa Monica rents affordable and protect rent control. As long time residents of this community, it is essential that we maintain the rent control at 3% so we and others with even tighter financial situations can continue to afford to live in our homes.

Regarding item 11B, please support the Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board AND ALSO ACT NOW to avert the looming 6% rent increase to all rent-controlled tenants by supporting a further Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment cap to 3%;
Regarding item 11A, please reject this effort to compete with and undermine the citizens’ transfer-tax initiative signed by over 10,000 Santa Monica residents that will provide desperately needed funding for ongoing and emergency rent subsidy programs, as well as for affordable housing and our public schools.

Please support passing an ordinance limiting rent increases from September 1 through the November election to 3%.

Thank you
‐‐
Lisa Joy LoMurray
Fluid Frame
http:/fluidframephotography.com
310.266.2299
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Packet Pg. 989 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 Vernice Hankins
From: City of Santa Monica
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2022 5:21 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! To submit a 311 request, please email: [email protected] or call (866) 311-7266 City of Santa Monica
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-8411
From: temple mathews <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2022 5:02 PM
To: City of Santa Monica <[email protected]>
Subject: Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, At your meeting on July 26th we urge you to: Please maintain your July 12th vote to support a 3% cap (not 4%) and place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment cap from 6% to 3%. In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board. If legally permissible, please enact immediately an Emergency Order limiting rent increases to 3% starting on September 1st. If you don't have the legal authority to do so, please provide in the ballot measure a way to compensate tenants for the excess 3% paid until the election results are certified. Without this important step, an unconscionably high 6% increase will be forever baked into rent-controlled rents, instantly eroding affordability for the life of the tenancies of thousands of renters. Reject the competing developerbacked Real Estate Transfer Tax measure because it provides no money for affordable housing for struggling low-income renters and seniors, and contains no funding for schools to help close the achievement gap. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
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Packet Pg. 990 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 1:22 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; councilmtgitems; [email protected]; Council Mailbox
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Councilmembers,
As the manager of the SMRR Hotline I hear reports from the team that gets messages and returns calls offering help to those with Landlord/Tenant issues.

We've received many calls lately about the disasterous position 6% would put them in. Even 3% would strain many.

I'm sure you agree with me that we don't want to lose tenant residents from our city.

Yours, Michael Tarbet
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50; this will make up for the four months this this year when tenant-residents had to pay 6% with a $70 cap.

In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms as you have.

Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure proposed by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to defeat the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

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Packet Pg. 991 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Thomas Hamelin <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 3:40 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! TJ Hamelin | 978.621.5427
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Packet Pg. 992 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Evie R. <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 3:41 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Please Stand Up for Long Term Renters like myself who are being priced out of our homes.

Even with the pandemic and inflation, my rent has gone up every year.

Please help us!
Evie Rathburn
934 6th St
90403
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Packet Pg. 993 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Daniel Shear <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 4:04 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 994 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: lori berezin <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 4:06 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Thank you for your hard work, Santa Monica City Councilmembers.

I've watched rents in Santa Monica skyrocket over the years. At your meeting on July 26th, please place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50.

With your help, we can better stabilize soaring rents and protect Santa Monica residents.

Sincerely,
Lori Berezin
Lori Berezin • [email protected]
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Packet Pg. 995 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 Vernice Hankins
From: Leila <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 4:06 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% IS ABSOLUTELY NOT FAIR TO OWNERS DO NOT DO IT.

I am owner and I’m totally against this action.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica owners and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
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Packet Pg. 996 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 6 Vernice Hankins
From: Eva Good <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 4:13 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Eva Good ,
1438 10th St #4
Santa Monica Ca 90401
Sent from my iPhone
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Packet Pg. 997 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2022 10:50 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: FW: Maintain Santa Monica Rent Control Standards From: David Sullivan <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2022 9:17 AM
To: David Sullivan <[email protected]>
Subject: Maintain Santa Monica Rent Control Standards

Please support passing an ordinance limiting rent increases from September 1 through the November election to 3%.

Thank you
David
‐‐
David Charles Sullivan
[email protected]
310 562‐2209
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Packet Pg. 998 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2022 10:49 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: FW:

From: Bicky <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2022 6:21 PM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject:

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, At your meeting on July 26th we urge you to:

Reject the competing developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure because it provides no money for affordable housing for struggling low-income renters and seniors, and contains no funding for schools to help close the achievement gap.

Please help Santa Monica residents and protect Santa Monica values today!
As someone who lives on fixed income, I will struggle to stay in my apartment which I have occupied since 1978. I know many more retired renters which will be destitute Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 999 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 with 6& increase in their rent. This might sound like empty words to some of you, and I realize that you can't feel what we are experiencing, but we urge you to help us.

Kind Regards,
Bicky Zivkovic
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Packet Pg. 1000 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Council Mailbox
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2022 4:12 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: FW: Santa Monica 3% Rent Control Cap
‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Joe Friend <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2022 11:33 AM
To: Council Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Santa Monica 3% Rent Control Cap

EXTERNAL
Hello ‐ just sending a quick note of support for the rent control cap of 3%. Best, Joe Friend https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.smdp.com/council‐seeks‐to‐set‐3‐cap‐on‐annual‐rent‐adjustment‐for‐ controlled‐
units/219655__;!!OfuUnHCITYtmmjM!sYZVPnxb7NZxRLrFqb2eEnoWESfPWpvXy_hptohyy4vHKK8vg2S_5TaafXYCmgNUq dJ5mya8z7NBZTf‐$
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Packet Pg. 1001 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Daniel Ivanov <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 1:16 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Item 11D

EXTERNAL
Council,
I am writing to urge you to adopt the resolutions for proposed ballot measures amending Article XVIII of the City Charter to reduce the Annual General Adjustment from 6% to 3% and to authorize the Rent Control Board to freeze or modify otherwise‐allowed annual general adjustments to rent ceilings during a declared state of emergency.

At a time when the economy is still recovering from the pandemic and renters are already feeling the squeeze due to inflation on a plethora of goods and services, Council must act to provide relief. A 6% increase during this volatile economic climate would only inflict pain on those already hurting the most. In addition, with no clear end in sight to inflation and the possibility of another pandemic or global recession on the horizon in the years/decades to come, the Rent Control Board must be given the power and flexibility to provide relief to renters as needed.

Thank you.

Best,
Danny Ivanov
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Packet Pg. 1002 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: David Miller <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:04 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Comment on July 26th Agenda Item 11 D 2 -- Rent Board Power to Freeze Rents

EXTERNAL
Do not give the Rent Control Board the power to freeze rents in an “emergency”. They will freeze rents immediately, and perhaps forever. We will start with several years of a “public health emergency”, to be followed by a “housing availability emergency due to wildfire”, followed by a “drought emergency”, perhaps followed by an “earthquake emergency”, and then finally a permanent “housing affordability emergency”. While rents are frozen, building improvements will cease, building maintenance will suffer, and the quality of our housing stock will go to heck. Please say “NO” to this bad idea.

Sincerely,
David Miller
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Packet Pg. 1003 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: David Miller <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 9:57 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Comment on July 26th Agenda Item 11 D 1 -- 3% Cap on Annual Rent Adjustment

EXTERNAL
Housing providers have no immunity to inflation, or cap on their expenses. I just spent $210 on a plumber call‐out that cost $80 two years ago. Did you know that in the first 15 years of rent control, from 1979 to 1993, the annual rent adjustment was 3% or more in 14 of those 15 years?
I suggest a 4% cap that sunsets automatically after 3 years.

Sincerely,
David Miller
Item 11.D
07/26/22
19 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1004 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Clerk Mailbox
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 1:59 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: FW: SMRR rent raise this year
From: Mara Thompson <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 1:50 PM
To: Clerk Mailbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Fwd: SMRR rent raise this year

EXTERNAL
Sorry I haven’t responded to your email, I’m too busy disassociating from reality.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Mara Thompson <[email protected]>
Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:48:50 PM PDT
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Subject: SMRR rent raise this year
Dear City Council,
This years higher than usual raising of rent control MARs had raised a lot of fuss and dust.

I am here speaking on behalf of “mom & pop” owners who have been renting for decades. They were caught with very low rents when the controls came in, in our case enhanced because they chose not to raise rents by much before the law was in effect.

Thus they are still being paid, for example, $660 for a one bedroom. In these cases a chunk of a raise is welcome, even if under $100.

I think anyone paying less than $2,000 a month definitely needs to be included in the agreed ipon raise, if not all renters.

Thanks for your consideration, a d dedicated work,
Mara Thompson
Daughter of Landlord
Santa Monica
Sorry I haven’t responded to your email, I’m too busy disassociating from reality.

Item 11.D
07/26/22
20 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1005 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Thomas Kren <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 4:35 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D on July 26th

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council Members:

At the Council meeting tomorrow, July 26th, regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D, I ask you to:
* Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
* In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, * Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents today! Sincerely,
Thomas Kren
948 Fifth Street, Apt D
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Item 11.D
07/26/22
21 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1006 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 4:34 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 11 B and D

EXTERNAL
Hello,
I live in a rent controlled building. While I am doing okay and have had a job through Covid, several of the tenants in my building are not in great financial shape. They haven't received raises and are living paycheck to paycheck or project to project. We live in a building where the manager did nothing over Covid unless he absolulely had to and once handed me a bottle of mold cleaner when I had a very moldy wall. Please do not make life harder on these people who are mostly above 55.

Also, should a council member that owns an apartment building be allowed to vote on this measure? Thank you.

Laura Borsecnik
1333 11th Street Apt 9
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for noncontrolled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
22 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1007 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Mariasha Perman-Weisman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 4:30 PM
To: Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; [email protected]; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; Sue Himmelrich Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
I am NOT in favor of lowering the GAR for the fiscal year 2022‐2023.

No one is lowering our expenses and as a small family owned property owner, we cannot afford this proposal M Perman‐Weisman
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
Item 11.D
07/26/22
23 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1008 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: Sean mou <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 4:17 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
24 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1009 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: The Lawsons <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 5:18 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Catherine Lawson
Item 11.D
07/26/22
25 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1010 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Ivana Jevtic <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 5:18 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: ┱Please Protect Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D I urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50.
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms. • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

As a graduate student, I would not be able to live in Santa Monica without the rent control and 3% annual rent increase.

Also, none of my friends would be able to call Santa Monica home either. We all love Santa Monica, volunteer, support local business and schools, promote sustainable practices, and strive to be amazing citizens that would make Santa Monicans proud. Please, help us stay here so that we can continue to contribute in a meaningful way while living humble and content lives.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Ivana Jevtic
Item 11.D
07/26/22
26 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1011 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: diane williams <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 5:54 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Hi Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
Item 11.D
07/26/22
27 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1012 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: RODNEY LEE <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 6:36 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you!!
Rodney Lee
Sent from my iPhone
Item 11.D
07/26/22
28 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1013 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Ira Israel <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 6:29 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
Thank you very much,
Ira Israel
2316 Montana Avenue
Santa Monica
Item 11.D
07/26/22
29 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1014 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Nora Bachman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 6:22 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!

As a small business owner, any cost increases affect me both personally and professionally. And given the past few years of turmoil, I urge the council to hear and protect the citizens of Santa Monica by limiting how much our already expensive rents can be increased.

Thank you,
Nora Bachman
Pediatric Physical Therapist
‐‐
To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. www.norabpt.com
[email protected]
917.755.8910

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WARNING: CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE ‐ The information enclosed with this transmission is the private, confidential property of the sender, and the material is privileged communication intended solely for the individual indicated. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any review, disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any other action relevant to the contents of this transmission are strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

Item 11.D
07/26/22
30 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1015 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Martin Toutonghi <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 6:55 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
Item 11.D
07/26/22
31 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1016 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: James Meehan <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 5:52 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Santa Monica City Council members, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Council member Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
32 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1017 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Nick Clark <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 6:58 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
33 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1018 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Zelia Mollica <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 6:58 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPad
Item 11.D
07/26/22
34 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1019 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:23 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
Item 11.D
07/26/22
35 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1020 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Nebdeb <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:28 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
Item 11.D
07/26/22
36 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1021 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Tom Frykman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:26 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
We live at 2026 Oak St. thank you for considering us…
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Tom Frykman
310‐428‐9510 (cell)
Item 11.D
07/26/22
37 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1022 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: SD <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:28 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Do the Right Thing.

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
 Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,  In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and,
 Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! So Sorry I voted for to put you on the council Phil Brock I will do all I can to vote you out and your pal Oscar D.

TAKE THE TIME TO GO THE EXTRA STEP OF WRITING TO COUNCIL FOR THEIR JULY Item 11.D
07/26/22
38 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1023 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 26TH MEETING. Please tell your family, friends and neighbors about this community mobilization effort and ask them to join us in telling Councilmembers to protect renters NOW! Failure is not an option, but success depends on all of us.

Thank you for your support.

The SMRR Team
www.smrr.org
Item 11.D
07/26/22
39 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1024 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:34 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers,
at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
•Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and,
• Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
40 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1025 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Dale Todd <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:39 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
41 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1026 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Jezebel corpuz-Todd <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:37 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sincerely,
Jezebel Todd
Sent from my iPhone
Item 11.D
07/26/22
42 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1027 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:42 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Regards,
E.Garcia
Item 11.D
07/26/22
43 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1028 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Allison Dollar <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 6:16 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Cc: Allison Dollar; [email protected]
Subject: Santa Monica Council - real world, real talk re. rental rate hikes July 26

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council,
I've been a resident of Santa Monica since 1999 and have done business here since 1989. The city has evolved quite a bit, as it should, but recent developments are tilting us into an untenable position where we kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

Within the past few years I've watched you approve larger and more lavish development projects designed to cater to a small subsector of the community. I work with Hollywood brands, digital media, startups (and VCs), so I fully understand the appeal and the business value propositions concomitant with serving that demographic.

However, these projects have been and will be creating an unsustainable density level and strain on services, parking and traffic being the least of it. Moreover, their scale is disproportionately large to the size of the city. We are only a little over 8.4 sq miles, after all. Raising the height restrictions alone completely changes the character, liveability and, more important, efficiency in running city services. The set asides read like a joke to me; we know they aren't enforced.

And tourists won't respond well to the dismantling of our famous seaside charm.

These matters go beyond modern notions of capitalizing on density. Rather, the policies are actually turning the clock back to a time where cities had no recourse for raising the tax base other than through real estate and related development. This approach demonstrates a lack of imagination, vision, creativity and skill for city planning in the 21st century. There are modern business models and multiple revenue streams that can be created via other means.

And now we see the raising of the General Adjustment Cap to 6%.

I am an entrepreneur, well known in my field for roles in creating and proselytizing advanced television, which encompasses all kinds of digital video services we now take for granted. In the 2009 downturn, and now in the era of COVID‐19, conferences, expos, investment capital and other mainstays in our world were cut. I've taken many financial hits. But in the same era, I've also been instrumental in bringing funding into companies and services based here and keeping the 'Silicon Beach' ecosystem humming.

There are many professionals like me who continue to contribute to the economy and who are deserving of parity and respect, some balance to the picture. There is no good logic in bifurcating the community into haves and have nots, as though only the wealthier are contributing to the tax base and the rest of us have our hand out. Not accurate, not true, not fair.

At your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D I support SMRR in its urging to:
 Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50
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Packet Pg. 1029 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2  In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and,  Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

I'm a business professional. I advise you to avoid painting those of us on team SMRR as mushy do‐gooders, naive romantics or otherwise ignorant of the ways of commerce.

Give yourselves a healthy distance. Evaluate ALL the facts. Welcome creative solutions. And then do the right thing.

Sincerely,
Allison Dollar
Chair, L.A. Venture Association, Media / Space Sectors
[email protected]

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Packet Pg. 1030 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Joey Vermeulen <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 5:31 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: limiting rent increases to 3%

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
I'm an individual landlord in SM for a small building. All of my expenses have risen dramatically and a 3% limit on rents when tenants have lived there long‐term and are already way under market rate is just not fair, especially when inflation and CPI is much higher than 3% and utilities are also drastically increasing. Please consider the single property owners trying to make a living in santa monica as well.

Thanks
Joey Vermeulen
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Packet Pg. 1031 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Derek Bui <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:52 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Derek Bui ‐ Chat @ Spike
To help pr
privacy, M
prevented
download
from the In
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Packet Pg. 1032 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Pamela Bellew <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:56 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
The City we love is declining by the hour! Been here 20+ years...please dont do this! I was evicted 15 tears ago for having a cat in a one bedroom rent controlled unit (was paying 800) and now I am up to 2400 by myself, as I managed to stay in Santa Monica but have had to move twice since the eviction years ago. I'm in a 2 bedroom now but can barely hold it down without getting a roommate. Depending upon the management company, a roommate can be an arduous process. My main point is...2400 may sound like a "deal" but since I am not a 20 something hipster making 6 figures at a tech or production company located in the water park, this rent is very high! I cant imagine paying 6 percent more. If this goes through, council needs to figure out a way rent controlled units (where there is only one occupant on the original lease) needs to be allowed to have a roommate without domestic partnership, without harassment, etc.

Skyrocketing rents; Massive over development; scooters, ebikes, and illegal motorized bikes (aka motorcycles) dumped all over the place;
Severely addicted, mentally I'll, and dangerous methhead transients all over our streets and parks; punks coming in on the crime train to break into our cars, apartments, steal our bikes (chop shops for homeless); trailers and campers parked further north along ocean with blankets in their windows hiding the occupants trying to live in it; poor police response. And yet you want more apartments, more ppl, more traffic, more "pilot programs" for the next rediculous and dangerous scooter start up. No place to buy a dress at a normal price, 200 businesses gone from riots and boarded up shops; SM known as an easy crime target now....and now more rent?? C'mon! Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!

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Packet Pg. 1033 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Tony Stone <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 8:03 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! This is Anthony J. Stone.

I live at 307 Montana Ave Apartment 104, SANTA Monica California 90403.

I RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1783 A MONTH.

WITH THE NEW 6% INCREASE IN RENT I WILL PAY $1285 A MONTN UNLESS THE SANTA MONICA RENT CONTROL BOARD CAN ADOPT THE LOWER PERCENTAGE OF THAT IS ON THE BALLET FOR NOVEMBER 2022.

SINCERELY,

ANTHONY J STONE
307 MONTANA AVE
APARTMENT 104
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA 90403
Sent from my iPhone
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Packet Pg. 1034 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Rick Ruskin <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 9:16 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Sirs and Madams,
Please take to heart this request.

I am a 65 year old male living in a building sold just 1 month ago, and the new landlord has no plans to do improvements or deferred maintenance, but has already sent a rent increase tied to the proposed 6% increase.

I am just retiring and will struggle to pay the proposed 6% rent increases Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Rick Ruskin
1123 23rd St. Apt. B
Santa Monica, CA 90403
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Packet Pg. 1035 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Stephanie Rasband <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 8:40 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
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Packet Pg. 1036 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Goran Alstrom <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 9:31 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my T‐Mobile 5G Device
Get Outlook for Android
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Packet Pg. 1037 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Victoria Mendoza <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 9:29 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! I have had the privilege of living in beautiful Santa Monica, I am a disabled, elderly woman, living on a fixed income.

With the cost of living in all areas, gas food, transportation, it has been a challenge to find areas in my budget to cut back on. The proposed 6% increase may not seem much for the wealthy community in which I live. The six percent increase means I have to cut back on vital essentials. Please do not increase the General Adjustment Cap! Victoria Mendoza
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Packet Pg. 1038 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 10:45 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1039 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Lily Houston <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 11:03 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; SMRR Coordinator; councilmtgitems Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

And as for the disastrous 6% rent hike for the less than wealthy, it's all hands on deck time, Council ‐‐‐ stand up and cap it at 3% & get us our unaffordable money back. PLEASE!!! Show us the respect that you expect from us.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1040 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Victor Shaw <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 11:41 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Victor Shaw
[email protected]
310‐907‐6302
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Packet Pg. 1041 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Steve Friedman - KBM <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 11:37 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
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Packet Pg. 1042 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Monica E <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 11:34 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers:

I consider myself fortunate to be a 21‐year Santa Monica resident and renter. As I approach retirement age, it is my hope that I can maintain a reasonably priced apartment and keep Santa Monica as my home when my income declines.

At your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D, I urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50.
• Support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms.
• Finally, reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock. Its purpose is to undercut the citizens’ initiative and it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

I hope that the residents of Santa Monica can count on your active support.

Best wishes,
Monica Egbuonu

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Packet Pg. 1043 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: Elisabeth Moore <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 11:20 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Hi
I am a nurse working in and living in Santa Monica.

My som goes to school here and I am struggling to find a way to stay here.

I moved to Santa Monica looking for a city I can spend the rest of my life and after 10 years here. It seems less feasible.

I have been renting here in Santa Monica planning to transition my family into a small family home. With the competitive real estate market that seems impossible and now with our rent increases regularly and my pay not increasing. I am looking to relocate elsewhere. I think my city council does not value me as a part of their community because it has been apparent for a long time and often question myself; is it that this city council prefers the wealthy citizens over working class members?
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
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Packet Pg. 1044 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Patricia Hoffman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:33 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: No on 11B and 16D, Yes on 8A and 11D

EXTERNAL
July 26
Mayor Himmelrich, Councilmembers:

I am updating my letter to you regarding the July 12 agenda to make it appropriate for the July 26 agenda. The issues remain the same but the item numbers have changed.

I again want to add my voice to the chorus of hundreds who have asked that you vote against putting Item 11B on the ballot. Please vote no on 11B. 11B is in direct competition with and could kill the people’s initiative in 8A. I also hope that you do not move forward with Item 16D.

It is too late to adequately study the consequences, both intended and unintended, of this item.

As a reminder, more than 10,000 Santa Monica voters have said that they want to tax extremely high-value real estate in order to subsidize rent burdened low-income Santa Monicans to keep them from becoming homeless, to build more affordable housing for our local work force, and to continue to guarantee high quality schools even if Malibu takes its money and runs. I strongly support Item 8A. I know you will be voting yes on it but I hope you will do so enthusiastically and that you will enthusiastically support the measure since you will be helping so many of your constituents by doing so.

Right now you will also have the opportunity to help many of the tenants of Santa Monica by voting yes on Item 11D. You can also place a 3% cap on general adjustments to the maximum allowable rents, in addition to the other components of Item 11D.

You have a rare opportunity to be heroes to thousands of struggling Santa Monicans in this very scary moment of uncertainty. Please vote no on Item 11B and 16D. Please vote yes on Item 8A and Item 11D.

Thank you,
Patricia Hoffman.

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Packet Pg. 1058 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Wendy Dembo <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 6:13 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Library on Fridays

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda item and 11‐D I urge you to:
• Support the community based Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to stop Sue’s boondoggle. Yes. 10,000 people signed the petition because people, who don’t live in Santa Monica and don’t care about Santa Monica were paid to harass people at supermarkets. It doesn’t come from the community, but from Sue’s desire to make more money.

Someone just bought a $14 million dollar house in Santa Monica North of San Vicente. Maybe for the extra $500,00 that they need to pay, they would buy in Brentwood instead.

Commercial buildings will avoid paying this tax just like Michael Dell has done with the Fairmont. The tax will unfairly be paid for on the backs of residents, who already aren’t getting the services they should for the amount of money they pay in taxes. Library on Friday anyone?
Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Wendy Dembo
Santa Monica resident and voter
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Packet Pg. 1059 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Patricia Hoffman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 7:33 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: No on 11B and 16D, Yes on 8A and 11D

EXTERNAL
July 26
Mayor Himmelrich, Councilmembers:

I am updating my letter to you regarding the July 12 agenda to make it appropriate for the July 26 agenda. The issues remain the same but the item numbers have changed.

It is too late to adequately study the consequences, both intended and unintended, of this item.

Thank you,
Patricia Hoffman.

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Packet Pg. 1060 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 June 26, 2022
Dear Santa Monica City Councilmembers:

The tenants of Santa Monica need and deserve your timely and effective intervention on an issue of great significance to their security in their homes. Due to historically high inflation, rentcontrolled tenants face up to a 6% rent increase starting in September 2022. This threatened rent increase constitutes a crisis for all rent-controlled tenants, all of whom already have to stretch their budgets to cover soaring gasoline and food costs. And it constitutes an absolute dire emergency for the roughly three-in-ten (9,500+ total) Santa Monica renter households who are both lower income and already “housing cost burdened” according to HUD (because they already spend more than 30% of their limited incomes on rent and utilities), and most especially for the roughly two-in-ten (6,500+ total) Santa Monica renter households who are both lower income and already “severely housing cost burdened” according to HUD (because they already spend more than half their limited incomes on rent).

SMRR urges the City Council to take three actions in response to this crisis:

1. Place on the November 2022 ballot an amendment to the City Charter that lowers the maximum annual general adjustment allowed from the current 6% to 3%. The ballot measure should provide that this new cap will become effective immediately upon passage (or, if deemed legally more proper, on December 1, 2022 or January 1, 2023), and that any generaladjustment rent increase above 3% imposed by a landlord from September 1, 2022 through the effective date of the Charter amendment must be reduced to just 3% going forward (as must the Maximum Allowable Rent for purposes of future application of the Santa Monica Rent Control Law). If legally permissible, the ballot measure also should provide for refunds to tenants of all amounts collected in excess of the 3% cap for the period from September 1, 2022 through the prospective effective date of the new cap. 3% is the permanent cap on the general adjustment just enacted by the City of Oakland for purposes of its rent control law;

2. If legally permissible, pass an ordinance prohibiting a rent-controlled landlord from charging more than the current maximum allowable rent plus 3% during the period from September 1, 2022 through the proposed effective date of the Charter amendment (unless the landlord demonstrates through the petition process described in the Charter that it cannot earn the constitutionally mandated fair return absent a larger rent increase).

The combination of these first two proposals should prevent general rent increases of more than 3% for the year starting in September 1, 2022 and for each year thereafter; and Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1061 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 3. Withdraw or reject the proposal of Councilmember Brock to place on the November 2022 ballot his transfer tax measure, which does not provide even one penny for ongoing or emergency rent subsidy programs, and instead support the citizens’ initiative signed by more than 10,000 Santa Monica residents that will provide an estimated $10 million to $20 million in annual funding for ongoing and emergency rent subsidy programs as needed.

A detailed explanation of both the current crisis and SMRR’s proposed solutions follows.

I. THE UNFAIR AND UNNECESSARY RENT-INCREASE CRISIS FACING SANTA MONICA’S RENT-CONTROLLED HOUSEHOLDS
The current formula for calculation of the annual General Adjustment of the maximum allowable rent landlords may charge for rent-controlled apartments in Santa Monica (“the GA”) is 75% of the change in the Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers, Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange County region) (“the CPI”) for the twelve month period ending as of March of the current year.

The GA is subject to an absolute cap of no more than 6%, and the Rent Control Board (“the RCB”) has discretion to impose an additional absolute dollar cap calculated in the manner prescribed in the Charter.1
This formula for calculation of the GA was approved by Santa Monica voters in 2012. At that time Santa Monica’s 6% cap was lower than the cap in other California cities with comparable rent control laws.2
As everyone is painfully aware, inflation now is at a 40 year high due to a combination of the effects of the COVID pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As a result, the CPI used in the 2022 GA calculation rose 8.5%. Under the existing Charter provisions, this means that the GA rent increase effective September 1, 2022 for each rent-controlled household in Santa Monica will be the lesser of 6% of the current monthly rent, or $140 per month (the absolute dollar cap calculated in the manner prescribed by the Charter, and adopted by the RCB at its June 9, 2022 meeting).

1 See Santa Monica Charter Section 1805.
2 See, e.g., June 28, 2012 RCB Staff Report entitled “Proposed Change to the Rent Control Charter Amendment Relating to Calculating the Annual General Adjustment and Allowing for a Dollar-Amount Ceiling” at 3-4 (lowest GA cap among Berkeley, East Palo Alto, Los Angeles, San Francisco and West Hollywood was 7%).

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Packet Pg. 1062 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 (Source: HUD Community Housing Assessment Data for Santa Monica City. Lower Income households are those earning 80% or less of the HUD Area Median Family Income (HAMFI).) Nor is a 6% rent increase generally necessary to assure the constitutionally mandated fair return to landlords. The GA system was developed at a time when Santa Monica had vacancy control; that is, rents did not reset to the current market rates even when an old tenant vacated the apartment and a new tenant moved in. The GA system assured that landlords continued to earn a fair return despite vacancy control.

3 See 2021 RCB Annual Report at 11-12 & Fig. 3.
4 For example, the RCB’s 2019 Annual Report—the last annual report prior to the COVID-19 pandemic—advises that sixty-five percent of the tenants who moved into rent-controlled units in 2015 already had moved out four years later. That same report also advises that of the tenancies that began in 2019, 46 percent replaced tenants who had moved in during the prior three years and that “[t]his is a higher percentage than had vacated in the three years prior to 2018, suggesting the pace at which recent tenants vacate is increasing.” See 2019 RCB Annual Report at 20. 5 See 2021 RCB Annual Report at 13 & Fig. 6.

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Packet Pg. 1063 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 II. SMRR’S PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
The current unfair and unnecessary rent-increase crisis threatens the very purpose for which the voters enshrined rent control in the Santa Monica City Charter: “so that rents will not be increased unreasonably and so that landlords will receive no more than a fair return.”6 The RCB
concluded that the Charter gives it no power to deviate from the GA provisions set forth in Section 1805, and therefore it cannot avert this crisis.7 The City Council therefore must act.

A. Place On The November 2022 Ballot A Charter Amendment Limiting The GA To A Maximum Of 3% Per Year
The fundamental flaw in the Charter revealed by the current crisis is that the GA cap of 6% is too high. It is too high because such a rent increase will cause the very hardship and housing instability that the Santa Monica Rent Control Law seeks to avoid, and because State mandatedvacancy decontrol has rendered such an increase unnecessary to provide landlords their constitutionally mandated fair return.

The Oakland City Council recently amended its rent control law to permanently cap the annual general adjustment at 3%. Absent that action, Oakland rent-controlled tenants would have faced a 6.7% rent increase (even higher than what current Santa Monica law permits).

Because the Santa Monica Rent Control Law is in the City Charter, the City Council should place on the November ballot a measure to amend the Charter to lower the GA cap from 6% to 3%. Such a cap is a proper means of protecting rent-controlled households from unreasonable rent increases while still assuring landlords of their constitutionally mandated fair return. For the GA to exceed 3% as it currently is calculated (i.e., at 75% of the annual change in CPI measured as of March), the change in CPI itself must exceed 4% (because 75% of 4% = 3%). But that has occurred only twice in the last 30 years—this year, and in 2006 (a year in which 75% of CPI equaled 3.5%)—as is shown in the following table of annual CPI changes as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

6 Santa Monica Charter Section 1800.
7 See June 9, 2022 RCB Report entitled “Public hearing on proposed Charter amendment to give the Board discretion to suspend rent increases during a declared emergency” at 2.

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Packet Pg. 1064 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI for All Urban Consumers, 12-Month Percent Change, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. The GA as currently calculated would exceed 3% only when the annual CPI change as of March reported here exceeded 4%.)
Thus, a 3% cap only limits the GA in extraordinary times (just as the floor of 0% protects landlords from a reduction in rent in extraordinary times, such as occurred in 2009 when 75% of CPI equaled a decrease of 0.75%). Such a limit to protect rent-controlled households is proper given that (1) vacancy decontrol more than makes up for any occasional limit on the GA due to the cap, thereby generally assuring landlords of their constitutionally mandated fair return, and (2) to the extent that an occasional individual landlord requires a greater increase to assure a fair return, it has the right to file a rent increase petition with the RCB.

This ballot measure should provide that the new cap will become effective immediately upon passage (or, if deemed legally more proper, on December 1, 2022 or January 1, 2023), and that any increase in rent above the 3% cap that became effective at any time from September 1, 2022 through the effective date of the Charter amendment must be reduced to just 3% going forward Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1065 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 6 (as well as the Maximum Allowable Rent for purposes of future application of the Santa Monica Rent Control Law).8
If legally permissible, the ballot measure also should provide for refunds to tenants of all amounts collected in excess of the 3% cap for the period from September 1, 2022 through the effective date of the new cap. The City Attorney needs to provide advice to the City Council on this issue, but we note that factors that could favor the legality of such a provision include (1) the importance of the public policy of protecting renters from unreasonable and unnecessary rent increases—particularly in this time of high inflation (caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic), with the lingering other economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the massive numbers of rent burdened lower income tenants in the City, (2) the minimal impact on landlords (i.e., nothing more than a return of rent above a 3% increase that at most could have been collected for a few months), and (3) the lack of reasonable reliance by landlords in light of their knowledge prior to September 1, 2022, that a provision ordering a refund of rent increases above 3% will appear on the November 2022 ballot.

B. Pass An Ordinance Prohibiting Rent-Controlled Landlords From Charging More Than The Current Maximum Allowable Rent Plus 3% During The Period From September 1, 2022 Through The Prospective Effective Date Of The Charter Amendment
The vote on a Charter amendment to cap the GA at 3% will not take place until November 8, 2022. In order to prevent landlords from imposing 6% rent increases prior to the voters having the opportunity to consider and adopt the proposed Charter amendment, the City Council should—if legally permissible—pass an ordinance prohibiting rent-controlled landlords from charging more than the current maximum allowable rent plus 3% at any time during the period from September 1, 2022 through the prospective effective date of the Charter amendment (unless authorized by the RCB pursuant to an individual adjustment petition).

The City Attorney needs to provide advice to the City Council on this issue. We note the following.

First, the Santa Monica Rent Control Law does not state that a landlord is affirmatively authorized to charge the maximum lawful rent as calculated under that law. Rather, it simply states that a landlord may not charge more than the maximum lawful rent as calculated under that law. There is no express conflict between that prohibition and an ordinance requiring landlords, to charge less than the maximum lawful rent as calculated under existing law during the period that the voters are considering whether to amend the Charter to lower the maximum lawful rent.

8 This is the approach taken by the Legislature when it adopted AB 1482. See California Civil Code § 1947.12(h)(2)(A).
9 See June 9, 2022 RCB Report entitled “Public hearing on proposed Charter amendment to give the Board discretion to suspend rent increases during a declared emergency” at 2.

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Packet Pg. 1066 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 7 and therefore that the RCB has no power to consider whether a lower rent increase is generally necessary and/or appropriate in these extraordinary times in order to advance the general health and welfare and/or the overall purposes of the Santa Monica Rent Control Law. Given that the RCB lacks this police power, the Charter expressly provides that this police power remains with the City Council: (1) Section 400 of the Charter provides that “[t]he City shall have the power to make and enforce all laws and regulations in respect to municipal affairs, subject only to such restrictions and limitations as may be provided in this Charter and in the Constitution of the State of California,” and that “[t]he enumeration in this Charter of any particular power shall not be held to be exclusive of or any limitation upon, this general grant of power,” and (2) Section 605 of the Charter provides that “[a]ll powers of the City shall be vested in the City Council, subject to the provisions of this Charter and to the Constitution of the State of California.” Third, because the RCB has determined that it lacks this police power, exercise of this police power by the City Council does not constitute interference with the RCB’s exercise of its powers and duties under the Santa Monica Rent Control law within the meaning of Section 1802 of the Charter. Moreover, because the proposed ordinance would expressly allow landlords to charge more than the current maximum allowable rent plus 3% if the RCB determines that an individual adjustment is proper, the proposed ordinance would not constitute interference with the powers and duties of the RCB to make individual adjustments when warranted.

Fourth, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act does not eliminate this police power. The only prohibition in that Act on local regulation of ongoing (as opposed to initial) rental rates for a tenancy is found in California Civil Code Section 1954.52(a), a section that only applies to buildings whose certificates of occupancy were issued on or after February 1, 1995. This necessarily excludes rent-controlled buildings in Santa Monica, given that the Rent Control Law expressly exempts rental units and dwelling constructed after the adoption of that law in April of 1979.10
Fifth, AB 1482 does not eliminate this police power. California Civil Code Section 1947.12(m)(3) expressly states that “[n]othing in this section . . . affects the existing authority of a local government to adopt or maintain rent controls or prices controls consistent with [the Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act].” As just discussed, nothing in Costa-Hawkins precludes the City Council from adopting the proposed ordinance.

C. Withdraw Or Reject Councilmember Brock’s Transfer Tax Proposal— Which Provides NO MONEY For Emergency Or Ongoing Rent Subsidy Programs—And Support Instead The Citizens’ Initiative Transfer Tax Measure Which Will Provide An Estimated $10 Million To $20 Million Annually For Use In Such Programs As Needed
As already explained, the potential 6% increase in rents is a crisis for all rent-controlled households, and is an absolute dire emergency for the 9500+ Santa Monica renter households that are both lower income and already identified by HUD as “housing cost burdened” (i.e., paying more than 30% of their limited income for rent and utilities), and most especially for the 6500+ such households already identified by HUD as “severely housing cost burdened” because they already pay more than half their limited income for rent and utilities.

10 See Santa Monica Charter Section 1801(c)(5).

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Packet Pg. 1067 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 8 Even with adoption of the first two SMRR proposals, rent-controlled households will face a 3% increase in rent starting on September 1. While far better than a 6% increase, even this 3% increase will be larger than any other GA increase during the preceding decade, and will be twice the average GA increase during the previous ten years:
(Source: July 28, 2021 RCB Fact Sheet on Registration Fees and Surcharges.) Even before the crisis posed by the pending 6% rent increase, the need for the City to fund emergency and ongoing rent subsidy programs to help keep our rent-burdened lower-income neighbors in their homes with dignity was obvious. Unless the City is prepared to turn its back on its most vulnerable residents—including many elders, children, and persons facing physical and/or mental challenges—it must find the resources to fund emergency and ongoing rent subsidy programs. Otherwise, Santa Monica will lose its soul and become an economicallygated community, a Beverly Hills by the Sea.

It is not surprising then that more than 10,000 Santa Monica residents signed petitions to place on the November ballot the citizens’ initiative entitled “Funding for Homelessness Prevention, Affordable Housing and Schools.” This initiative will support a comprehensive set of programs to keep Santa Monica an economically inclusive City where all of its residents—including lower income residents of all ages—can live and thrive. As most directly relevant to the looming rent increase crisis, that initiative if passed by the voters will make an estimated $10 million to $20 million available annually for use as needed in emergency and ongoing rent subsidy programs. It will do so by imposing a 5% tax on the entire proceeds of sales of only those properties worth $8 million or more. A similar citizens’ initiative transfer tax measure will appear on the Los Angeles City ballot in November after some 100,000 Angelinos also signed petitions there.

Inexplicably, Councilmember Brock has proposed that the City Council put a competing transfer tax measure on the November ballot in an openly stated effort to defeat the citizens’ initiative.

Despite the suffering of so many rent-burdened lower-income Santa Monica residents—suffering that the looming rent increase crisis will only make worse—Councilmember Brock’s alternative Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1068 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 9 does not provide even one penny for ongoing or emergency rent subsidy (or for any of the other programs designed to maintain an economically inclusive Santa Monica).

Councilmember Brock’s proposal was raised during a budget discussion at around 1 a.m. in the morning at a City Council meeting that Mayor Himmelrich (an official proponent of the citizens’ initiative) could not attend because she was sick at home with COVID-19. We hope that, with the clear light of day and further opportunity to reflect, Councilmember Brock will withdraw his proposal to undermine the citizens’ initiative and to deprive the City of the funds it needs to address the critical needs of so many of its rent-burdened lower-income residents. But if that hope is dashed, SMRR calls on the rest of the City Council to reject his competing transfer tax measure. If additional funds are needed by the City for other purposes, City Council should propose some other form of non-competing tax measure. Santa Monica values demand nothing less.

Thank you for considering SMRR’s views on this critical issue.

Sincerely,
Denny Zane Mike Soloff
Co-Chair, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Co-Chair, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1069 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: arezo yousefi <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 5:37 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
:Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to • Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
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Packet Pg. 1070 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: SM Renters Rights <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 5:41 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fwd: Please read my email below. Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Begin forwarded message:

From: mdosti <[email protected]>
Subject: Please read my email below. Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!
Date: July 25, 2022 at 11:59:02 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Dear Santa Monica City Council Members,
Thank goodness for rent control! I am a low income Santa Monican senior living in a rent control unit. I am not able to afford any rent increases at all. As it is, my landlord has just informed me he is taking away the parking spot I've had for the past 24 years.

He is also taking back a small storage unit I've rented for 15 years. The loss of these two amenities will greatly impact my life and finances as I must replace these amenities at a much higher cost, much more than I can afford. Inflation, ridiculous gas prices, and exorbitantly high rents everywhere in Los Angeles would make it impossible for me to move. This is not the time for rent increases. I urge you to maintain rent control status quo. The lives of many Santa Monicans are depending on you to do the right thing! Thank you for listing,
Sincerely,
Marya Dosti
Santa Monica City Council Members, at your meeting on July 26th we urge you to:

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Packet Pg. 1071 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 important step, an unconscionably high 6% increase will be forever baked into rent-controlled rents, instantly eroding affordability for the life of the tenancies of thousands of renters.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! .............

Marya Dosti
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Packet Pg. 1072 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: SM Renters Rights <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 5:42 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fwd: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Begin forwarded message:

From: Karen Neiss <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 11:43:58 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!

Pleaaaaase!!! Thank you,
Kare E. Neiss
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Packet Pg. 1073 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: SM Renters Rights <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 6:35 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fwd: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Begin forwarded message:

From: Robert Mitchell <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 11:03:12 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Dear Santa Monica City Councilmembers:

At your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

My name is Robert and I've been a Santa Monica resident for 10 years, my wife lived here her entire life and we are doing our best to raise our 9month old daughter. Please reduce the rent increases, please help us shoulder the burden of inflation.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Best regards,
Robert Mitchell
————
From: Thomas Shadle <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 10:49:36 PM PDT
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1074 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! --
Tom Shadle
Email: [email protected]
Cell: 310-310-9915
————
From: Clare Fields-Flood <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 10:46:09 PM PDT
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>My husband and I are both seniors who depend on Rent Control. Without it, we would be homeless. There are plenty more in the same situation. Please don’t let this happen.

Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from Mail for Windows
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Packet Pg. 1075 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 ————
Begin forwarded message:

From: [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 10:43:29 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Joan Grossman <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 10:29:07 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1076 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Joan Grossman
[email protected]
424-268-4498
————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Sherry Brourman <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 9:36:39 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Dear City Council Women and Men,
I’m Sherry Brourman, a Santa Monica Resident for 18 years. I could never have afforded my life here but for rent control. I’m a physical therapist and while I love my work, I have been inspired the most by helping disadvantaged people, disabled kids, helped organize conferences like the Avon walk for breast cancer— all of which have always and will always lessen my income.

I will have to move out of Santa Monica with a 6% rent increase. I do much of my private work in my residence for which reason I have always supported the city with my city business license and insurances and paying fairly as a resident and business person. I so hope that you will consider that those of us in residence here because of our barely affordable rents will need to leave. And leaving means all of the business license fees will have to go to other cities.

In appreciation for your consideration,
Sherry Brourman, 901 19th St Apt B
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
————
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Packet Pg. 1077 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 6 Begin forwarded message:

From: Elean Carman <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 8:56:38 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! May your joys be as deep as the ocean.
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Begin forwarded message:

From: Connie Cole <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 8:52:30 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Dear Santa Monica City Council members:

At such a time as this when gas prices are up, the cost of food and everything is up, people have lost income that has still not returned because of Covid, I was shocked to receive the notice of a 6% Rental Increase as many people have been struggling.

I’ve lived in Santa Monica in a Rent Controlled Apt. for over 20 years. Since the Covid Pandemic, I personally lost one of my part-time jobs as a Makeup Artist for Fox News and it still has not come back. I don’t know if it ever will! That has been a loss of approximately $22,250 a year in income. I did have some governmental help of Covid pay and unemployment for awhile, but that has ended sometime ago. Fox is still not bringing us back yet. My other part-time job of Managing a Santa Monica 48 unit Apt. building (off-site) for a greedy, wealthy Owner who pays me approximately $27,900 a year as an Independent Contractor and after 13 years of doing a Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1078 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 7 great job for him. His Rental Income from Tenants is approximately $1,800,000 per year and growing …. For the past year plus I’ve been living on this income alone. The 6% Increase to my Rent adds an additional approximately $1000 a year. I’ve been very frugal and sometimes have had to go into Savings to pay for Dental and Doctor care.

I’m asking, PLEASE, PLEASE reduce the 6% increase to a ceiling of 3%. It’s hard enough with everything else.

Also, please read below ….Thank you so much!
Sincerely,
Connie
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and,
• Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Connie Cole
[email protected]
310-502-2434
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Begin forwarded message:

From: Maralee Grant <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 8:18:54 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1079 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 8 because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! ————
Begin forwarded message:

From: CYNTHIA STOGEL <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 8:15:08 PM PDT
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

I have resided in my rent control apartment for 20 years and it will be a significant financial hardship to incur a 6% General Adjustment Cap. This is a catastrophic increase from all previous years. My income has not had a measurable increase to afford this jump in my rent. I want to add that I have noticed in Santa Monica several large city blocks being sold and businesses closing to make way for large apartment complexes with store fronts on the ground level in the plans to be built. Further it’s my understanding that these apartments are going to be rented or sold as condominiums for top dollar which will eliminate the possibility of people such as myself to ever even consider residing in one. I worry that Santa Monica is heading in the direction where affordable housing will not be available much longer to the middle class who have establish themselves in this community and contribute to all that Santa Monica has to offer. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t appreciate the opportunity to live in a rent control unit and in a beautiful city that I call my home.

Please honor the requests in the above paragraphs and do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
Thank you for your consideration.

Cynthia Stogel
Sent from my iPhone
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Begin forwarded message:

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Packet Pg. 1080 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 9 From: Julia K <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 8:12:15 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] My income did not go up 6%!
my expenses are higher on everything but income the same! Kind regards
Julia Kolyadenko
827 3rd st
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
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Begin forwarded message:

From: "Christine S." <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 8:08:54 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

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Packet Pg. 1081 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 10 Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you.
(Signed) Christine Schoppe
Santa Monica Resident and Renter
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Begin forwarded message:

From: David Glück <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 8:08:38 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Reply-To: [email protected]
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Once again, as a renter on a fixed income, I implore you to take the above actions or at the very least, as an emergency measure, stop the 6% increase that will take effect September 1st. I'd prefer not becoming one of the homeless.

Thank you,
David Gluck
1937 12th St. A
Santa Monica Ca.
90404
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Begin forwarded message:

From: Rebecca Nunnelee <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 7:43:41 PM PDT
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Packet Pg. 1082 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 11 To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! I have written you previously about these matters. I believe it is important that the Councilmembers listen to the constituents of their districts.

Thank you,
Rebecca Nunnelee
————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Annie Spong <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 7:15:51 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
URGENT!!
As a single mom, sole provider for my family this is of URGENT IMPORTANCE!! Every dollar matters.

Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to: • Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, •
REJECT!!
Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! May you do the right thing for all in this community to thrive & belong.

Blessings,
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Packet Pg. 1083 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 12 Annie Spong
248 Beach St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
--
Annie Spong
310-429-1617
Certified Intimacy Coordinator
SAG/ AFTRA IC Registry
————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Laura Ferretti <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 6:53:42 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] I’ve lived in Santa Monica since 1994.

I’ve raised my son here, mostly in the public schools (until Samohi, which we love, just became too big for him to be able to navigate with Autism).

I moved my now 78yo mom here 15 years ago.

I’ve worked for nonprofits and family foundations focused on serving the indigent throughout my career, including some local like Heal the Bay and Chrysalis.

I wouldn’t have been able to do all of those things without access to a rent control apartment, subject to reasonable rates of increase.

I’ve also lived through my building being sold five times in the 26 years I’ve lived in this particular building, sometimes having owners who have been reasonable and good. And other times, especially in recent years, having owners who could care less about their tenants and who’s sole interest is in flipping the building and/or making it uncomfortable for long term tenants to stay.

Last fall I lived through a flood of my apartment caused by a new owners re-construction project and four months of mold remediation displacement. (BTW: city workers in multiple departments were FANTASTIC in supporting me through this … including, Rent Control, Code Enforcement and the City Attorney’s office)
And on May 31, 2020, thanks to rampant mismanagement of ample resources, I witnessed a literal riot in my backyard. And for the first time, I felt abject fear in the place that I live and call home.

I know that many of you can relate to the feeling of fear that day.

This recent 6% rent increases induces more fear in our community, especially among the more vulnerable among us. And it can’t continue.

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Packet Pg. 1084 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 13 Santa Monica City Councilmembers, as our representatives, I’m asking you to step up and protect the rights of our community at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D by:
• Placing on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • Supporting the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Rejecting the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Speak up, stand up and vote for the right things for Santa Monica residents.

PS: SHAME ON YOU, Phil Brock … SHAME ON YOU.

Cheers,
Laura Ferretti
————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Tim Roller <[email protected]>
Subject: Rent Increase
Date: July 25, 2022 at 6:48:21 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers,
I have just received notice from my unit owner that my rent has increased by 6% as of this September, which is very much unsustainable for me. Please help by supporting the adjusted caps on rent for our city. I value being a part of the Santa Monica community for the past 16 years but this is a very large increase which is not reflected in my salary. I am already working multiple jobs and am not sure what to sacrifice here.

At your meeting on July 26thregarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D I urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50.

I have live at this address for 17 years
Thank you,
Tim Roller
837 1/2 Cedar St
Santa Monica, CA 90405
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Packet Pg. 1085 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 14 Sent from my iPhone
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Begin forwarded message:

From: R S <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 6:46:45 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11- D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling lowincome renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Hello Councilmembers,
Please lower the GAC.

I’m a responsible Santa Monica renter but it can be very challenging with a very limited income and health issues. This GAC 6% is unreasonable and I and those in similar circumstances should not have to pay the price of greed.

Thank you
————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Liz Bell <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 6:16:56 PM PDT
To: [email protected], Gleam Davis <[email protected]>, [email protected], Sue Himmelrich <[email protected]>, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, SMRR - Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights <[email protected]>
Dear Council, I wrote before about this 6% increase, asking you to please find a way to help those of us on fixed incomes and living off retirement. My income certainly hasn’t increased 6% and our landlord puts in minimal maintenance (oh, he did replace sprinklers). I’m forwarding this message from SMRR as it contains my basic message. Please act to protect us. Our rent increase will be $140. We’ve lived in SM for 13 years, and our increase has never been about 2%. Thankyou very much.

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Packet Pg. 1086 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 15 Liz Bell
1434 18th St.
[email protected]
310-977-2463
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and,
• Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! ————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Mary Hardy <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 6:06:46 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11- D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling lowincome renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sincerely,
Mary Hardy
Long-term Tenant
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Packet Pg. 1087 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 16 Begin forwarded message:

From: Gregory Smith <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 5:50:10 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11- D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling lowincome renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! ————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Lynn Sullivan Goss <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 5:48:50 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11- D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling lowincome renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! I am retired from a 40 year career at UCLA SM.

I have an apartment that is rent controlled. If not for that, I would not be able to afford to pay rent.

Please don’t support the 6% hike. I will not be able to continue to be in my beloved community in the Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1088 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 17 future.

Being retired and on a fixed income does not afford me much choices.

Thank you,
Lynn
Sent from my iPhone
Lynn Sullivan Goss
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Begin forwarded message:

From: Sonya Sultan <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 5:21:30 PM PDT
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11- D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling lowincome renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sincerely,
Sonya Fox Sultan
Sent from my iPhone
————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Nancy Carlson <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 5:15:47 PM PDT
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1089 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 18 "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>

Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to: • Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling lowincome renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!

Sincerely,
Nancy Carlson
2120 4th St. #8
Santa Monica, Ca
90405
————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Gloria Albert <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 5:04:51 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11- D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling lowincome renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
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Packet Pg. 1090 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 19 ————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Cathie Gentile <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 5:00:01 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11- D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling lowincome renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! ————
Begin forwarded message:

From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 4:43:43 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] To Santa MonicaCity Councilmembers,
I have lived in an apartment in Santa Monica for many years. Turning 65 this year is a crossroad in my personal income. The traditionally modest increases in Santa Monica rents have enable me to live a stable life. Please limit the rent increases in our city for low income renters. This will provide continued stability for all renters in Santa Monica.

Thank you for your hard work to protect Santa Monicans in our greatest time of need.

With respect,
Judy Nielson
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11- D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1091 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 20 providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling lowincome renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from Jude Nielson
————
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Packet Pg. 1092 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 21 Vernice Hankins
From: Rebecca kapsis <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 6:48 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1093 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 22 Vernice Hankins
From: christine M bruton <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:07 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thanks,
Christine
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1094 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 23 Vernice Hankins
From: Jana Emhardt <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:11 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• DO NOT place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• DO NOT support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐ controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • DO NOT support the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

I object to the constant attack on the landlords/owners of multi‐unit residential dwellings without attacking all other businesses in the City of Santa Monica and especially new multi‐unit residential units built after 1979. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents, Santa Monica landlords/owners, and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
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Packet Pg. 1095 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 24 Vernice Hankins
From: Joan Sekler <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:18 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
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Packet Pg. 1096 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Carly S <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:20 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Hello Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Carly Schrider
Santa Monica resident
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1097 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:19 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1098 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Bijan Khajebag <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:19 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
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Packet Pg. 1099 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: lovejazz <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:19 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1100 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 Vernice Hankins
From: Molly Marcot <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:18 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

I have been a Santa Monica resident for 10 years at the same apartment. I will need to move if you choose to increase.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sincerely,
Molly Marcot
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1101 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Alyson Albano <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:29 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Alyson Albano, LMFT, CCTP, PMH‐C
MFC#53325
*Certified Clinical Telemental Health Provider (CTMH)
1452 26th St. Suite 104
Santa Monica, 90404
310.861.7564
e) [email protected] c) 310.861.7564
*Sent from my iPhone
Please excuse typos
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication is intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Unless you are the addressee, you may not use, copy, or disclose to anyone this message or any information contained in this message. If you have received this message in error, please advise the sender immediately by return email and delete the email.

Thank you.

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Packet Pg. 1102 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Santa Monica office 104 <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:28 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
Please excuse typos
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1103 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Alyson Stack, M.S., LMFT <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:28 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Alyson Albano, LMFT, CCTP, PMH‐C
MFC#53325
*Certified Clinical Telemental Health Provider (CTMH)
1452 26th St. Suite 104
Santa Monica, 90404
e) [email protected] c) 310.861.7564
*Sent from my iPhone
Please excuse typos
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication is intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Unless you are the addressee, you may not use, copy, or disclose to anyone this message or any information contained in this message. If you have received this message in error, please advise the sender immediately by return email and delete the email.

Thank you.

Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1104 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: Alyson (Stack) Albano <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:28 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Alyson Albano, LMFT, CCTP, PMH‐C
MFC#53325
*Certified Clinical Telemental Health Provider (CTMH)
1452 26th St. Suite 104
Santa Monica, 90404
e) [email protected] c) 310.861.7564
*Sent from my iPhone
Please excuse typos
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication is intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Unless you are the addressee, you may not use, copy, or disclose to anyone this message or any information contained in this message. If you have received this message in error, please advise the sender immediately by return email and delete the email.

Thank you.

Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1105 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 Vernice Hankins
From: Robin Garcia <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:23 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1106 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 2:09 AM
To: Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete
Cc: Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: SMRR Comments on Item 11 D
Attachments: Letter to SMCC July 26 CC mtg(4) re GA Cap(2).pdf; 6.26.22 SMRR letter to council regarding GAand rent subsidy issues(1).pdf; SMRR Proposed Revision to Staff Proposed New Section 1805(a)(4) of the City Charter(2).pdf

EXTERNAL
July 25, 2022
Santa Monica City Councilmembers,
SMRR previously urged Council, if legally permissible, to limit rent increases to 3% by ordinance from September through the effective date of the proposed Charter Amendment lowering the GA cap from 6% to 3%. We still prefer that course, though your staff has not brought forward a proposal to that effect.

Assuming there is no lawful way to avoid the regrettable 6% increase in Maximum Allowable Rent from September 1 to the effective date of the Charter Amendment, we believe there are steps you can take to reduce the overall impact of this increase for Santa Monica rent-controlled tenants.

At your meeting Tuesday July 26th, we urge you to accomplish each of the following:

1. Place a Charter Amendment on the November 8 Santa Monica ballot that:
1a. For the short term, provides for a General Adjustment Cap of 2% starting on January 1, 2023, continuing to September 1, 2023, with an absolute dollar cap of $50.

This would roll the 6% GA back to 2% for the remainder of the year, providing tenants with a rent reduction of about 4% on January 1, 2023. Over the year the average increase in the MAR will be a little over 3%.

Further, the Charter Amendment we propose should also:
1b. Replace for the long run the objectionable 6% Cap on the Annual General Adjustment with a 3% Cap starting on September 1, 2023.

We attach hereto draft language that would accomplish both of these goals.

2. In addition, please follow through on the proposed creation of a program to provide financial support for lower income or other tenants who experience significant hardship as a result of the temporary 6% General Adjustment on Maximum Allowable rents. It is especially important to protect tenants who face real or threatened evictions during that period. Please also impose an eviction moratorium protecting these same renters until the new Charter Amendment takes effect:

3. We urge you as well to include in the Charter Amendment the requests submitted by the Rent Control Board providing for a registry for non-controlled rental units, changing owner-occupancy eviction rules and setting term limits at three terms.

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Packet Pg. 1107 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 4. We further urge you to vote NO on Councilmember Phil Brock's proposed alternative Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) measure.

Councilmember Brock’s stated purpose in proposing this measure is simply, on behalf of the handful of very wealthy property owners who might pay an increased real estate transfer tax, to create a gimmick to defeat the SMRRsupported voter initiative that had gathered over 10,000 signatures from Santa Monicans and has qualified for the November ballot. Any legitimate need for additional general fund revenues can and should be met through submitting some other non-competing tax measure to the voters.

Last week the City released a report that showed that over the past ten years, if the SMRR measure had been in effect, on average less than thirty sales would have been taxed each year, about 3% of all sales. Overwhelmingly (85%) of these sales would have been of apartment buildings and commercial buildings. Only 15% of the taxed sales would have been single family homes – and in the latest year those homes would have sold for an average of $18 M.

It is fair and equitable to ask those who have gained such wealth simply because their property values have soared by virtue of their presence in our community to pay a tax on their real estate bounty to help struggling Santa Monicans as well as our schools.

SMRR’s June 26, 2022 letter addressing these issues in more detail also is attached for your convenience.

Denny Zane Mike Soloff
Co-Chair, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Co-Chair, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Denny Zane
310-570-5870
[email protected]
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Packet Pg. 1108 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) June 26, 2022
Dear Santa Monica City Councilmembers:

SMRR urges the City Council to take three actions in response to this crisis:

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1109 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment)

3. Withdraw or reject the proposal of Councilmember Brock to place on the November 2022 ballot his transfer tax measure, which does not provide even one penny for ongoing or emergency rent subsidy programs, and instead support the citizens’ initiative signed by more than 10,000 Santa Monica residents that will provide an estimated $10 million to $20 million in annual funding for ongoing and emergency rent subsidy programs as needed.

A detailed explanation of both the current crisis and SMRR’s proposed solutions follows.

The GA is subject to an absolute cap of no more than 6%, and the Rent Control Board (“the RCB”) has discretion to impose an additional absolute dollar cap calculated in the manner prescribed in the Charter.
1 This formula for calculation of the GA was approved by Santa Monica voters in 2012. At that time Santa Monica’s 6% cap was lower than the cap in other California cities with comparable rent control laws.
2 As everyone is painfully aware, inflation now is at a 40 year high due to a combination of the effects of the COVID pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As a result, the CPI used in the 2022 GA calculation rose 8.5%. Under the existing Charter provisions, this means that the GA rent increase effective September 1, 2022 for each rent-controlled household in Santa Monica will be the lesser of 6% of the current monthly rent, or $140 per month (the absolute dollar cap calculated in the manner prescribed by the Charter, and adopted by the RCB at its June 9, 2022 meeting).

This level of increase in monthly rent, on top of the more broadly-based inflation, would not be fair, nor equitable, nor appropriate for Santa Monica’s rent-controlled tenants. The looming 6% rent increase presents a crisis for any rent-controlled household at this time when gasoline prices have climbed over 40%, and grocery prices have risen over 10%. But the looming 6% rent increase presents an absolute dire emergency for the 9500+ Santa Monica renter households that are both lower income and already identified by HUD as housing cost burdened (i.e., paying more than 30% of their limited income for rent and utilities), and most especially for the 6500+ such households already identified by HUD as severely housing cost burdened because they already pay more than half their limited income for rent and utilities:
1 See Santa Monica Charter Section 1805.
2 See, e.g., June 28, 2012 RCB Staff Report entitled “Proposed Change to the Rent Control Charter Amendment Relating to Calculating the Annual General Adjustment and Allowing for a Dollar-Amount Ceiling” at 3-4 (lowest GA cap among Berkeley, East Palo Alto, Los Angeles, San Francisco and West Hollywood was 7%).

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Packet Pg. 1110 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) (Source: HUD Community Housing Assessment Data for Santa Monica City. Lower Income households are those earning 80% or less of the HUD Area Median Family Income (HAMFI).) Nor is a 6% rent increase generally necessary to assure the constitutionally mandated fair return to landlords. The GA system was developed at a time when Santa Monica had vacancy control; that is, rents did not reset to the current market rates even when an old tenant vacated the apartment and a new tenant moved in. The GA system assured that landlords continued to earn a fair return despite vacancy control.

As of 1999, however, the State (through the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act) imposed a vacancy decontrol system on Santa Monica whereby the rent in each apartment reset to market every time an old tenant vacated and a new tenant moved in. As a result, more than 73% of the rent-controlled apartments in the City have reset to market rent levels at least once since 1999, 3 and many have reset multiple times (a trend that is accelerating). 4 Indeed, among rent controlled
properties consisting of 4-15 units (the size of property which makes up 90% of all rentcontrolled properties), 90% have had more than half of their units reset to market at least once since 1999, and 98% have had at least one unit reset.5
Given the foregoing, as well as the steep upward trend in Santa Monica rents since 1999, most landlords already receive far more than the rent necessary to assure the constitutionally mandated fair return on their investment. This is illustrated by the following table from page 17 of the 2021 RCB annual report which shows that the median rents on those rent-controlled apartments that have reset to market at least once are more than double the rents on comparable apartments that only have had GA adjustments (which already are generally sufficient to assure a fair return to the landlord):
3 See 2021 RCB Annual Report at 11-12 & Fig. 3.
4 For example, the RCB’s 2019 Annual Report—the last annual report prior to the COVID-19 pandemic—advises that sixty-five percent of the tenants who moved into rent-controlled units in 2015 already had moved out four years later. That same report also advises that of the tenancies that began in 2019, 46 percent replaced tenants who had moved in during the prior three years and that “[t]his is a higher percentage than had vacated in the three years prior to 2018, suggesting the pace at which recent tenants vacate is increasing.” See 2019 RCB Annual Report at 20. 5 See 2021 RCB Annual Report at 13 & Fig. 6.

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Packet Pg. 1111 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) II. SMRR’S PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
The current unfair and unnecessary rent-increase crisis threatens the very purpose for which the voters enshrined rent control in the Santa Monica City Charter: “so that rents will not be increased unreasonably and so that landlords will receive no more than a fair return.”6 The RCB concluded that the Charter gives it no power to deviate from the GA provisions set forth in Section 1805, and therefore it cannot avert this crisis. 7 The City Council therefore must act.

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Packet Pg. 1112 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI for All Urban Consumers, 12-Month Percent Change, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. The GA as currently calculated would exceed 3% only when the annual CPI change as of March reported here exceeded 4%.)
Thus, a 3% cap only limits the GA in extraordinary times (just as the floor of 0% protects landlords from a reduction in rent in extraordinary times, such as occurred in 2009 when 75% of CPI equaled a decrease of 0.75%). Such a limit to protect rent-controlled households is proper given that (1) vacancy decontrol more than makes up for any occasional limit on the GA due to the cap, thereby generally assuring landlords of their constitutionally mandated fair return, and (2) to the extent that an occasional individual landlord requires a greater increase to assure a fair return, it has the right to file a rent increase petition with the RCB.

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1113 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) (as well as the Maximum Allowable Rent for purposes of future application of the Santa Monica Rent Control Law).
8 If legally permissible, the ballot measure also should provide for refunds to tenants of all amounts collected in excess of the 3% cap for the period from September 1, 2022 through the effective date of the new cap. The City Attorney needs to provide advice to the City Council on this issue, but we note that factors that could favor the legality of such a provision include (1) the importance of the public policy of protecting renters from unreasonable and unnecessary rent increases—particularly in this time of high inflation (caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic), with the lingering other economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the massive numbers of rent burdened lower income tenants in the City, (2) the minimal impact on landlords (i.e., nothing more than a return of rent above a 3% increase that at most could have been collected for a few months), and (3) the lack of reasonable reliance by landlords in light of their knowledge prior to September 1, 2022, that a provision ordering a refund of rent increases above 3% will appear on the November 2022 ballot.

The City Attorney needs to provide advice to the City Council on this issue. We note the following.

Second, the RCB—the agency charged with enforcement of the Santa Monica Rent Control Law—has determined that the law does not provide it with the power to determine a generally applicable rent increase other than pursuant to the formulas set forth in Charter Section 1805, 9 8 This is the approach taken by the Legislature when it adopted AB 1482. See California Civil Code § 1947.12(h)(2)(A).
9 See June 9, 2022 RCB Report entitled “Public hearing on proposed Charter amendment to give the Board discretion to suspend rent increases during a declared emergency” at 2.

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Packet Pg. 1114 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) and therefore that the RCB has no power to consider whether a lower rent increase is generally necessary and/or appropriate in these extraordinary times in order to advance the general health and welfare and/or the overall purposes of the Santa Monica Rent Control Law. Given that the RCB lacks this police power, the Charter expressly provides that this police power remains with the City Council: (1) Section 400 of the Charter provides that “[t]he City shall have the power to make and enforce all laws and regulations in respect to municipal affairs, subject only to such restrictions and limitations as may be provided in this Charter and in the Constitution of the State of California,” and that “[t]he enumeration in this Charter of any particular power shall not be held to be exclusive of or any limitation upon, this general grant of power,” and (2) Section 605 of the Charter provides that “[a]ll powers of the City shall be vested in the City Council, subject to the provisions of this Charter and to the Constitution of the State of California.” Third, because the RCB has determined that it lacks this police power, exercise of this police power by the City Council does not constitute interference with the RCB’s exercise of its powers and duties under the Santa Monica Rent Control law within the meaning of Section 1802 of the Charter. Moreover, because the proposed ordinance would expressly allow landlords to charge more than the current maximum allowable rent plus 3% if the RCB determines that an individual adjustment is proper, the proposed ordinance would not constitute interference with the powers and duties of the RCB to make individual adjustments when warranted.

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Packet Pg. 1115 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) Even with adoption of the first two SMRR proposals, rent-controlled households will face a 3% increase in rent starting on September 1. While far better than a 6% increase, even this 3% increase will be larger than any other GA increase during the preceding decade, and will be twice the average GA increase during the previous ten years:
(Source: July 28, 2021 RCB Fact Sheet on Registration Fees and Surcharges.) Even before the crisis posed by the pending 6% rent increase, the need for the City to fund emergency and ongoing rent subsidy programs to help keep our rent-burdened lower-income neighbors in their homes with dignity was obvious. Unless the City is prepared to turn its back on its most vulnerable residents—including many elders, children, and persons facing physical and/or mental challenges—it must find the resources to fund emergency and ongoing rent subsidy programs. Otherwise, Santa Monica will lose its soul and become an economicallygated community, a Beverly Hills by the Sea.

Inexplicably, Councilmember Brock has proposed that the City Council put a competing transfer tax measure on the November ballot in an openly stated effort to defeat the citizens’ initiative.

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1116 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) does not provide even one penny for ongoing or emergency rent subsidy (or for any of the other programs designed to maintain an economically inclusive Santa Monica).

Thank you for considering SMRR’s views on this critical issue.

Sincerely,
Denny Zane Mike Soloff
Co-Chair, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Co-Chair, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1117 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) July 25, 2022
RE: Agenda Item 11-D, 7-26-22
Santa Monica City Councilmembers:

SMRR previously urged Council, if legally permissible, to limit rent increases to 3% by ordinance from September through the effective date of the proposed Charter Amendment lowering the GA cap from 6% to 3%. We still prefer that course, though your staff has not brought forward a proposal to that effect.

At your meeting Tuesday July 26th, we urge you to accomplish each of the following:

Further, the Charter Amendment we propose should also:
1b. Replace for the long run the objectionable 6% Cap on the Annual General Adjustment with a 3% Cap starting on September 1, 2023.

We attach hereto draft language that would accomplish both of these goals.

3. We urge you as well to include in the Charter Amendment the requests submitted by the Rent Control Board providing for a registry for non-controlled rental units, changing owneroccupancy eviction rules and setting term limits at three terms.

4. We further urge you to vote NO on Councilmember Phil Brock's proposed alternative Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) measure.

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Packet Pg. 1118 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) Councilmember Brock’s stated purpose in proposing this measure is simply, on behalf of the handful of very wealthy property owners who might pay an increased real estate transfer tax, to create a gimmick to defeat the SMRR-supported voter initiative that gathered over 10,000 signatures from Santa Monicans and has qualified for the November ballot. Any legitimate need for additional general fund revenues can and should be met through submitting some other noncompeting tax measure to the voters.

It is fair and equitable to ask those who have gained such wealth simply because their property values have soared by virtue of their presence in our community to help struggling Santa Monicans and our schools.

SMRR’s June 26, 2022 letter addressing these issues in more detail also is attached for your convenience.

Sincerely,
Denny Zane Mike Soloff
Co-Chair, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Co-Chair, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1119 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) July 25, 2022
Santa Monica City Councilmembers,
SMRR previously urged Council, if legally permissible, to limit rent increases to 3% by ordinance from September through the effective date of the proposed Charter Amendment lowering the GA cap from 6% to 3%. We still prefer that course, though your staff has not brought forward a proposal to that effect.

At your meeting Tuesday July 26th, we urge you to accomplish each of the following:

Further, the Charter Amendment we propose should also:
1b. Replace for the long run the objectionable 6% Cap on the Annual General Adjustment with a 3% Cap starting on September 1, 2023.

We attach hereto draft language that would accomplish both of these goals.

4. We further urge you to vote NO on Councilmember Phil Brock's proposed alternative Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) measure.

Councilmember Brock’s stated purpose in proposing this measure is simply, on behalf of the handful of very wealthy property owners who might pay an increased real estate transfer tax, to create a gimmick to defeat the SMRR-supported voter initiative that gathered over 10,000 signatures from Santa Monicans and has qualified for the November ballot. Any legitimate need for additional general fund revenues can and should be met through submitting some other non-competing tax measure to the voters.

Overwhelmingly (85%) of these sales would have been of apartment buildings and commercial buildings.

Only 15% of the taxed sales would have been single family homes – and in the latest year those homes would have sold for an average of $18 M.

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Packet Pg. 1120 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) It is fair and equitable to ask those who have gained such wealth simply because their property values have soared by virtue of their presence in our community to help struggling Santa Monicans and our schools.

SMRR’s June 26, 2022 letter addressing these issues in more detail also is attached for your convenience.

Denny Zane Mike Soloff
Co-Chair, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Co-Chair, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1121 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment)

SMRR PROPOSED REVISION TO STAFF PROPOSED NEW CITY CHARTER SECTION 1805(a)(4):

Redline
Commencing on January 1, 2023, the general adjustment during the period from January 1, 2023 through August 31, 2023, shall be threetwo percent (32%) of the maximum allowable rent (MAR) in effect as of August 31, 2022, with a maximum dollar amount limit of seventyfifty dollars ($7050) (collectively, the “Adjusted GA”). Absent an individual adjustment, the MAR during this eight month transition period shall be the MAR in effect as of August 31, 2022 plus the Adjusted GA. Notwithstanding the Board’s June 2022 announcement of the 2022 general adjustment, the Adjusted GA shall be the general adjustment by which the MAR is calculated for purposes of future general adjustmentsthe MAR for any period after August 31, 2023 shall be calculated pursuant to this Section 1805 as if the General Adjustment for the entire period from September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 had been three (3) percent, with a maximum dollar amount limit of seventy dollars ($70).

Clean
Commencing on January 1, 2023, the general adjustment during the period from January 1, 2023 through August 31, 2023, shall be two percent (2%) of the maximum allowable rent (MAR) in effect as of August 31, 2022, with a maximum dollar amount limit of fifty dollars ($50) (collectively, the “Adjusted GA”). Absent an individual adjustment, the MAR during this eight month transition period shall be the MAR in effect as of August 31, 2022 plus the Adjusted GA. Notwithstanding the Board’s June 2022 announcement of the 2022 general adjustment, the MAR for any period after August 31, 2023 shall be calculated pursuant to this Section 1805 as if the General Adjustment for the entire period from September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 had been three (3) percent, with a maximum dollar amount limit of seventy dollars ($70).

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Packet Pg. 1122 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment)

SMRR PROPOSED REVISION TO STAFF PROPOSED NEW CITY CHARTER SECTION 1805(a)(4):

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Packet Pg. 1123 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Sue Brent <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:39 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented auto matic downlo ad o f this picture from the Internet.

Virus-free. www.avg.com
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Packet Pg. 1124 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Dianna Linden <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:39 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
I’m 75. On social security. I need you to continue to put a kibosh on rampant profiteering on the part of Brock & his real estate brokers & developer cabal.

They only care about their ever increasing profits. Not a whit about the diversity that is the heart & soul of this city.

We residents need you to do the right thing & stand up for a diverse community including lower income brackets like myself.

Please┭┮┯┰
Dianna Linden
California Ave.
90403
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Dianna Linden
[email protected]
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1125 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Larry Lawson <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:35 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

As a senior whose fixed income is increasing more slowly than inflation generally and much more slowly than inflation in essentials such as food, gasoline, and Medicare premiums, recurrent rapid rent increases would force me out of my home in Santa Monica. Please cap this and future rental increase rates to 3%.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
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Packet Pg. 1126 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: Denise Coso <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:36 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!

Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1127 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 Vernice Hankins
From: Lori Weinhouse <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:36 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Lori সহ঺঻
Lori Weinhouse
821 3rd Street, #202
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Home (Land): 310-451-2468
Cell) 310-890-9135
[email protected]
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Packet Pg. 1128 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 6 Vernice Hankins
From: Mike Randle <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:29 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Mike Randle
3222 Santa Monica Blvd
Apt 13
Santa Monica CA 90404
Texted with loving kindness
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Packet Pg. 1129 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: ELP Consulting <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:50 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Trine C Jensen
Sent from my iPhone
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1130 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Garret Reynolds <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:49 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! $140 a month May not seem like a lot to many of you, but with rent closing in on 60% of my take home pay, it will feel absolutely crushing to me and my family. And I have it easier than a lot of my neighbors who are taking care of larger families. We must protect renters.

Thank you,
Garret Reynolds
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1131 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Jennifer Van Goethem <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:48 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
A 6% rent increase in the middle if rising inflation is a cruel and tone deaf move. Rents only move one way. Please don’t inflict this damage on out community.

Jennifer. Wilshire and 11th
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my shoephone.

Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1132 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:47 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members,
PLEASE PLEASE heed the suggestions below and keep Santa Monica a livable city with fair rents!! Covid has been extremely trying, as is inflation, currently. I went yesterday to the store to buy groceries and it was $250 for three bags—My budget is so limited and rents are already high.

SM’s tenants need a livable city‐‐It’s in your power to make it so and to fairly represent Santa Monicans!!!!!! It should not be that only rich, nor White, nor the 1% of people live here, but also low‐income, seniors, a fair representation of our populace, all of whom have the right to enjoy Santa Monica.

Elizabeth Segal, Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1133 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 Vernice Hankins
From: L Hammer <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:41 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1134 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 6 Vernice Hankins
From: Jack <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:40 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
I am a senior living in a rent control apartment since 1987. I am on a very limited fixed income and the proposed rent increase will make it very difficult for me to survive. Please vote to NOT have this bill passed.

John J Forster
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1135 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Kim Fox <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:01 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1136 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Carly Graner <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:02 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
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Packet Pg. 1137 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Jane Pannor <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:59 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
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Packet Pg. 1138 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: Adam Boucher <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:54 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
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Packet Pg. 1139 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 Vernice Hankins
From: Marisa Alsalam <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 7:50 AM
To: Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; [email protected]; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; Sue Himmelrich Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
I have struggled so much with my landlord raising my rent every year. It’s hard to even believe I am in a rent controlled property! I just re‐signed my lease with the 4% increase which was hard for me to swallow. Just this morning I received another notice from my landlord that the rent is going up another $140 on top of that because of property taxes. It doesn’t even feel like we are in a rent controlled property! PLEASE amend this adjustment cap. Please! ‐‐
Marisa Alsalam
206.724.1631
Item 11.D
07/26/22
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Packet Pg. 1140 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:16 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
Steve Berman
Item 11.D
07/26/22
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11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1141 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Annie Azzariti <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:08 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
I am a rent control renter and there is a important and essential reason for the rate to be 3% as if it is raised, many of us will have to move and you will have a community of mostly white, relatively rich/upper class individuals. The Beverly Hills of the Beach…that’s what Santa Monica will become….I don’t believe that is what you want.

The principles of Social Justice are Inclusion, Diversity and Equanimity….those qualities which make SM a unique community of Artists, Business people, Teachers, et al….will cease to exist….Please consider what you want SM to represent…
Thank you,
Annie
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
157 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1142 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Arin Babaian <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:07 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Arin
Item 11.D
07/26/22
158 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1143 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: Liza Pasciuto <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:07 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! sent from my iphone
Item 11.D
07/26/22
159 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1144 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 Vernice Hankins
From: Katie Holland <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:04 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Cc: Katie Holland
Subject: SMRR

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
 Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
 In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and,  Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! My husband are 74 and we are retired. We can't afford the 6% increase in our rent. Please consider low income seniors like us who are already struggling to pay our bills including rent. Dorothy Holland and Van Holland.

Item 11.D
07/26/22
160 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1145 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 6 Vernice Hankins
From: Aaron Fortin <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:04 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Help us in this time of need….Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Please help us during these stressful times. No one should be seeing an increase in rent when we have struggled the past three years and a recession is looming large. We need our leaders help now more than ever. Please don’t let us down day at the meeting.

Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
161 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1146 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Donna Hackney <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:47 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Donna Hackney
1017 2nd Street
Apt. 301
Santa Monica,CA 90403
310‐741‐9603
Item 11.D
07/26/22
162 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1147 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Mews Small <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:45 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Vote no!
Thank you,
Mews Small ❣
Item 11.D
07/26/22
163 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1148 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Irene Miracle <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:43 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
164 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1149 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: Sandy Szabo <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:37 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Best Regards
Sandy Szabo
Item 11.D
07/26/22
165 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1150 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 Vernice Hankins
From: caitlin stamm <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:31 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! I live at 1145 11th Street, Apt D, Santa Monica CA 90403 and have been here for over 3 years.

The pandemic hit me extremely hard as a group fitness instructor. I am still getting back on my feet with debt I acquired during my time without a job. I had planned on moving in with my boyfriend who lived on 12th street to alleviate the burden of rent but he tragically passed in September of last year. My rent was already raised the last year almost $100.

If raised another $100 I may have to move. I do not have the money to move. I have no savings for a deposit. I have no idea where I would go. I urge you to help those of us who have lived in Santa Monica before the pandemic hit, before rents skyrocketed, and before crime and homelessness climbed to an uncomfortable rate.

Regards,
Caitlin Stamm
Item 11.D
07/26/22
166 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1151 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 6 Vernice Hankins
From: Jennifer Hackney <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:30 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Jennifer Hackney
Item 11.D
07/26/22
167 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1152 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 7 Vernice Hankins
From: Lisa Lewenberg <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:27 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
Item 11.D
07/26/22
168 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1153 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 8 Vernice Hankins
From: Jill Tenney <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:27 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
Item 11.D
07/26/22
169 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1154 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 9 Vernice Hankins
From: Bill Tocantins <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:22 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council Members,
Please DO NOT allow the larger increase and reject the developer backed measure proposed by Phil Brock.

I had a successful beverage business before Covid. However when bars and restaurants everywhere closed, I lost 75% of my business.

Recovery is very difficult.

Thank you,
Bill
Perfect Beverage LLC
Elixir G Ginger Mix
310‐319‐6236
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
170 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1155 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: P G <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:16 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
171 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1156 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: scott&konni eggers <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:14 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
Item 11.D
07/26/22
172 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1157 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Jillian Quinn <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:11 AM
To: Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; [email protected]; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; Sue Himmelrich Subject: My story - Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Hello ‐
We ask you to please cap the rent increase to $50 and no more than 3%. We have a newborn baby and daycare is so expensive in Santa Monica ‐ $2,500/month. My husband and I both work to sustain our expenses and daycare is the only option. Our rent is already $3600/month for a 2 bedroom. We cannot afford another $140 per month in fixed costs with this rent increase. Our landlord is already demanding the increased rent for September. Please urgently consider the below.

Thank you,
Jillian
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
Item 11.D
07/26/22
173 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1158 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: Barbara Neiman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:55 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! I am 75 years old and a 6% rent raise is a real hardship for me. Please do what is right!! Barbara Neiman, MAOM
11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90025
m: 310.699.0953
DRE 00638638
Item 11.D
07/26/22
174 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1159 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Jeff Wood <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:30 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
175 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1160 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Lili Mancini <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:26 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Liliana Mancini
Sent from my iPhone
Item 11.D
07/26/22
176 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1161 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Matt Klein <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:26 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
177 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1162 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: Rev. Jim Conn <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:25 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! JIM
Rev. Jim Conn
230 Pacific St #108
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310/392-5056
Associations:

CLUE - A Founding Member: www.cluejustice.org
Climate Action Santa Monica - Advisory Board
Asset Based Community Development: www.abcdinstitute.org/ United Methodist Minister - Retired: www.calpacUMC.org
Former Council Member and Mayor of Santa Monica
Item 11.D
07/26/22
178 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1163 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 Vernice Hankins
From: Andy MacBride <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:19 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]; Robin Audrey Flint MacBride Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Adding our support for this initiative — Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
 Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
 In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and,  Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Andy & Robin MacBride
2546 Kansas Ave #209
Item 11.D
07/26/22
179 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1164 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 6 Vernice Hankins
From: Jeff Scrivner <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:18 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! In order to keep Santa Monica diverse we need to cap rent increases to 3%. Do not fall prey to Councilmember Phil Brock as he is apparently only in it for the landlords. Thank you for your service and consideration.

Item 11.D
07/26/22
180 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1165 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Sarah Fortin <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:11 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! We have lived in our rent control apartment in Santa Monica for almost 12 years and are very thankful to live in a safe, clean neighborhood. Our rent control allows us to stay and work in Los Angeles and we truly love our neighborhood. We are both hard working adults and with the inflation skyrocketing it would be challenging for us to afford living here without rent control.

The last couple of years with the pandemic and the state of the world have been tough enough to deal with without our rent going up considerably as well.

Thank you for your consideration and please keep Santa Monica available to everyone ‐ not just the extremely rich.

Item 11.D
07/26/22
181 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1166 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Anjuli Kronheim Katz <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:54 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Anjuli Kronheim Katz
Former Housing Commissioner, Santa Monica
Item 11.D
07/26/22
182 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1167 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Cara Garfield <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:38 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Hello,
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you!
Cara
Item 11.D
07/26/22
183 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1168 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: Edward Blackoff <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:34 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
184 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1169 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 Vernice Hankins
From: Travis Reynolds <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 9:30 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
185 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1170 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Weston Rowland <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:17 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
take the actions listed below
Santa Monica has too few housing units. Rent control is the only way I can afford to live in Santa Monica. The Citys
antidevelopment policies from 1970 to 2015 have
handsomely rewarded landowners by exponentially increasing the value of their investment. Those same policies have made the cost of living in the City unserviceable for the middle class. Having a 3% cap is the only way that City can compensate renters for 45 years of policy that generated wealth for the wealthy and took wealth away from the middle class who are not able to afford
the mortgages that are required to live in the City.
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
186 of 277 Item 11.D
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11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1171 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: robert shapiro <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:16 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from Mail for Windows
Item 11.D
07/26/22
187 of 277 Item 11.D
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11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1172 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Robin Sherry <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:14 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; SMRR - Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! On a personal note, I am deeply disappointed after watching the City Council meeting two weeks ago. I am a 39 year, low income, disabled senior. I, along with other long term renters will be greatly impacted by even a 3% increase every year. My SS has and I don't expect to get those kinds of raises. I receive EBT as well as a small amount of POD. Many long term renters are not eligible for POD.Due to the cost of food, I go through my EBT every month, I am barely surviving as it is now.

I have been a volunteer on the SMRR hotline for the past seven years. I don't believe there are many "mom and pop" landlords left. What I believe after speaking to tenants over the years, landlords have sold their buildings to corporations or they. are run by property management companies. My point is that many more residents will be impacted by the increases in rent.

I have come to the conclusion that Santa Monica is too rich for me. I have decided that I no longer want to live here and plan on moving as soon as I can. I don't feel safe walking on the streets. I have been harassed, chased, followed and verbally abused. I take BBB and the majority of drivers are rude to passengers, especially seniors. There is no enforcement of masks when there is still a mandate for transportation.

I was born in Los Angeles, I never thought I would leave.I am looking forward to finding a community that puts its residents first vs tourism.

Thank you.

Robin Sherry ‐ No more fight left in me.

The Shores

Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1173 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Janet Carter <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:19 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and,• Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! With application,
Janet D Carter
2803 Kansas Ave
Santa Monica CA 90404
329‐467‐4494
Sent from my iPhone
Item 11.D
07/26/22
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11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1174 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Holli Omori <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:18 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Holli Omori
Item 11.D
07/26/22
190 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1175 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Maralee Grant <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:26 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Maralee Grantham Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
191 of 277 Item 11.D
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11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1176 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: Katie <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:29 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
I am a single woman, working a career position at UCLA Santa Monica Hospital and I’m beginning to get priced out of living in the city and community I’ve devoted my professional life to caring for. Being a rent controlled renter is the only way I can afford to live here, but a 6% increase would begin to make me struggle again. The idea of aging and struggling more and more to afford housing is not quite the American dream I was hoping to live out. Please please protect renters!
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
192 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1177 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Ryan Grossman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:34 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D.

Small landlords have been extremely hurt by the current situations. Covid, inflation, rising labor costs, rising water costs, and the limits rent control and the government with recent moratoriums have put on small landlords is prohibitive to running a successful business.

To limit our abilities to attempt to keep pace with inflation and costs of running our small businesses is a burden on top of a burden.

Many of us rely on this for our own housing needs.

Please consider our desire to provide the best quality living for our residents and the costs of doing that.

Maybe a provision for owners that live on property or owners that have five or less units.

But in all honesty it should the way it was announced and should continue to be held at somewhat of a standard of ability to live and perform as a quality landlord.

Thank you for your time,
Ryan Grossman
310.739.7679
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1178 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Lisa Cherry <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:32 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! I’m a senior citizen with a limited income. Rent Control is supposed to protect the renters not railroad us!! I can’t believe we even have to have this come up!
Please do right by us renters who have NO OTHER OPTIONS AND CANNOT AFFORD TO MOVE OR LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE.

Sincerely,
Lisa Cherry
Sent from my iPhone
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1179 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Ross W. Prout <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:41 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
195 of 277 Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1180 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: naomi troeger <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:55 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!

Please, we need your help wit this issue.

In these economic times, I guarantee you — that tenants will suffer greatly from this great (top 6%) rent increase — and will continue to suffer each year.

And the landlords — investors ‐‐ will just continue to pocket more money. Their excess will not be passed on for building maintenance, by all indications.

Our present management Co — Ave5 Management — has neglected regular building safety and health maintenance — since they have taken over.

They had been hired in Jan 2018 (by investors) in order to save money. And this has had its ongoing negative consequences — for tenants.

Just google Better Business Bureau Comments about this company. This management is sub par — and continues to harass various residents as well.

In addition, there had been a $50 additional increase in 1994 — to financially help landlords with earthquake repairs.

We had been informed at the time — that this $50 increase would remain for !0 yrs only. But it had remained — since then.

And it continues to be calculated into the yearly increases — now multiplying to much greater than $50. And onward.

I remain on a fixed income.

And although I remain an ‘excellent’ tenant — I have had to contact Rent Control numerous times because of serious issues. And even the City Attorney’s office.

There have been ongoing issues of safety, maintenance — and harassment. Also numerous ‘management errors’ — ongoing — for me.

Much appreciation for consideration in this matter.

Naomi Troeger
(310)394‐4119
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1181 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Diane Olson <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 11:01 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
197 of 277 Item 11.D
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11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1182 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: J. Worthen <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 11:18 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Hello,
Thank you for your public service.

Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to: • Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
Thanks from a 23 year resident of Santa Monica,
John Worthen
2341 Ocean Park Blvd #5
Item 11.D
07/26/22
198 of 277 Item 11.D
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11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1183 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 11:14 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
Gerald Katz I am a renter who has lived in Santa Monica for 23 years.

Item 11.D
07/26/22
199 of 277 Item 11.D
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11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1184 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: SM Renters Rights <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 11:07 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fwd: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Begin forwarded message:

From: Jonathan Woodward <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:16:06 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! I have lived in Santa Monica since 2010. My fiancé and I have been in our current residence on Ocean Park since 2014.

We love this town. And we are struggling to remain here. We are both actors and work service/retail jobs here in Santa Monica; North Italia on second and Apple on third street promenade. We live, essentially, paycheck to paycheck, on the margins, on the edge. We pay an absurd $1206.00 / month for 333 sq feet. We don’t complain. We make the best of it.

But, in this neo Gilded Age of exponentially increasing inequality exasperated by unprecedented inflation, the struggle is real. We already deal with an unresponsive and unsympathetic management company, rising incidence in our neighborhood involving dangerous and mentally‐unstable unhoused individuals, and encroaching “luxury” development.

To say that every cent counts is an understatement. And any unwarranted, unjustified, and unnecessary increase of rent or free pass for the ultra wealthy are moral failings.

Be human.

Do the right thing.

Help us and all those like us.

We are the fabric of this community, not the landlords who live far‐off elsewhere, not the transient rich blowing through on the winds of profit.

Thank you.

Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1185 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 PS It’d be great if the council could look into the Pavilions Motel on Ocean Park, a blight and danger to our neighborhood well known to EMS and SMPD, and the strain it places on valuable city resources and the community at large.

Sincerely,
Jonathan D Woodward
[email protected]
——————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Mort Haaz <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:13:10 PM PDT
To: [email protected],[email protected],[email protected], [email protected],[email protected],
[email protected],[email protected],[email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
 Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
 In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and,  Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! I have written before and I again urge you to do the right thing for the long term renters who struggle with inflation and the increases in rent and have only Social Security for income. The landlords are ultimately gaining so much more through the property value increases. Please support the little guys and not the already rich.

Mort Haaz
1115 25th Street, Apartment E
Santa Monica 90403
310‐829‐5148
—————
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1186 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 5 Begin forwarded message:

From: Shawn Leis <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:18:14 PM PDT
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! I am a 5+year resident of Santa Monica, and want to stay permanently. Any rent increases will vastly jeopardize my ability to live here. The apartment I live in is rent controlled and I can barely afford it. My neighbors are in the same boat, and they have kids in schools in Santa Monica.

Please do the right thing, and keep hard working families and individuals in their homes.

Thank You
Sean Leis
Sent from my iPhone
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Phil Day <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:26:49 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Item 11.D
07/26/22
202 of 277 Item 11.D
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11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1187 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 6 Dear Sirs and Madams
Please, Santa Monica City Council members, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and,
• Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Best regards
Philip
Philip Day
921 10th St.

Santa Monica
CA 90403
[email protected]
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Begin forwarded message:

From: Israel Valdivia <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:27:12 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
Item 11.D
07/26/22
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11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1188 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 7 —————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Sys Tkl <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:30:00 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!

Hi,
My name is Esayeas Tekle. I ve lived in a rent controlled apt for 22yrs before recently moving out to a NOT controlled apt because of growing family size. It's currently reasonably priced @$2,200 for 1bd but that's still over half of our household income.

Every year passes by, we anticipate rent biting bigger chunks of income at any rate let alone 3+%. At some point, leaving SM for good ll be the answer unless we somehow luck out with a rent controlled apt ‐ which we are on the City's list at the moment.

Capping the rate and funding the housing/school initiatives wisely is the sensible way to insure affordability for the rent burdened, working community of all backgrounds. Please weigh the pros/cons of this action, and take a fair measure. I believe what's proposed is no‐brainer, common sense measures. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Esayeas T
2100 Delaware Ave #B
—————
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1189 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 8 Begin forwarded message:

From: Pollyanna Jacobs <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:34:52 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Pollyanna Jacobs
310.384.5122
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Frances Burns <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:36:48 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, Item 11.D
07/26/22
205 of 277 Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1190 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 9 • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Frances A. Burns
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: ALAN DOWLING <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:38:27 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Alan G. Dowling
Alison J. Ross
—————
Begin forwarded message:

Item 11.D
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206 of 277 Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1191 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 10 From: Benjamin Mower <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:39:11 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Hello SM City Council.

I am a resident of Sunset Park and I love being a Santa Monica citizen. My wife and I had a child during the pandemic so times have become tighter. I urge you to consider the following.

Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! —————
Begin forwarded message:

From: M S <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:39:49 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1192 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 11 and seniors from homelessness.

I couldn’t afford to live in Santa Monica weren’t for the limited increases up to 3%. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Mary
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: bano965 <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:45:56 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Paul Slansky <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:46:33 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Item 11.D
07/26/22
208 of 277 Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1193 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 12 Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! This kind of rent increase at this time is unconscionable. —————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Nancy Simon Cooper <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:50:47 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! It is u heard of that what is consider a city that is “rent comtroled” should have an increase of 6%. It is actually the council is putting people who have lived in Santa Monica for years and consider it their home to move because they can no longer afford it. Please consider what you are doing Thank you
Nancy Simon Cooper
220 San Vincete Blvd
Item 11.D
07/26/22
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Packet Pg. 1194 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 13 Apt 501
Santa Monica, California 90402
Nancy Simon Cooper
179 East Lake Shore Drive
Apt. 23w
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Cell: 312.213.3040
Fax: 312.664.6206
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Jack Hillbrand <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 1:59:26 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Jack and Susan Hillbrand
1323 18th Street, Unit D
Santa Monica, CA 90404
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Pamela Grenman <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Item 11.D
07/26/22
210 of 277 Item 11.D
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11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1195 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 14 Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:00:05 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to: • Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! I already got a notice from my bldg owner for the 6% rent increase starting in September. This puts an additional strain on my finances as a septuagenarian senior citizen. Please do all you can to place on the November ballot an amendment to lower the cap from 6% to 3% as well as the other above supports and rejections.

Thank You!
Pam Grenman
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Meehna Goldsmith <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:03:32 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
I’m not sure how doubling the rate of increase of rent control is helpful to keeping people housed. Rentals are already through the roof and people, myself included, are struggling to make up ground from the pandemic.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Meehna Goldsmith
Mobile: 310 210 8226
—————
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1196 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 15 Begin forwarded message:

From: <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:09:41 PM PDT
To: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]> Dear Santa Monica City Councilmembers,
My family and I have lived in Santa Monica since 1971 and this would not be possible if it weren’t for Rent Control’s low increases over the years.

At your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! With respect and appreciation,
Jessica Valdivia
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Kurt Gonska <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:12:30 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, I moved into my current rent controlled apartment in 2019. Since my unit was reset to market rate relatively recently, a 6% increase would increase my rent to more than what my landlord could get from a new tenant if I moved out of my apartment! • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
212 of 277 Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1197 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 16 –
Kurt Gonska
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Alicia Vance <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:15:25 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D, I strongly support the following:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50 • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents!

—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Joan Sekler <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:19:10 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
213 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1198 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 17 Sent from my iPhone
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Lisa Cherry <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:20:04 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Please I’m begging you to look out for us renters! Not any other agenda! We are in desperate need for advocacy! It feels as though we aren’t a consideration now. It’s your JOB!! Please do right by us!! I am a senior citizen on limited income and obviously can NOT afford to move nor would I even wish to. Please help us!! Sincerely,
Lisa Cherry
Sent from my iPhone
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:20:44 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for Item 11.D
07/26/22
214 of 277 Item 11.D
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11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1199 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 18 non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

It’s been hard for all of us these last few years but especially the seniors and lower income workers, some who have gone through their savings like me, and can not afford Ca the 6% increase in rent.

Please help save our community.

And, Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Kristin Burcham <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:29:50 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Not all who live in our beautiful city are wealthy—I’m a public school teacher & my husband is retired (earlier than planned or desired)—but we love Santa Monica & are active members of the community. Please look out for us and all of those who do not have the luxury of an endless safety net. Thank you.

Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to: • Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐ income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! 
Sent from my iPhone
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Russell Good <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:30:39 PM PDT
Item 11.D
07/26/22
215 of 277 Item 11.D
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11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1200 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 19 To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, my wife and I have been renters at the same address since 1988, we are now retired and living on fixed income at the same address (1438 10th St apt. 4)so please, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Russell Good
Sent from my iPhone
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:35:07 PM PDT
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected]
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to: • Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
Gerald Katz I am a 23 year resident renter in Santa Monica. cost of living increases have already made paying the rent a hardship.
—————
Item 11.D
07/26/22
216 of 277 Item 11.D
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11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1201 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 20 Begin forwarded message:

From: Jackie Simons <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:35:16 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
I am writing to urge all Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11- B and 11-D,
• to place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• to support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • and to please, reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you
Jackie Simons
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Susie Dantzig <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:38:38 PM PDT
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! It's not hard to do the right thing.

Thank you,
Susie
—————
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Packet Pg. 1202 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 21 Begin forwarded message:

From: Chelsea Candelaria <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:39:27 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Best,
Chelsea Candelaria
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Ann <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 2:49:09 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
—————
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Packet Pg. 1203 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 22 Begin forwarded message:

From: Sue Brent <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 3:25:53 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! —————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Amanda Moulin-Cortes <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 3:46:04 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Personal Story:

Hello,
My name is Amanda Moulin-Cortes. My husband and I are both born and raised 3rd generation Angelenos. While we both embrace progress and change, it’s been disappointing to see changes made at the expense of long-time residents.

Between COVID, family loss, and job loss in the past year, its an absolute insult to feel as though the city is growing more and more elitist each year without granting better protections for tenants. I guarantee you my apartment has no better amenities than it did 10 years ago.

Please do the right thing. Stop displacing entire communities through mounting rent increases. An additional $140 increase a month might not mean much to some, but to others it’s the difference between paying the gas bill, having hot water, paying the light bill, or paying for an urgent care visit for those who are uninsured.

Santa Monica is not just home to investors, tech bros, and influencers.

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1204 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 23 meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Amanda Moulin-Cortes
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: Geoff Keith <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 3:47:40 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers,
At your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D I urge you to:

1. Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50.

2. Please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for noncontrolled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and,

3. Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Regards,
G. Keith
632 Ocean Park Blvd #4
Santa Monica, CA 90405
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: ROBERT SCHUMACHER <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 3:59:23 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Thanks Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1205 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 24 • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thanks
Sent from my iPhone
—————
Begin forwarded message:

From: ELAINE THAU <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 4:12:02 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to: • Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developerbacked Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
————
Begin forwarded message:

From: [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Date: July 25, 2022 at 4:17:22 PM PDT
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected]
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to: • Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
—————
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Packet Pg. 1206 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 25 Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1207 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 26 Vernice Hankins
From: Doug McCoy <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 11:06 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
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Packet Pg. 1208 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Tammy Ryan <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 11:31 AM
To: Phil Brock; Kristin McCowan; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Sue Himmelrich; councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; Tammy Ryan Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Councilmembers:

I'm writing to implore you to implement the following agenda items,11‐B and 11‐D, at your Council meeting this evening:

• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money
to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

I had the absolute pleasure of championing my hometown while employed at Santa Monica Travel & Tourism up until March 2020. As the Council is painfully aware, like thousands of others within the hospitality industry, the pandemic cost me livelihood. I was fortunate to have some savings and assistance from family members to survive for the next two and a half years. But even so, I made numerous sacrifices to stay afloat ‐ cutting every utility possible, maxing out credit cards for healthcare, ultimately driving myself into debt.

I have been very fortunate to have found full time employment here in Santa Monica. However, I am still existing paycheck to paycheck, as I climb my way back to fiscal stability. I was already concerned about how I'd be able to stay here in Santa Monica knowing that the regular rent increase will arrive in September. Now with the outrageous new increase I will not be able to stay here in Santa Monica. I just cannot afford another $1700.00 a year in rent, when gas is Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1209 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 six dollars a gallon, and grocery prices continue to skyrocket. While I understand that landlords have taken a hit as well, they'll be able to write those new costs off on their income tax. I will not.

Should you choose not to cap these increases, it will make for a sad statement on the value you place on your longtime residents. It will only take a couple of years for the fabric of the city to change, in ways that do not reflect the values of this beautiful city by the sea.

Thank you for your time, attention, and thoughtfulness on this matter.

Best,
Tammy Ryan
Santa Monica, CA
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Packet Pg. 1210 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: City of Santa Monica
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 11:47 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Fw: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! To submit a 311 request, please email: [email protected] or call (866) 311-7266 City of Santa Monica
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-8411
From: temple mathews <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2022 11:46 AM
To: City of Santa Monica <[email protected]>
Subject: Items 11‐B and 11‐D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to: • Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for noncontrolled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
07/26/22
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Packet Pg. 1211 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Francesca McCaffery <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 11:47 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City: I have lived and worked n Santa a monica for over 20 years. I have an elderly mother whom I support…Councilmembers, at your meeting today on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you so much,
Francesca McCaffery
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1212 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Ronnie <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 11:50 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Ronald Schnetke
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1213 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Jonathan Woodward <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 11:53 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Jon Woodward Kirby

SAGAFTRA
323.896.7801
[email protected]
https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/jonwoodwardkirby
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Packet Pg. 1214 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Glenn D. <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 11:59 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica proud resident for 28 years where I raise my family and spend my money on local businesses. Thank you! Glenn Darby
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1215 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: J Jurenka <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:31 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 11.D.

EXTERNAL
Does the Board plan on placing a cap on what my service providers can charge me for repair and maintenance of the rental units that I provide my renters? Joan Jurenka Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1216 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Wynne Wallace <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:38 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Item # 11.D

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council:

Please HELP Santa Monica!
Reduce the Maximum Allowable Rent Increase!
Reduce the 2022 General Adjustment Based on the New 3% Cap‐Effective January 1, 2023!
Grant the City’s Rent Control Board Sole Authority to Freeze or Limit Rent Increases Duringa Declared State of Emergency!
People are suffering now, so
m
e not working, gas and food on the rise, covid
cases rising again.

We don’t need more homeless people on the street!
Thank you!
‐ To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.

Agent Name
To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.

To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.

To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.

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Packet Pg. 1217 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) July 26, 2022
Santa Monica City Council
c/o City Clerk
1685 Main St., Room 250
Santa Monica, CA 90401
RE: Agenda Item 11-D (Adoption of Resolutions for Proposed Ballot Measures on the November 8, 2022 Election Amending Articles XVIII and XXIII of the City Charter) Dear Hon. Councilmembers,
Earlier this month, I wrote to you to urge you to support the Rent Control Board’s proposed charter amendments, and I urged you to place those matters on the ballot. A copy of that letter is attached here as Exhibit A. I hope you will take this opportunity to reconsider your previous direction and place all of the Board’s recommended charter amendments on the ballot.

All of the proposed amendments that were presented to you on July 12 are common-sense reforms that were carefully formulated by subject-matter experts through an extensive deliberative process. This City Council should not second-guess the elected subject-matter experts who sit on the Rent Control Board and the Board’s expert staff.

I would also like to take this opportunity to urge you to adopt a 3% cap on the general adjustment, rather than the 4% cap that was discussed at the last meeting. I have known many renters here in the Pico neighborhood who have a food budget of less than $20 per day. An extra 1% increase in the annual adjustment for a $2,000/month apartment (which will compound annually) represents one day’s worth of food that will need to be sacrificed. I am not aware of any landlords in Santa Monica who are struggling to put food on the table.

Finally, it is important to remember that tenants who pay $2,400 or more per month in rent are not getting an unfair windfall by having their adjustment capped at $140. Empirical evidence shows that tenants in high-cost apartments do not make more money on average. Instead, they are paying a much higher proportion of their disposable income to rent. For many people, the $140 annual adjustment will consume 15-20% or more of their remaining disposable income after paying rent.

Best,
Ellis Raskin
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Packet Pg. 1218 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) EXHIBIT A:

July 12, 2022 Letter to City Council
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Packet Pg. 1219 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) July 12, 2022
Santa Monica City Council
c/o City Clerk
1685 Main St., Room 250
Santa Monica, CA 90401
RE: Agenda Item 11-B (Adoption of Resolutions for Proposed Ballot Measures on the November 8, 2022 Election Amending Articles XVIII and XXIII of the City Charter) Dear Hon. Councilmembers,
Yesterday, I sent you a letter regarding Agenda Item 11-A, which highlighted the ongoing eviction and gentrification crisis in the Pico Neighborhood. I called attention to the fact that many of my neighbors are barely hanging on, and some are paying as much as 60-75% of their income on rent. In that letter, I urged you all to vote against placing the proposed Comprehensive Real Property Transfer Tax Measure on the ballot, as it will risk blocking crucial antigentrification and anti-displacement funds that would be generated by the Homelessness Prevention, Affordable Housing, and Schools measure (which has now qualified for the ballot; see Agenda Item 11-D).

Today, I urge you to support the Charter amendments that have been proposed under Agenda Item 11-B and place those matters on the ballot.1 These Charter amendments will provide critical legal pathways for protecting vulnerable renters, and they will help ensure that the Rent Control Board is given the tools it needs to enforce tenant protection measures that stop gentrification and displacement.

Many Pico Neighborhood residents (and residents of other neighborhoods) simply cannot afford the 6% adjustment for rent-controlled units. I applaud the efforts of the Rent Control Board to advocate for all options to lower the annual adjustment, and I hope that this City Council will use all available legal powers to lower the annual adjustment to 3%. I hope you will support the growing chorus of resident voices who are calling for a Charter amendment that will give the Rent Board greater flexibility in adopting annual adjustments.

I have spoken to many community members who have often had to sacrifice meals, healthcare, or other essentials to pay for their rent. This year’s 6% adjustment will force residents to make even more sacrifices, and for some it will simply make their rents completely unaffordable.

Please take action now before any more City residents are pushed out of their homes.

Best,
Ellis Raskin
1 Alternatively, the City Council can approve the first reading of an ordinance to establish a rent registry for Non-rent-controlled Rental Units. I urge you to approve that ordinance now to save the public expense of placing the item on the ballot.

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Packet Pg. 1220 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 125
125
____________________________________________________________________________________ ______
Writer’s Direct Line 323 801-7966
July 26, 2022

VIA E-MAIL
Mayor and City Council
City of Santa Monica
1685 Main Street, Room 209
Santa Monica, CA 90401
RE: Comments on Agenda Item 11.D.--City Council Report for City Council Meeting on July 26, 2022 Re: Adoption of Resolutions for Proposed Ballot Measures on the November 8, 2022 Election Amending Article XVIII of the City Charter (“City Council Report”).

Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers:

I am writing on behalf of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (“LAFLA”) at the written request of Mayor Sue Himmelrich on July 21, 2022, to provide the Council input on Agenda Item 11.D.

LAFLA is a nonprofit law firm that protects and advances the rights of the most underserved – leveling the play field and ensuring equal access to the justice system. For over 90 years, LAFLA has provided free civil legal services, helping approximately 100,000 low-income people in civil legal matters each year throughout Los Angeles County. LAFLA has been funded by the City of Santa Monica for over 25 years to provide comprehensive eviction prevention services, among other legal services to Santa Monica residents. We also have a Right to Counsel Program funded through the City Attorney’s Office. Our Santa Monica office focuses a great deal of our resources on preventing homelessness by providing legal assistance to low-income households facing eviction, so we are intimately familiar with the eviction process and the impacts it has on families.

LAFLA appreciates the actions that the City has taken over many years to support the work our agency does for low-income renters in this City. As a result of the City’s support of LAFLA; the city’s model comprehensive tenant protection laws; the COVID19 moratoria and homeless prevention funds provided to needy Santa Monica renters, we have been able to prevent many City’s residents from losing their homes and falling into homelessness.

Specifically, the Mayor has requested that LAFLA provide comments to the Council, addressing the following topics: (1) the effect the pandemic has had on our vulnerable housing clients since the expiration of the State rent relief program; (2) how the 6 percent Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Santa Monica Office
1640 5th Street, Suite 124
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: (310) 899-6200
Fax: (310) 899-6208
www.lafla.org
Other Office Locations:

Ron Olson Justice Center, 1550 W. 8th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 East Los Angeles, 5301 Whittier Blvd., 4th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90022 Long Beach, 601 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, CA 90802
South Los Angeles, 7000 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90003 Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1221 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment)

LAFLA COMMENTS
July 26, 2022
2 General Adjustment is likely to impact extremely low income Santa Monica rentcontrolled tenants; (3) how to prevent evictions should the 6 percent increase take effect on September 1, 2022; (4) steps that the City could take to prevent loss of tenancies in this inflationary climate; and (5) any programs we may recommend to prevent evictions during the transition period (from September) pending the results of a proposed ballot measure that would lower the GA from 6 percent to 3 percent, as proposed by the Rent Control Board and city staff in the City Council Report.

The effect of the pandemic on our vulnerable housing clients LAFLA’s ability to protect these most vulnerable city residents from falling into homelessness due to inability to pay rent was feasible during the pandemic because there were numerous COVID-19 eviction protections at the state and local (County and Santa Monica) levels between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022 as well as up to 18 months of rent relief through Housing is Key as well as local homeless prevention funding.1 However, state protections and funding suddenly ended March 31, 2022, so tenants who could not pay rent for April-June were unprotected.2 Most tenants were unaware that they had no protection for April rent, nor any available funds from the state program. We saw numerous Santa Monica tenants who had not financially recovered from the pandemic and/or who did not know that protections and emergency funding had ceased, received three-day notices for April-June rent.

We referred the majority of these tenants to the City’s Community Services Department (CSD), and many were, thankfully, assisted with homeless prevention funds to the extend the landlords were willing to accept the rent after expiration of the three-day notice period. We have, however, had cases where the landlords refused to accept funding from the City after the expirations of the three-day notices. Attachment “A” includes examples of cases LAFLA handled regarding rent owed during this period.

Although Los Angeles County currently has a moratorium in effect on non-payment of rent due to Covid-19 providing a tenant is under 80 percent of AMI and provides notice to her landlord within 7 days of the rent due date (with an exception for “extenuating circumstances”), a motion is pending at the Board of Supervisors to repeal or modify that protection. If it is repealed before the end of the year, the most vulnerable Santa Monica residents will be faced with eviction and the eviction avalanche will imminently occur absent intervention. Even if this protection is not repealed before the end of December, at that point, we will see a major increase in evictions beginning January 2023. 1 State laws on eviction cases were amended during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide protections for residential tenants. These laws provided protections for tenants who were given an eviction notice because they were unable to pay their rent or other charges between March 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022, due to COVID-19-related financial distress.
2 Although, many tenants had not exhausted their 18 months of rent relief, application for Emergency Rental Assistance through Housing is Key were halted on March 31, 2022. In January 2022, Los Angeles County passed a moratorium on non-payment of rent, but that protection was preempted by state law until July 1, 2022. Note that the Staff Report states incorrectly that the County Moratorium went into effect on June 1, 2022.

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Packet Pg. 1222 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment)

LAFLA COMMENTS
July 26, 2022
3 As of July 1, 2022, “[t]he rent relief program has paid 339,000 households an average of $11,000 totaling nearly $4 billion, according to the state’s public data dashboard.3 Although this is impressive, more than 135,000 people — or nearly a third of all households — who applied for rent relief had their applications rejected as of June 17, 2022 with these cryptic notices that don’t tell them why and without proper due process procedures in place for appeal.

Two lawsuits were filed against the State due to allegations that funding was improperly denied to qualifying tenants and isn’t covering the amount originally promised and a preliminary injunction was granted on July 14, 2022 that orders HCD to deny rental assistance to anyone who timely applied and from affirming a denial in any pending appeals.
4 However, these tenants who are still waiting for rent relief may be evicted for rent arrears from October 2021-May 31, 2022 if a lawsuit is filed after June 30, 2022 and the tenant cannot prove that the application was approved prior to being locked out of the premises.

We are already seeing evictions in this category and whether those tenants can retain their homes will entirely depend upon the timing of the pending lawsuit. We anticipate, the landlords will win the race to eviction in many of these cases as the eviction timeline is 4- 6 weeks and it is unclear when the lawsuit will be resolved on the merits.

For rent owed between April and June 2022, there are no eviction protections. Therefore, since April 1, 2022, we have seen an uptick in three-day notices to pay rent or quit and unlawful detainers due to the phasing out of state-wide COVID-19 eviction protections and rent relief. Also, as inflation persists, we have owners pressure long-term tenants to move, and the filing of frivolous evictions for non-rent reasons.

Owners are more aggressively trying to achieve vacancy de-control for the 23 percent of rent-controlled units that have never gone to market rate, especially as rents increase dramatically.5It is critical that the City preserve as much of the 23 percent as is possible because tenants residing in those affordable units will be unable to afford to stay (without a voucher or PODS) or to move to any other place in Santa Monica (other than an AHPP unit). “An income of nearly $110,000 would be needed for a 4-person household to afford a one-bedroom unit if rented at the median market rate, using the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s standard that a unit is affordable if it requires no more than 30 percent of a household’s income” 6
3 Cal Matters, “Thousands of Californians in limbo as eviction protections end,” July 1, 2022, updated July 20, 2022.
4 LAFLA is one of the law firms representing plaintiffs in this case: Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) Action Et Al. v. The California Department of Housing and Community Development, et al. 22CV012263, filed June 6, 2022.
5 Twenty-three percent of controlled units are occupied by tenants who moved in before 1999. See Summary of 2021 Annual Report: https://www.santamonica.gov/blog/santa-monica-rent-control-boardreleases-2021-annual-report 6 Summary of Santa Monica Rent Control board 2021 Annual Report available at:
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Packet Pg. 1223 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment)

LAFLA COMMENTS
July 26, 2022
4 The impact of the 6% General Adjustment on low-income rent-controlled tenants.

The 6% general adjustment scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2022, will, we fear, be disastrous for our most vulnerable clients, who are on fixed incomes. These clients are mostly elderly and/or disabled or are still experiencing COVID-19 related loss of income, and we are concerned that our ability to provide full scope representation in unlawful detainers will be strained further.

In my more than 30 years practicing law in this area, I have seen owners attempt to evict, and succeed in evicting, long-term rent-controlled tenants who are unable to pay the general adjustment. In one case that I will never forget, my client, an older woman, was being evicted over about a $24 general adjustment rent increase. She had no defenses.

She just did not have the money. I tried the case to the court and was confident that the judge would grant relief from forfeiture for hardship, thinking what judge would evict a tenant over $24? I was dead wrong, and the judge denied the motion. So, for those who think that a tenant cannot get evicted over what seems to be a trivial amount, think again.

Preventing evictions if the 6% increase takes effect on September 1, 2022; steps to prevent loss of tenancies during inflation; and recommended programs to prevent evictions during transition
The Staff Report, at page 8, states that the CSD will provide a means and methods to Council regarding providing Santa Monicans facing severe rent burdens due to the pandemic, household income, rising rents, disability, and, and/or other criteria with local homelessness prevention assistance, having $750,000 ARP dollars and possibly a 2.2M federal one-time funds.

LAFLA is, of course, in favor of using such funds for homelessness prevention not just for the extraordinary GA this year, but also for tenants who are rent-burdened and who reside in rent-controlled units.

LAFLA believes the city should investigate, and if legally permissible, pass an ordinance prohibiting a rent-controlled landlord from charging more than the current maximum allowable rent plus 3 percent during the period from September 1, 2022 through the proposed effective date of the Charter amendment (unless the landlord demonstrates through the petition process described in the Charter that it cannot earn the constitutionally mandated fair return absent a larger rent increase). That ordinance could convert the delayed rent increase amount to consumer debt to make the landlord whole, pending the outcome of the election.

If such an ordinance is not legally viable, there is financial need, no doubt, for tenants earning less than 80 percent of AMI, to bridge the rent gap until the measure can be voted on, and hopefully pass. The need is greater for those earning less than 50 percent of AMI and even greater for those earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

There are 27,484 units currently subject to rent control in Santa Monica and that will be affected by the 6 percent rent increase.7 As for the number of tenants in Santa Monica 7 See Note 7.

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Packet Pg. 1224 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment)

LAFLA COMMENTS
July 26, 2022
5 most vulnerable to the 6 percent increase, there are 9,560 tenants under 80 percent of AMI who are rent-burdened (paying 30 percent of income to rent). That is 79 percent of tenants below 80 percent AMI.
8 This is especially true given that gasoline prices have increased over 40 percent and grocery prices have increased over 10 percent.

The question is: How does the City administer the funds (presumably half of the 6 percent), so the most rent-burdened tenants receive the necessary money before the expiration of the inevitable three-day notice from the landlord? Historically, it has been very difficult, if not impossible, to obtain homeless prevention funds before the expiration of a three-day notice to pay or quit. It will take longer if the tenant’s income must be verified. If the rent is paid after the expiration, California law does not require the landlord to accept that money and the tenant will be evicted unless she has other defenses. California law now requires landlords to accept third party payments and source of income discrimination is prohibited. But those laws do not apply once a threeday notice has expired.9 In my experience, landlords of long-term rent-controlled tenants, the tenants most likely to need eviction prevention funding, are also the landlords least likely to agree to accept the funds after the three-day notice expires.

Thus, LAFLA suggests that any funding made available to tenants to reduce the burden of the upcoming GA, be provided those funds in advance of receiving a three-day notice.

This would require letting tenants know through a robust public information campaign to go to the City or a designated agency to request the funds as soon as the tenants receive notices of increase, which will, in most cases, be August 1 st
. Of concern is the fact that at
page 8 of the Staff Report, the means and methods plan will not be presented to the Council until later this summer, too late for advancing funds to tenants.

Those increase notices are prepared by the landlords on forms supplied by the Rent Board, and they are not filed with the Rent Board. One thought: Could the Rent Board send notices to rent-controlled tenants informing them of available funding? Another way to protect tenants facing the 6 percent GA increase, is to pass an emergency order as part of the Santa Monica Covid-19 Moratorium, which provides that there is an affirmative defense to an unlawful detainer based on non-payment of rent if the unlawful detainer is based on failure to pay the 6 percent increase. It would be simpler if this order covers all eviction cases involving Santa Monica rent-controlled units. The tenant would still owe the money but could have up to 12 months to pay it. We recommend selfcertification and that so long as the tenant gives notice to the landlord with the selfcertification at any time prior to trial, the tenant is protected from eviction.

To address tenants who are still experiencing COVID-19 loss of income, LAFLA is pleased with the availability of homeless prevention funds through the City. For those who are extremely rent-burdened, LAFLA suggests expanding the PODS program to cover all rent-controlled tenants at any age, who are severely rent-burdened. These residents have the least ability to withstand increases in the cost of basic necessities. 8 Source: HUD Community Housing Assessment Data for Santa Monica City. 9 One exception is disability, if a tenant with a disability needs as a reasonable accommodation to pay rent late, we can request that and not providing extra time to pay, may constitute disability discrimination Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1225 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment)

LAFLA COMMENTS
July 26, 2022
6 Conclusion
We, at LAFLA, appreciate the tenant protections and funding available to our lowincome clients. Without this commitment by the City, many of our clients would not be housed in Santa Monica today. We hope the ballot measure reducing the GA is passed by the voters and appreciate any efforts the City can make to prevent further loss of rentcontrolled long-term housing by providing interim relief to cost-burdened tenants who are about to receive notices of rent increase, effective September 1st.

Sincerely,
Denise McGranahan
Senior Attorney
Santa Monica Office
Cc:

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Packet Pg. 1226 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 EXHIBIT A

EXAMPLES OF LAFLA SANTA MONICA CLIENTS THREATENED WITH
EVICTION FROM APRIL-JUNE 2022
(ages, rents, dates have been changed)

1. Client 1 is a disabled 62 year-old Santa Monica resident since 2019. She had Covid and is unable to work. Her landlord filed a UD based on February and March rent and there is a rent relief application pending. We expect this case to be dismissed eventually, but looking ahead, Client 1 did not have rent for the unit where she is living for April, May, June, or July. She has a Section 8 voucher, which is not enough to allow her to stay where she is, but has not been able to find a place to use it. We referred her to Santa Monica for financial assistance, who referred her to St. Joseph’s Center, because the LA County Moratorium did not protect her for April, May or June rent. Back rent was paid, waiving 3 day notice that is the subject of the unlawful detainer case, which is still pending. Client 1 cannot afford to pay August rent and needs to stay where she is until she can locate a unit with her voucher.

2. Client 2, A 75 year-old woman, who has resided in Santa Monica since 2019, received a 3 day notice to pay rent or quit for April and May 2022. Client 2, like many of our clients, was under the misimpression that she could not be evicted for non-payment of rent under the LA County Moratorium for April-June, and I just informed her that that law is not in effect due to the passage of AB 2179, which preempts it. Client 2 has barely enough money to cover that rent, and won’t have enough for June. This is a temporary financial hardship. She is well-educated and expects that she will be able to earn enough money going forward to pay rent. She doesn’t want to be evicted from her home as the rent is $2,542 per month. We referred her to Santa Monica for financial assistance because the LA County Moratorium did not protect her for April, May or June rent.

3. Client 3, age 57, is African-American and has resided in a deed restricted below market unit I Santa Monica that rents for $900 per month. Client 3 is on short-term disability leave for depression and anxiety and hopes to return to work in 4-6 months. She is employed but because she has only been in her job for 1 ½ years, so she has no benefits and she is not eligible for unemployment or state disability. Her worker’s comp application was denied. She plans to go back to work as soon as she is able. She never applied for Covid-19 relief, but borrowed money to pay rent. She stated she could not afford to pay April rent. We referred her to Santa Monica for financial assistance because the LA County Moratorium did not protect her for April, May or June rent.

4. Client 4, age 66, received Covid-19 rent relief through March 2022 to assist with paying rent at her rent-controlled apartment in Santa Monica, where she had lived since 2004 with her disabled partner. She received a UD for April rent, which she could not pay.

She was unaware that the LA County Moratorium was preempted by CA law for AprilJune 2022. She had no choice but to agree to move out of her apartment. The best we could negotiate was August 15, 2022, but she and her partner have nowhere to go and may become homeless.

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Packet Pg. 1227 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 5. Client 5, age 40, is a long-term Santa Monica rent-controlled tenant. He lost business during the pandemic. He is approved for 14 months of rent relief and thought that he could receive financial assistance up to 18 months, covering April-July. He also understood that he could not be evicted for not paying rent beginning April 2022. He had to borrow money from family and is trying to come up with June rent, for which he received a 3 day pay or quit notice. The fact that he is protected from eviction through the LA County Moratorium beginning July, means he can probably retain his apartment.

6. Client 6 is a 62 year-old Santa Monica tenant who has resided in his apartment for 29 years. His rent is under $740 per month. He has had Covid 4 times. He cannot work full time because he has Long Covid and lung damage. He was approved for ERAP for December 2021-March 2022, but did not have money for April rent. We referred him to the City of Santa Monica to try to get a project based voucher in place at his home which is owned and operated by Community Corporation of Santa Monica. We also referred him to apply for State Disability and to the City of Santa Monica for homeless prevention funding because the LA County Moratorium did not protect him for April, May or June rent.

7. Client 7 is a single mother, who has lived at a Santa Monica Apartment since 2015. Her son is 9 years old and goes to school in Santa Monica. When Client 7 contacted us in May 2022, she owed three months’ rent at $2,239.30 for a total of $4,478.60 that she could not pay. Between rent relief and working, she managed to pay rent until March 2022. She was facing homelessness. We referred her to the City of Santa Monica for homeless prevention funds because the LA County Moratorium did not protect her for April, May or June rent.

8. Client 8 received 3-day pay or quit notice for January 2022 even though he had rent relief application pending with HIK. UD was filed. That case was resolved. Client 8 did not have money to pay rent for April-June and we referred him to Santa Monica for financial assistance because the LA County Moratorium was not in effect for this time period.

9. Client 9 is a 72 year-old man, who has resided with his wife in a Santa Monica rentcontrolled apartment since 1985. He applied for ERAP, through March 2022, which is pending. Landlord filed unlawful detainer anyway for rent for October-December 2022.

While the UD was pending payment of rent relief, landlord served a 3-day notice for him to remove his vehicle and property from the garage, which is a base amenity, apparently in retaliation for exercising his rights under AB 2179 to not be evicted for Covid-19 rent.

10. Client 10 is a 69 year old tenant in a deed restricted Santa Monica apartment. Client 9 received a 3 day notice to pay rent or quit in May 2020. Her business took a hit during Covid and she was unable to pay rent. She received 18 months of rent relief through March 2022. Her rent is $1,153 per month. She was surprised to learn that the LA County Moratorium did not protect her from eviction for April-June 2022. We advised her that if she doesn’t pay that rent, she will face an unlawful detainer.

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Packet Pg. 1228 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 11. Client 11 is a 31 year old, African-American man who moved to Santa Monica in August 2020. His rent is $3,250. Due to Covid, he lost his business. He is also a seasonal worker and when he is working he earns $23 per hour. He is waiting to go back to work. He received rental assistance until the end of March through Housing is Key. In June 2022, he received a 3 day notice to pay rent or quit for April and May. It expired. He does not have the funds and is now waiting for an unlawful detainer to be filed. We referred him to the City of Santa Monica for homeless prevention funds because the LA County Moratorium did not protect him for April, May or June rent.

12. Client 12 rented a Santa Monica apartment in October 2021 with wife and minor daughter. Monthly rent is $3,425. Client 12 was unable to pay full month of rent for May, and was short $1,410. UD was filed and a demurrer is pending based on a defective notice.

13. Client 13, a Santa Monica resident, received a - day notice to pay rent or quit for April 2022. She is suffering from long COVID and cannot maintain a job to pay the rent. In June, we referred Client 13 to Santa Monica for homeless prevention funds to cover ½ of April, May and June rent, which management agreed to accept.

14. Client 14 is an African American single father of a baby residing in a Santa Monica apartment since 2016. He was let go from his job during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and is trying to find a new job. His rent is $1,842.84 per month. In April 2022, he was unable to pay his rent and received a UD complaint for non-payment in May 2022.

We referred Client 14 to the City of Santa Monica for homeless prevention funds and assisted him in pro per with answer.

15. Client 15 is a Hispanic woman, age 45, with two minor children. Client 15 received a 3- day notice to pay rent or quit on June 4, 2022, demanding April-June. Rent is $1,630 per month for Santa Monica apartment. Client 15 and her two children, ages 11 and 15, moved to Santa Monica in November 2020. She has ERAP pending for NovemberMarch 2022. She was unable to pay the rent for April-June and not protected by any moratorium. We referred her to the City of Santa Monica for homeless prevention funds and she was referred to a social service agency. Landlord agreed to accept rent through a third party.

16. Client 16, age 44, is Asian and has a mental health disability. She resides in a Santa Monica rent-controlled apartment. She is unemployed, but applying for jobs. She received or was approved for ERAP through March 31st, but was unable to pay rent after March 31st 2022 for her studio apartment. Client 16 has a Section 8 voucher for a onebedroom unit but has been unable to find a place to rent. Landlord agreed to accept rent through a social service agency to get past rent covered. Ultimately, she decided to stay in the studio apartment with her voucher.

17. Client 17 is a 54-year-old single mother with two kids residing in Santa Monica. Her eldest child was recently accepted to college. On April 12, 2022, she received a 3 day notice to pay rent or quit. She was unaware that April rent was not covered by ERAP or Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1229 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 the LA County Moratorium. We connected her with the City of Santa Monica who referred her to a social service agency for employment and housing assistance for April and May rent.

18. Client 18 is a 57 year old Hispanic man who resides at a Santa Monica rent-controlled apartment at $1,907.70 per month. On June 8, 2022, he received a 3 day notice to pay rent or quit for April-June rent, unaware he wasn’t protected. We referred him to the City of Santa Monica for rental assistance. Even though the notice had expired, the City staff persuaded landlord to accept rental assistance. Client should be able to afford rent going forward.

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Packet Pg. 1230 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Craig Galloway <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 12:04 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

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Packet Pg. 1231 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Black Agenda-SM <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 12:13 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; [email protected]; [email protected]; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox Subject: 11 B 7 11D

EXTERNAL
Dear City Council,
We, The Santa Monica Black Agenda beseech council to act now to avert the 6% rent increase.. Our communities have been besieged in a triple pandemic. The pandemic of covid‐19, economic deficit ( due to inflation), and racism. We remind you that as you sit in your seats on the diocese that each of you are the voices for our communities. Please consider the voices of our disabled and elderly residents who showed up to the last council meeting to make the voices heard and the thousands of others who are unable to make it to council to tell their stories of financial hardship.

Consider the thousands of residents who have lost faith in council ! These community members are telling us that the council has ignored their critical input ! Your communities are CRYING OUT FOR RELIEF!!! HEAR US NOW!!! The council can restore the faith that the people that have elected you by listening to our cries for help. You can help us by doing the following;

1. Placing a ballot measure in the November election a charter amendment to lower the general cap to 3%.

2. FREEZE THE RENT until the November election.

3. Reject efforts to undermine the voices of over 10,000 Santa Monica residents supporting the citizens tax initiative.

PLEASE SAVE OUR COMMUNITY
Thank you,
The Santa Monica Black Agenda
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Packet Pg. 1232 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: CHRISTINA MONZER <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 1:12 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers,
At your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
‐ Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
‐ In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, ‐ Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Christina
____
Christina Sophia Monzer
Urban Planner – Design & Development
Master of Urban and Regional Planning
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
[email protected] | [email protected]
linkedin.com/in/csmonz
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Packet Pg. 1233 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Candice Phaneuf <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 1:04 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! I have lived in this apartment, in this wonderful city, for almost 40 years. I am now retired, and living on social security. I would not be able to afford another apartment in this city, or really, anywhere in LA county if I had to move. I would most likely have to move to another state.

Please think of us loyal long‐term Santa Monicans who live here, shop here, pay taxes here, and feel safe walking around our neighborhoods.

Thank you,
Candice Phaneuf
Sent from my iPad
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Packet Pg. 1234 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Lora Kaminsky <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 1:36 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1235 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Raymond <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 1:30 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Hello,
I am a retired Santa Monica Resident and a Renter.

Santa Monica City Councilmembers, please at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to: • Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
Respectfully,
Raymond Rakhshani
1221 Franklin Street #7
Santa Monica
CA. 90404
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Packet Pg. 1236 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Family Volmert-Underbrink <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 1:24 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Councilmembers,
My name is Carolyn Underbrink, and I am happy and privileged too have been a Santa Monica resident for the past 28 years thanks to rent control. I have married and raised my children, one of whom is disabled, in our same apartment home for the past 28 years. All my children have benefited from attending Santa Monica‘s excellent schools, which they continue to attend at Lincoln Middle School and SAMOHI. The general rent adjustment of 6% puts our family in great jeopardy of having to leave Santa Monica, my children’s only home. We are not sure if we can continue to make it financially here due to the rent increase. Please make it possible for moderate income families like ours to continue living in Santa Monica and to continue to attend SMMUSD‘s schools by taking the actions outlined below.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you so much!
Sincerely,
Carolyn Underbrink
1522 Harvard Street, #3
(310)488‐8438
Sent from my iPhone
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Packet Pg. 1237 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Mubaraka Mandviwala <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 1:58 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Please do not raise rent ‐ I am already struggling in SM with my current paycheck.

Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1238 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Margaret Ann Knowlton <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 2:25 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Agree with everything stated above and please do not support Councilmember Brock but do endorse the SMRR supported measure instead!
I am retired and live on a very small fixed income and need to budget carefully! This would seriously cut into my food budget; a big problem!
Thank you,
Margaret Knowlton
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Packet Pg. 1239 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Sabrina H <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 2:56 PM
To: Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; [email protected]; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; Sue Himmelrich Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

11.D.d
Packet Pg. 1240 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Arlyn Torres <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 4:04 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from my iPhone
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Packet Pg. 1241 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Lindsay Wilson <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 3:57 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1242 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Jake Dempsey <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 3:28 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: Urgent Action Requested Today: Rent Adjustment & Affordable Housing in Santa Monica

EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting today July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D I urge you to:
 Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
 In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and,  Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling lowincome renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sincerely,
‐‐
Jake Dempsey
928 4th St. #1
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310.237.3012
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Packet Pg. 1243 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 3:24 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

EXTERNAL
Please remember to support the renters who voted you in! Do not allow those who are elders and lower income to be displaced. Due to inflation, and all of the setbacks with Covid, many of us are just barely getting by. This percentage may not seem like much to you, but it's daunting to others. If anything, rents should be lowered and most certainly not increased. Please limit this increase.

Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non-controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer-backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low-income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
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Packet Pg. 1244 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: yusuf yildiz <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 4:52 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1245 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 2 Vernice Hankins
From: Alicia Mignano <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 4:26 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Thank you,
Alicia Mignano
Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1246 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 3 Vernice Hankins
From: Charles Fredricks <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 4:23 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: RE: agenda items 11-B & 11-D: Limit GA Cap to 3%, & reject Brock alternative RETT, support SMRR RETT

EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica Council members,
Regarding agenda items 11-B and 11-D we urge you to:
 Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
 In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and,  Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1247 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 4 Vernice Hankins
From: Frans Klinkenberg <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 4:13 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26!

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Item 11.D
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Packet Pg. 1248 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Alexandra Sundell <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 5:38 PM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50,
• In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness.

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! I've lived in my building for 19 years. This 6% increase is going to force me to leave SM since I can't afford anything at current prices and the rent increases have already pushed me to a tier that is very challenging BEFORE this increase.

Maybe I can get through this coming year, but the exponential future year increases all due to this one will DEFINITELY force me out.

Santa Monica won't be for everybody. It barely is now just due to rent control residents who've been here for years.

We'll all die off or be forced to move away and this will just be a city for the ultra‐rich.

No matter how many "affordable" units you add ‐ the wait list is so backlogged and the housing so limited that I'll be dead before I can move back and it's not fair or right.

Alexandra Sundell
90405
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Packet Pg. 1249 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Susie Sassoon <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 12:44 PM
To: Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; [email protected]; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; Sue Himmelrich Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Santa Monica City Councilmembers, at your meeting on July 26th regarding agenda items 11‐B and 11‐D we urge you to:
• Place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment to lower the General Adjustment Cap from 6% to 3% for the long term, but for the short term from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023, lower it to 2%, with an absolute dollar cap of $50, • In addition, please support the other Charter Amendment requests of the Rent Control Board providing a rent registry for non‐controlled rental units, setting term limits at three terms, and, • Reject the developer‐backed Real Estate Transfer Tax measure sponsored by Councilmember Phil Brock because its purpose is to try to undercut the citizens’ initiative and because it provides no money for affordable housing or any meaningful or guaranteed money to protect struggling low‐income renters and seniors from homelessness. Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today!
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Packet Pg. 1250 Attachment: Written Comments [Revision 1] (5280 : 4 Rent Control Ballot Measure Charter Amendment) 1 Vernice Hankins
From: Pradeep Thiyanaratnam <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:17 AM
To: Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems; [email protected]
Subject: Items 11-B and 11-D Protect Renters, Help Affordable Housing on July 26! Hello,
My name is Pradeep Thiyanaratnam, and I have been living in Santa Monica for 11 years and love living here. If it weren't for rent control, I could not afford living in Santa Monica, even though I hold an advanced degree(PhD) and work in the aerospace industry. There are many professional people living in Santa Monica who add a lot to the community, yet would not be able to live and contribute to the amazing culture of Santa Monica without rent control. Please support lowering the cap so that people like me can continue to live and contribute to this incredible city.

Santa Monica City CouncilJuly 26, 2022

Santa Monica City Council
July 26, 2022