Written Comments — Santa Monica City Council, July 26, 2022

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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
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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.

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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
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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
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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!
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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
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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!

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
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
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
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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
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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
Item 11.D
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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]

Item 11.D
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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
Item 11.D
07/26/22
46 of 277 Item 11.D
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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
Item 11.D
07/26/22
47 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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!

Item 11.D
07/26/22
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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
Item 11.D
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49 of 277 Item 11.D
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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
Item 11.D
07/26/22
50 of 277 Item 11.D
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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
Item 11.D
07/26/22
51 of 277 Item 11.D
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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
Item 11.D
07/26/22
52 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
Item 11.D
07/26/22
53 of 277 Item 11.D
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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!

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
54 of 277 Item 11.D
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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
07/26/22
55 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
Item 11.D
07/26/22
56 of 277 Item 11.D
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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
Item 11.D
07/26/22
57 of 277 Item 11.D
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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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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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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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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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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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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).

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.

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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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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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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:

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

Please do the right thing for Santa Monica residents and Santa Monica values today! Sent from Mail for Windows
Item 11.D
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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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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
————
Item 11.D
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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.
————
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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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
————
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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94 of 277 Item 11.D
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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
————
Begin forwarded message:

Item 11.D
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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
————
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.

Item 11.D
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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
————
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
————
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
Item 11.D
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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,
Item 11.D
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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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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
Item 11.D
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14 Sent from my iPhone
————
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.

Item 11.D
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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
———
Item 11.D
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102 of 277 Item 11.D
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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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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
————
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:

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
105 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
106 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
————
Item 11.D
07/26/22
107 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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!

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
108 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
109 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
110 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
Item 11.D
07/26/22
111 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
112 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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!

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
113 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
114 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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!

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
115 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
116 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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.

Item 11.D
07/26/22
117 of 277 Item 11.D
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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
07/26/22
118 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
119 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
120 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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!

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

Item 11.D
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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]
Item 11.D
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June 26, 2022
Dear Santa Monica City Councilmembers:

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

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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(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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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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(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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(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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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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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.

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

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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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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]
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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
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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!

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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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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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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
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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
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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.

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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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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!

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 so much for your help!
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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
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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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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
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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
153 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
154 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
155 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
156 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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!

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
188 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
189 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
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
07/26/22
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
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
07/26/22
193 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
194 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
196 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
200 of 277 Item 11.D
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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
07/26/22
201 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
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
203 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
204 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
206 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
207 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
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
209 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
211 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
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
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
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
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
07/26/22
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
—————
Item 11.D
07/26/22
217 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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
—————
Item 11.D
07/26/22
218 of 277 Item 11.D
07/26/22
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.

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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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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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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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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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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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
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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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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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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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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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230 of 277 Item 11.D
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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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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 During a Declared State of Emergency!
People are suffering now, some 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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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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EXHIBIT A:

July 12, 2022 Letter to City Council
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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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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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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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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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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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LAFLA COMMENTS
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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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LAFLA COMMENTS
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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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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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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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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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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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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!

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!
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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!

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!
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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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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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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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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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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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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
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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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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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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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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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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.

Thanks,
Pradeep Thiyanaratnam
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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266 of 277 Item 11.D
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2 Vernice Hankins
From: diane williams <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 10:05 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 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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APARTMENT ASSOCIATION OF GREATER LOS ANGELES
AAGLA
“Great Apartments Start Here!”
621 S. WESTMORELAND AVE., LOS ANGELES, CA 90005 | 213.384.4131 | AAGLA.ORG Danielle Leidner-Peretz
Director, Government Affairs &
External Relations
[email protected]
213.384.4131; Ext. 309
July 26, 2022
Via Electronic Mail
Hon. Mayor Sue Himmelrich, and
Members of the Santa Monica City Council
City Hall – Council Chambers
685 Main Street, Room 250
Santa Monica, California 90401
Re: Adoption of Resolutions for Proposed Ballot Measures on the November 8, 2022 Election Amending Article XVII of the City Charter (Agenda Item 11.D) Dear Hon. Mayor Himmelrich and Members of the Santa Monica City Council:

At tonight’s Santa Monica City Council meeting, the Council will consider advancement of several proposed measures to revise the City Charter Rent Control provisions for placement on the November 2022 ballot. These proposed amendments would significantly reduce the current annual general adjustment limit of 6% by half to a mere 3% and apply that drastic reduction not only to future annual general adjustments but also to the current 2022 general adjustments for owners who are prohibited from issuing a rent increase until after January 1, 2022. Moreover, the Council will be reconsidering a ballot measure that would provide the City’s Rent Control Board (RCB) with unilateral authority to suspend or reduce allowable rent increases during any declared state of emergency. The Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles (Association) is strongly opposed to all of the proposed ballot measures and strongly urges the City Council to reject their placement on the November 2022 ballot.

As stated in a recent letter submitted by the Association to the City Council, rental housing providers are already reeling from the financial impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, related government mandates and challenging rent collections over the last several years, and with many small business, “mom and pop” property owners already on the verge of selling or losing their property. This adverse financial situation has only been compounded by runaway inflationary pressures affecting the whole economy and a current inflation rate which is now at 9% or more. The loss of small business, “mom and pop” housing providers that furnish the bulk of the City’s naturally occurring affordable housing units, would be an enormous loss to the City and a potentially devastating reduction in much needed affordable housing.

Capping the Annual General Adjustment regardless of the current inflation rate is already extremely problematic but how can the City Council even consider cutting that cap by half, from 6% to 3%, thereby further guaranteeing that rental property owners cannot keep up with inflation? How would owners even ‘cover’ the very basic costs of operating and maintaining a building let alone meet the costs of their living expenses and basic needs? Moreover, the proposal would not only reduce future general adjustments, but Item 11.D
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APARTMENT ASSOCIATION OF GREATER LOS ANGELES
AAGLA
“Great Apartments Start Here!”
621 S. WESTMORELAND AVE., LOS ANGELES, CA 90005 | 213.384.4131 | AAGLA.ORG it would also apply the current 2022 general adjustment unequally to City residents, as rental housing providers who, based on the general adjustment parameters, are precluded from issuing a rent increase until after January 1, 2023. The City has provided no rational basis for the unequal application of the 2022 general adjustment which will effectively result in two different permissible rent increase calculations being applied based solely upon portion of the year they are issued.

During highly inflationary periods, such as we are currently experiencing, where cost of all goods and services are rapidly escalating, it is critical that the rent increase formula provide independent “mom and pop” rental housing providers with the ability to properly maintain their buildings and the constitutionally mandated reasonable return. Extreme actions, as the ones being proposed by the City Council will most certainly cause small business rental housing providers to exit this business thereby drastically reducing the already scarce affordable housing and exacerbating the City’s housing availability and affordability problems.

We strongly urge the City Council to recognize the detrimental and devastating impacts this proposal will have on Santa Monica rental housing providers and the very renters that the City is seeking to protect and to reject this ballot measure’s placement on the November 2022 ballot. • Board Authority to Deny Rent Increases During States of Emergency The Association is strongly opposed to the proposed ballot measure which would grant the City’s Rent Control Board autonomous discretion to freeze rent increases during any declared state of emergency without qualification.

This proposal was discussed and rejected by the City Council at the July 12th Council meeting, in favor of placing such authority in the sole discretion of the City Council. City Staff are now indicating that due to issues identified relative to “the structure of the Charter and its delegation of authority; and 2) competing state law which would preclude suspension of rent increases by the City Council outside the rent control framework in Article XVIII of the City Charter” that the City Council should reconsider granting the Board unilateral authority. While the Association is strongly opposed to the City Council or the Board being provided such authority, the Rent Control Board is not the City’s governing body and should not be granted the proposed emergency powers.

The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented event and one that resulted in government response that many would contend exceeded the scope of local emergency authority. The proposed ballot measure far exceeds the emergency powers that localities have exercised during the pandemic by providing the Board sole discretion to eliminate rent increases during any state of emergency regardless of a direct impact to Santa Monica residents. Accordingly, we strongly urge the City Council to reject advancement of this ballot measure proposal.

The Association has continually advocated for reasonable and equitable solutions. Unbalanced regulations such as those being proposed merely compel housing providers, particularly the small business, independent owners who have been the city’s provider of naturally occurring affordable housing, out of business through sale or foreclosure, and ultimately a further erosion of available rental housing occurs that adds to the city’s housing shortages. After more than four decades of similar regulations, Santa Monica has done little to solve its housing affordability and availability issues – it is time that the City Council puts the City on a new path towards achieving these critical objectives.

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APARTMENT ASSOCIATION OF GREATER LOS ANGELES
AAGLA
“Great Apartments Start Here!”
621 S. WESTMORELAND AVE., LOS ANGELES, CA 90005 | 213.384.4131 | AAGLA.ORG Thank you for your time and consideration of these matters. If you have any questions, please call me at (213) 384-4131; Ext. 309 or contact me via electronic mail at [email protected].

Very truly yours,
Danielle Leidner-Peretz
Danielle Leidner-Peretz
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1 Vernice Hankins
From: Brian O'Neil <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 2:08 PM
To: Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis
Cc: David White; Susan Cline; Anuj Gupta; PNA SM; Brian ONeil Subject: Approval of Article XXIV for November Ballot

EXTERNAL
To: City Council
From: The Board of the Pico Neighborhood Association
Re: Support for Placing Proposed Article XXIV on November Ballot, Council meeting of July 26, 2022 The Board of the Pico Neighborhood Association urges the City Council to approve that the proposed addition (Article XXIV) to the Charter of the City of Santa Monica be put before the voters on the November ballot so that the voters of Santa Monica can vote in November to add this necessary article to our City Charter.

The proposed addition (Article XXIV) – see below -- would provide for reasonable City oversight to ensure that future large-scale developments in our city provide as much real affordable housing as possible, a key goal not just for the Pico neighborhood, but for all of Santa Monica.

Highest Regards,
PNA Board

Add Article XXIV to the Charter of the City of Santa Monica Section 2400 - Purposes
The purposes of this Article are to: preserve and protect the character of housing, neighborhoods, and the community; maintain social and economic diversity; protect the health and safety of Santa Monica residents; encourage the development of affordable housing within the limitations and capacity of Santa Monica's infrastructure and geography; and ensure the payment of living wages to the construction workers working on large projects in the City so they may live where they work. This Article will thereby preserve the public health, safety and welfare.

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2 As a charter city, the City of Santa Monica has the authority to control its own housing plans and to establish minimum wages for various classes of workers. The residents of Santa Monica know what is best for their unique coastal city.

Section 2401 - Recitals
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica is experiencing serious traffic, transportation, pedestrian and vehicle safety, parking and density problems, which in a number of locations are unacceptable; WHEREAS, in recent years there has been a sharp increase in the planning and construction of major developments in Santa Monica;
WHEREAS, real property value in Santa Monica has increased at a rate far exceeding market wages in the construction industry; and
WHEREAS, the Regional Housing Needs Allocation for Santa Monica for 2021-2029 is 8,895 units, with 6,168 of those units being affordable to low-income and/or very-low-income households.

Section 2402 - Definitions and Effect on Other Laws
"Affordable Housing Unit" shall mean any housing unit that is subject to a deed restriction, enforceable by the City of Santa Monica, requiring that the rent charged for the unit may not exceed twenty-four percent (24%) of the Area Median Income for Los Angeles County
“Prevailing Wage” shall mean the prevailing wage determined by the Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations, according to the type of work and location of the Project. “Project” shall mean any construction, erection, addition to or structural alteration of any building or structure, on a lot located in whole or in part within the City of Santa Monica which requires the issuance of any building permit, foundation permit or grading permit. Notwithstanding the definition above, “Project” shall not include:

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3 a) any construction, addition or structural alteration that does not result, in combination with any continuing existing uses, in more than 2,500 square feet of floor area. b) any construction, erection, addition to or structural alteration of any building or structure, on a single lot that is no greater than 7,500 square feet
Wherever this Article contains provisions which may conflict with the Santa Monica Municipal Code, and any other relevant ordinances, this Article shall prevail and supersede the applicable provisions of that Code.

Section 2403 – Standards for Construction and Improvements The City shall adopt ordinances and regulations that ensure sufficient parking, open and recreational space, and building heights consistent with the community and neighborhood character of Santa Monica’s diverse communities.

The City shall also adopt ordinances and regulations that encourage the ratification of Project Labor Agreements and Community Workforce Agreements.

Section 2404 – Prevailing Wages
All workers employed on any Project in the City of Santa Monica, which includes commercial space, mixeduse, or more than ten (10) residential units on any single parcel, must be paid at least the applicable wage set forth in the tables below:

For Projects that include 10-50 residential units:

Percentage Affordable Housing Units Minimum Wage
At least 70% 0.8 times the Prevailing Wage
At least 50%, but less than 70% 0.9 times the Prevailing Wage At least 30%, but less than 50% Prevailing Wage
At least 10%, but less than 30% 1.2 times the Prevailing Wage Less than 10% 1.5 times the Prevailing Wage
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4 For Projects that include 51-150 residential units:

Percentage Affordable Housing Units Minimum Wage
At least 70% 0.9 times the Prevailing Wage
At least 50%, but less than 70% Prevailing Wage
At least 30%, but less than 50% 1.2 times the Prevailing Wage At least 10%, but less than 30% 1.6 times the Prevailing Wage Less than 10% 2 times the Prevailing Wage
For Projects that include 151-500 residential units:

Percentage Affordable Housing Units Minimum Wage
At least 70% Prevailing Wage
At least 50%, but less than 70% 1.2 times the Prevailing Wage At least 30%, but less than 50% 1.6 times the Prevailing Wage At least 10%, but less than 30% 2 times the Prevailing Wage Less than 10% 2.5 times the Prevailing Wage
For Projects that include more than 500 residential units:

Percentage Affordable Housing Units Minimum Wage
At least 70% Prevailing Wage
At least 50%, but less than 70% 1.4 times the Prevailing Wage At least 30%, but less than 50% 1.8 times the Prevailing Wage At least 10%, but less than 30% 2.4 times the Prevailing Wage Less than 10% 2.7 times the Prevailing Wage
For Projects which include only commercial space or are mixed-use, workers employed on such Projects in the City of Santa Monica must be paid at least 1.5 times the Prevailing Wage, or the applicable amount set forth in the tables above, whichever is greater.

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5 A Project may not be split up into several sub-projects in order to reduce the minimum wages required as set forth above.

The City Attorney is authorized to enforce the minimum wages set forth in this Section on behalf of any underpaid workers, as are any underpaid workers themselves, through an action in the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Section 2405 – Severability
If any provision of this Article or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, clauses or applications thereof which can be implemented without the invalid provisions, clause or application, and, to this end, the provisions and clauses of this ordinance are declared to be severable.

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From: D Romo <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 2:11 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Rent Control

EXTERNAL
My father has lived in the Pico Neighborhood since 1972. Now as a retired 73 year old with a fixed income he is struggling to make ends meet. This 6% increase in rent control impact low income, disabled, and seniors in our community. All I ask is that the city council prioritizes those communities that are most impacted and give the residents an opportunity to do the right thing. Thank you
Sent from my iPhone
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From: Jenny Lens <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 3:03 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Adoption of Resolutions for Proposed Ballot Measures on the November 8, 2022 Election Amending Article XVIII of the City Charter

EXTERNAL
Hello,
Re:

Adoption of Resolutions for Proposed Ballot Measures on the November 8, 2022 Election Amending Article XVIII of the City Charter
For many Santa Monica residents, 6% rent increase can be at least $100/month or more.

For those of us senior citizens, students, working folks, that’s a hefty rent raise.

So please do all you can to cap at 2 or 3%, as you have in the past.

Frankly, many of us do not require ANY maintenance, or if we do, it’s minimal. We live simply. Some don’t have cars, live in food from 99 cent store, buy clothes at thrift stores (which are also raising prices or closing down). We don’t eat out nor order in.

BUT we contribute to the community in other ways.

Any consideration is greatly appreciated!
What happened to the People’s Republic of Santa Monica? Can we get a better balance for tenants?
Thank you,
Jenny Lens, MFA, 25 year Santa Monica resident, dreaming of living here since I was a child in the 1950s.

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Santa Monica City CouncilJuly 26, 2022

Santa Monica City Council
July 26, 2022