1 Xavier Mota
From: Angela Scott <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 7, 2023 1:15 PM
To: councilmtgitems; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Item 16C - SUPPORT
EXTERNAL
Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, Councilmembers Brock, Parra, de la Torre, Torosis, and Zwick, I am writing to express my strong support for Item 16C, which calls for the City Council's formal endorsement of the Justice for Renters Act ballot measure for the upcoming 2024 general election. Despite the gradual recovery from the global pandemic, the aftermath lingers, particularly evident in the ongoing affordable housing crisis.
The Justice for Renters Act is a crucial ballot initiative seeking to restore local control over rent control and stabilization policies. The State's acquisition of this authority, through the 1995 Costa‐Hawkins Rental Housing Act, has limited rent control applications on single‐family homes, condominiums, and rental units constructed after 1995.
This initiative, backed by 617,000 verified voters, addresses a significant contributor to homelessness: the rapid increase in rents outpacing wage growth. Endorsing this measure would empower cities like Santa Monica to implement policies that maintain affordability in our neighborhoods for both low‐income and middle‐income renters.
I strongly encourage you to vote YES on Item 16C and formally endorse the Justice for Renters Act. Your support will contribute to addressing the pressing issue of housing affordability, making a positive impact on our community.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
Angela D. Scott
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Lonnie Guinn <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 8, 2023 8:38 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Please Support Measure 16C and 16F
EXTERNAL
Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, Councilmembers Brock, Parra, de la Torre, Torosis, and Zwick, The 2024 general election gives the State of California another chance to repeal the legislation (Costa Hawkins) that not only gutted valuable assets of rent control jurisdictions but, in combination with the Ellis Act, allowed situations like the current one at Barrington Plaza in West LA to take place. That repeal can happen with the passage of the Justice for Renters Act ballot measure.
Using their monied supporters, opponents will try to inundate voters with disinformation so it is very important that our City Council take action on Agenda Item 16C to support the Justice for Renters Act. Santa Monica was and is a leader in rent control but that leadership is nothing without clear support from those elected to lead us. This Council can send a message that we continue to advocate for lower rents so that we allow tenants to remain in their homes for as long as they wish, move within our City when life changes make it necessary, and be able to spend time enhancing their lives without an overextended rent burden.
Of course, the proactive measure to addressing homelessness begins with making sure people remain housed. It's interesting that housing providers rail about the homeless situation making Santa Monica less appealing and, yet, they continue to support policies that push more people to homelessness.
Repeal of Costa Hawkins doesn't automatically give California rent control. It doesn't threaten single family homes. It doesn't return rent control laws to pre‐Costa Hawkins levels. Instead, it offers jurisdictions across the state an opportunity, if they desire, to implement rent stabilization rules that best suit their needs.
Please vote YES to endorse the Justice for Renters Act.
And vote YES on Item 16F to support the Barrington Plaza tenants who are in a fight not only for their homes but in a fight for all renters against what happens when Costa Hawkins is used in conjunction with the Ellis Act.
Lonnie Guinn
Commissioner
Santa Monica Rent Control Board
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 9, 2023 5:27 PM
To: Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 16-C: Support the Justice for Renters Act Attachments: 231009 Item 16C Justice For Renters Act - SMRR Support.pdf
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
Attached please find a letter from SMRR in support of Item 16‐C on your 10‐10‐23 Agenda. Thank you.
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
October 9, 2023
To: Mayor Gleam Davis, Members of the Santa Monica City Council Re: Item 16-C, 10/10/23, Request for City Council Endorsement of the Justice for Renters Act Dear Councilmembers,
Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights urges the Santa Monica City Council to adopt a resolution of support for the Justice for Renters Act scheduled for the November 2024 statewide ballot as proposed to you by Mayor Davis, and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick. We urge that you convey that support to Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Benjamin Allen and Assemblymember Rick Zbur, as well as to the campaign that qualified and will champion the Justice for Renters Act.
The objective of the Justice for Renters’ Act is to enable cities and counties that choose to adopt rent control laws to be able to do so free of state interference so that such laws might genuinely reflect local concerns and conditions in their local rental housing market, rather than the politics of Sacramento.
The intent of the Justice for Renters Act is made clear by its brevity: “The state may not limit the right of any city, county, or city and county to maintain, enact or expand residential rent control.”
The measure, if approved, will repeal the Costa-Hawkins Act of 1995, legislation enacted by the State of California that places onerous and self-defeating constraints on local cities and counties that elect to adopt rent control laws in California. These constraints severely limit the effectiveness of local rent control laws either as a tool for protecting renters or as a tool to ensure an affordable housing supply in a community over the long term.
Costa Hawkins prohibits rent control on rented single-family homes and condominiums and permanently exempts all new apartments built after 1995 from rent control. These provisions or variations were already reflected in most locally approved rent control laws in California but enshrining them in state law creates inflexibility and prevents consideration of special local circumstances.
Moreover, these provisions of Costa Hawkins are also overreaching. By permanently exempting all newly built rental units from any local rent control law, even after they have been operating for 15 or 20 years or more and are an older part of the housing stock, Costa Hawkins goes far beyond what was needed to ensure that rent control laws do not discourage new apartment development.
However, the provision of Costa Hawkins that is most pernicious and has the gravest consequences for our communities is the provision that requires every local rent control law to allow unlimited rent increases for any unit upon vacancy, so called “vacancy decontrol.” Vacancy decontrol has dramatically reduced the effectiveness of all locally adopted rent control laws, including Santa Monica’s, and over time leads to a hemorrhage of our supply of affordable housing.
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
A requirement for vacancy decontrol in all rent control laws in California has exacerbated our affordable housing crisis and contributed to an increase in homelessness throughout California.
Further, in times like today where market rents have soared in a short period of time to never before seen heights, whether because of a shortage of rental stock or a spike in demand fueled by other factors, a large disparity develops between rent controlled rents and uncontrolled market rents.
Under this circumstance there may be property owners, eager for the much higher potential rents, who employ pressure tactics and harassment to induce tenants to vacate their rent controlled units.
Such perverse incentives, we believe, are a contributing factor to the scale of the homeless problem in our communities.
The following chart illustrates the challenge as it has been manifested here in Santa Monica. 1 2 3
Median Maximum Allowable Rent
for 6083 Long-Term Rent Controlled
Units that have never been
vacancy decontrolled
Median Maximum Allowable Rent
for 20,519 Rent Controlled Units
that have been vacancy decontrolled
at least once since 1999
Median Initial Rent
for Rent Controlled Units
vacancy decontrolled in 2022
$1,082 $2,542 $2,777
Column 1 shows the median rents for the 6083 rent controlled units that have never been vacancy decontrolled because they are occupied by long term Santa Monica renters. This is 22% of all rent controlled units.
Column 2 shows the median rents for rent controlled units that have been vacancy decontrolled at least once since 1999, illustrating how Costa Hawkins has wiped out the affordability of most of our rental housing stock.
Column 3 shows the median initial rent for rent controlled units that have been vacancy decontrolled this year. These initial rents are nearly three times the rents paid by long term renters, most of whom are senior citizens. It demonstrates the scale of perverse incentive that vacancy decontrol creates for property owners to find a way to vacate a long term rent controlled unit.
We believe that such practices induced by the Costa-Hawkins provision for vacancy decontrol must be counted as potentially one cause of homelessness in California communities today.
We urge the Santa Monica City Council to vote to end these perverse incentives in our housing market by endorsing the Justice for Renters Act on the state ballot in California in November 2024.
Sincerely,
Denny Zane Mike Soloff
Co-Chair, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Co-Chair, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 9, 2023 7:08 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Subject: CC item 16C—Support the Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Hello Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, and esteemed City Councilmembers, Please vote to support the JusƟce for Renters Act. Overturning Costa Hawkins is crucial to reinstaƟng and protecƟng meaningful rent control in Santa Monica. Rent control that only applies to a single tenancy before being reset does not preserve local affordability. Nor do arbitrary carve outs that prohibit rent control for certain kinds and ages of housing.
The JusƟce for Renters Act is overdue and necessary for the health and sustainability of Santa Monica rental housing.
Please vote to support it.
Thank you for your consideraƟon.
Best wishes,
Michelle Gray
Santa Monica resident
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Dan Hall <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 9, 2023 10:06 PM
To: councilmtgitems; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Item 16C - SUPPORT
EXTERNAL
Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, Councilmembers Brock, Parra, de la Torre, Torosis, and Zwick, I am writing in support of Item 16C, requesting the City Council formally endorse the Justice for Renters Act ballot measure for the 2024 general election.
The Justice for Renters Act is a ballot initiative which will allow Santa Monica to determine its own future for rent control for the needs of this community. This power was seized by the State through the 1995 Costa‐Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which prohibits rent control on all single‐family homes and condominiums and rental units built after 1995.
This critical initiative, supported by 617,000 verified voters, is needed to combat one of the root causes of homelessness in the state: rents rising faster than wages. This would allow cities like Santa Monica to implement locally designed policies to keep our neighborhoods more affordable for low income and middle‐income renters.
As we begin to implement our Housing Element and increase supply of housing, and as 2022's Measure GS increases our ability to subsidize affordable housing developments, we must also support stabilizing policies such as the repeal of Costa‐Hawkins to ensure our community remains diverse, families can financially plan for their future, and our seniors can age with dignity in their homes.
I urge you to vote YES on Item 16C and formally endorse the Justice for Renters Act.
Dan Hall
VP ‐ Political Action
Santa Monica Democratic Club
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: James Davidson <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 8:54 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Additionally, the more low-cost housing the city builds or permits, the greater chance you would have the future support to restrict rent-control to a reasonable degree, creating a happy balance between property owners and residents. So invest and build first.
Thank you!
James Davidson
[email protected]
943 19th Street, Apt. 3
Santa Monica, California 90403
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Susan Sheu <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 8:56 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Item 16C - SUPPORT
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, Councilmembers Brock, Parra, de la Torre, Torosis, and Zwick:
I am wriƟng in support of Item 16C, requesƟng the City Council formally endorse the JusƟce for Renters Act ballot measure for the 2024 general elecƟon.
The JusƟce for Renters Act is a ballot iniƟaƟve which will return local control to rent control and stabilizaƟon policies.
This power was seized by the State through the 1995 Costa‐Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which prohibits rent control on all single‐family homes and condominiums and rental units built aŌer 1995.
This criƟcal iniƟaƟve, supported by 617,000 verified voters, is needed to combat one of the root causes of homelessness in the state: rents rising faster than wages. This would allow ciƟes like Santa Monica to implement policies to keep our neighborhoods more affordable for low income and middle‐income renters.
I urge you to vote YES on Item 16C and formally endorse the JusƟce for Renters Act.
Thank you.
Yours truly,
Susan Sheu
Santa Monica homeowner and public school parent California DemocraƟc Party delegate Regional Vice Chair of the Los Angeles County DemocraƟc Party
And
Brian Colker
Santa Monica homeowner and public school parent Business owner and InformaƟon Technology consultant California DemocraƟc Party delegate Founder and CFO of the Grassroots Democrats HQ ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Patricia Meyer <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 8:58 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Patricia K. Meyer
30 year Santa Monica resident
Patricia Meyer
[email protected]
2319 Oak Street Apt #6,
Santa Monica, California 90405
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Steve Tarzynski <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 9:01 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Steve Tarzynski
[email protected]
925 14th Street, No.24
Santa Monica, California 90403
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Zaira Salazer <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 9:03 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Zaira Salazer
[email protected]
2842 Exposition Blvd
Santa Monica, California 90404
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Michael Etzel <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 9:03 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Michael Etzel
[email protected]
2400 Beverley Ave , Apt 15
Santa monica, California 90405
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Cynthia Rose <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 9:05 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Cynthia Rose
[email protected]
1453 Stanford Street #D
Santa Monica, California 90404
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Jennifer Swan <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 9:39 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Jennifer Swan
[email protected]
224 South Venice Boulevard, Unit B
Venice, California 90291
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Caro Vilain <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 9:41 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Caro Vilain
[email protected]
1410 15th st, APT 25
Santa Monica, California 90404
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Isabel Storey <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 9:58 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 16C - Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete,
Councilmembers Brock, Parra, de la Torre, Torosis, and
Zwick:
I am writing in support of Item 16C, requesting the City Council formally endorse the Justice for Renters Act ballot measure for the 2024 general election.
The Justice for Renters Act is a ballot initiative which will return local control to rent control and stabilization policies.
This power was seized by the State through the 1995 CostaHawkins Rental Housing Act, which prohibits rent control on all single-family homes and condominiums and rental units built after 1995.
This critical initiative, supported by 617,000 verified voters, is needed to combat one of the root causes of homelessness in the state: rents rising faster than wages. This would allow cities such as Santa Monica to implement policies to keep our neighborhoods more affordable for low income and middleincome renters.
I urge you to vote YES on Item 16C and formally endorse the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you.
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
2 Isabel Storey
Santa Monica resident
California Democratic Party Delegate
VP, Legislation, Santa Monica Democratic Club
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Ali Moghaddas <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 10:14 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: DO NOT SUPPORT JUSTICE FOR RENTERS ACT
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Costa Hawkins Fair Housing Act was passed by California voters and should remain undisturbed. Propositions 10 and 21 were both defeated and resulted in millions of wasted dollars that could have otherwise been spent on preventing homelessness and other social issues.
This proposal will significantly hamper housing development and new construction, an already waning industry in these times of economic uncertainty. The proposal will ultimately work against preventing homelessness and affordable housing, the very issue it purports to support.
Please DO NOT support this ill-timed and short sighted proposal.
Ali Moghaddas
[email protected]
858 21st St
Santa Monica, California 90403
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Zachary Coil <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 10:37 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Zachary Coil
[email protected]
1107 ocean park Blvd apt a
Santas Monica , California 90405
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Joanne Leslie <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 10:45 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. We also need an easier process for people to build affordable ADU's and limitations to landlords converting to condos or AirBnB usage. I am concerned that Santa Monica be a town where people of all backgrounds and sociology-economic status can live together, which means we need affordable housing. I do NOT want to live in a town that effectively becomes a protected enclave for wealthy long term residents because no one else can afford to live here. Santa Monica has long been a leader in rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Joanne Leslie
Joanne Leslie
[email protected]
1351 Grant St.
Santa Monica, California 90405
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Laura Gillette <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 11:14 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 16C - Support
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, Councilmembers Brock, Parra, de la Torre, Torosis, and Zwick:
I am writing in support of Item 16C, requesting the City Council formally endorse the Justice for Renters Act ballot measure for the 2024 general election.
The Justice for Renters Act is a ballot initiative which will return local control to rent control and stabilization policies.
This power was seized by the State through the 1995 Costa‐Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which prohibits rent control on all single‐family homes and condominiums and rental units built after 1995.
This critical initiative, supported by 617,000 verified voters, is needed to combat one of the root causes of homelessness in the state: rents rising faster than wages. This would allow cities like Santa Monica to implement policies to keep our neighborhoods more affordable for low income and middle‐income renters.
I urge you to vote YES on Item 16C and formally endorse the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you.
Yours truly,
Laura Gillette
22 year Santa Monica resident,
Climate Action Santa Monica (CASM) Advisory Boardmember ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Jon Katz <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 11:29 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Item 16C - SUPPORT
EXTERNAL
Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and Councilmembers:
I am writing in my capacity as the President of the Santa Monica Democratic Club. Our Club has supported past ballot measures to repeal the Costa Hawkins Act and allow rent control in all jurisdictions of California. Last week, our Executive Board voted to recommend support of the Justice For Renters Act, and we expect our Membership to support the measure at next week's meeting overwhelmingly, as they did for the last two measures. As everyone on the Council is already aware, supporting and strengthening rent control is one of the crucial issues of importance to the leadership and membership of our Club because it reflects the residents of our City.
Rent control provided stability for me and my family to live in Santa Monica during good times and bad, including extended periods of unemployment, without fear of extreme raises in rent. That stability is why Santa Monica has been such a great place for renters to live and thrive over many decades regardless of the ups and downs of the economy.
In order to combat one of the root causes of homelessness, skyrocketing rents, the City of Santa Monica should support this ballot measure which would extend these opportunities to middle and low income renters both here in Santa Monica and across the state.
Thank you,
‐‐
Jon Katz | President, Santa Monica Democratic Club
[email protected]
cell: (215) 962‐4357
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Anastasia Foster <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 11:37 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: 16 C support
EXTERNAL
As a 7‐year elected member of the Rent Control Board, I can tell you that we opined openly what we might do if Costa‐ Hawkins was repealed. We proposed to study common sense policies to fairly and evenly deal with the rent levels of vacant units, and we would have been able to stabilize rents in buildings built through the early 2000s with the tacit blessing of the developers, themselves, in the acknowledgment that this is a common and accepted practice in cities that can control buildings newer than Santa Monica can under Costa‐Hawkins.
A vote to support the Justice for Renters Act is a clear vote of support for our Renters and the stabilization of occupancy in our rental homes in Santa Monica and up and down the State of California in cities that vote on and choose to have rent control.
Thank you
‐‐
Anastasia Foster
Chair, Santa Monica Rent Control Board
Organizer, Schiff for Senate Campaign
Board of Directors, Meals on Wheels West
CADEM Credentials Committee Co‐Chair & Delegate ‐ AD51
CEPS Steering Committee
Franklin PTA Executive Committee
Facebook
Instagram
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Soloff, Michael <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 11:41 AM
To: Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Lana Negrete; [email protected]; councilmtgitems
Subject: Emailing: Mike Soloff Letter to Council on Item 16-C on City Council 10.10.23 Agenda.docx Attachments: Mike Soloff Letter to Council on Item 16-C on City Council 10.10.23 Agenda.docx
EXTERNAL
Please find aƩached my comments on item 16‐C on tonight's City Council agenda Mike Soloff
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
October 10, 2023
To: Santa Monica City Council
Re: Item 16-C, 10/10/23, Request for City Council Endorsement of the Justice for Renters Act Dear Councilmembers:
As Mayor Davis and perhaps others of you know, on Friday September 29 I was struck by a vehicle while in the crosswalk across Ocean Avenue to Palisades Park that runs from the Northern corner of Marguerita Avenue. Phase I of my recovery and rehabilitation was at under the care of the trauma team and the orthopedic surgery unit at UCLA Ronald Reagan hospital. I am now in Phase II, inpatient intensive rehabilitation. As a result of this, I have not had a chance to focus on this item until now. However, this item is so important I wanted to share a few individual thoughts with you.
First, much of what I have to say is contained in the official SMRR letter you already have received.
Second, I want to emphasize just how pernicious the effect has been here in Santa Monica of Sacramento’s denial through Costa Hawkins of local control in setting rent control policies, and how hypocritical Sacramento has been in general with respect to its supposed commitment to supporting the maintenance and expansion of housing affordable to lower and moderate income households here in Santa Monica:
1. Here is what SMRR said about Costa Hawkins in its proposed Preface for the 2021- 2029 Housing Element, which SMRR sent to City Council on approximately 10/12/2021:
The most pernicious State policy has been the Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act. Santa Monica had strict vacancy controls in place prior to State imposition of vacancy decontrol through Costa-Hawkins. Some 19,700 Santa Monica rent control units have turned over at least once after Costa-Hawkins went into full effect in 1999. In 1998, just prior to the implementation of Costa-Hawkins, more than 96% of those 19,700 units were affordable to lower and moderate income households (and some 84% were affordable to lower income households). But today, thanks to Costa-Hawkins’ prohibition of vacancy controls, less than 15% of those 19,700 units are still affordable to lower and moderate income households (and just 4% are still affordable to lower income households, primarily due to deed restrictions).17Therefore, while Santa Monica added approximately 1,900 deed-restricted affordable apartments during this same period through the expenditure of public resources and the City’s inclusionary zoning requirements,18 it still suffered a net loss of close to 15,000 units affordable to lower and moderate income households due to Costa-Hawkins. Replacing these close to 15,000 lost affordable rent controlled units with new deed-restricted affordable units would cost more than $10 billion.19
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
17 Santa Monica Rent Control Board 2019 Annual Report (2019 SMRCB Report”) at p. 19 & Fig. 21, available at
https://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/Rent_Control/Reports/Annual _Reports/2019
%20Annual%20Report%20FINAL.pdf.
18 See City of Santa Monica, FY 2018-2019 Summary Report of Multifamily Housing Production and Housing Trust Fund Financing at Appendix B (providing annual number of affordable housing units completed from FY 1998-1999 through FY 2018-2019), available through link at
http://santamonicacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&Meeti ngID=1226& MediaPosition=&ID=4052&CssClass=
19 This figure is derived by multiplying 15,000 units by the average projected per unit cost of three recently approved 100% affordable housing projects in Santa Monica that are being financed by a combination of loans from Santa Monica’s Housing Trust Fund and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program administered by the State; namely, the 1413 Michigan Ave. project (5/9/19), the 1834/40/44/48 14th St. project (4/22/19), and the 1814 Pico project (2/11/19). Data regarding cost of these projects is available at https://www.santamonica.gov/housing-trust-funds.
2. While Costa Hawkins generally precludes new rent control on units built after 1995, it punishes cities that had already adopted rent control by not allowing them to impose new rent control on any units built after the date rent control was adopted in that city. Hence, Santa Monica has no ability to impose new rent control on buildings built after the adoption by the voters of the Rent Control Charter Amendment in 1979.
3. Sacramento’s hypocrisy in claiming it supports the placement of affordable housing in Santa Monica, while insisting on the maintenance of Costa Hawkins, is palpable:
a. At the same time that Sacramento has caused Santa Monica to lose a net 15,000 units affordable to lower and moderate income households through Costa-Hawkins, in 2012, Sacramento also took away—and never has done anything to replace—the primary ongoing funding source the City had used to create new deed-restricted affordable housing:
redevelopment funds (which came from providing a portion of the increased property taxes collected by the State in Santa Monica due to increasing local property values each year following the base year). While Sacramento required at least 20% of redevelopment funds go to supporting deed-restricted affordable housing, Santa Monica chose to devote close to 40% of its redevelopment funds to this purpose, which amounted to about $15 million per year when Sacramento eliminated the program in 2012. Thus Sacramento gained, and Santa Monica lost roughly $180 million in funds (actually far more as Santa Monica property values, and Sacramento’s cut of property taxes, has increased considerably since 2012) that Sacramento could have used—and Santa Monica would have use—to create housing affordable to lower and moderate income households in our City. But Sacramento has provided no meaningful alternative ongoing funding support for the creation of affordable housing in the City. Indeed, it was not until 2022 that Sacramento restored Statewide funding for affordable housing to levels in ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
inflation adjusted dollars to the obviously inadequate maximum prior funding level (which occurred in 2009)
b. Sacramento has directed through RHNA that Santa Monica create over 6,000 deed-restricted affordable housing units during the 2021-2029 housing element purpose. As usual, Sacramento provides no increased resources for the City to use. But the point here is the hypocrisy of Sacramento insisting that the City create over 6,000 new deed-restricted affordable housing while at the same time assuring through Costa Hawkins that the roughly 6,000 remaining rent controlled units that have never had the vacancy increase required by Costa Hawkins—and so remain affordable to lower and moderate income households right now—all will become unaffordable as soon as the current tenant leaves and the rent is reset to current marked rates.
b. The very weak Statewide rent control that Sacramento managed to pass after negotiating with the California Apartment Association further illustrates the hypocrisy of Sacramento’s insistent on retaining Costa Hawkins ban on Santa Monica imposing any new rent control on units built after 1979. Statewide rent control—like Santa Monica’s 1979 Rent Control Charter amendment—exempts newly created rental units from rent control. But while Costa Hawkins absolutely precludes Santa Monica from ever imposing rent control on newly constructed units, Statewide rent control subjects newly constructed units to Statewide rent control after 15 years. As a result of that hypocrisy, Santa Monica was unable to extend to City residents in rental units built between 1980 and 2007 the protections contained in overwhelmingly voter approved Measure RC—i.e., assurance that the covered households would not face more than a 3% rent increase in 2012, the year of the massive inflation spike, or in any future year. Instead, due to Costa Hawkins, those Santa Monica renters instead had only the benefit of the Statewide rent control’s cap of 10% on their rent increases.
Third, to the extent Council can consider the common good, the Justice for Renters Act help the most vulnerable of our fellow Californians throughout the State. The following chart was shown at the Central Valley launch of the Justice for Renters Act campaign, which I personally attended in Visalia in August. It identifies the percentage rent increase California by city between March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2023 (in descending order from highest to lowest):
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
What you can see is renters in many cities without rent control have faced huge rent increases in the 3 years and three months since the start of the pandemic.. What you can also see is the lack of rent control hurts the most vulnerable Californians, For example, three of the top four cities with the highest rent inflation are located in the Central Valley—the poorest region of our State. Each of those three cities (Bakersfield, Visalia, and Fresno) have had at least 38% rent inflation from the pandemic through last June.
In short, Costa Hawkins has had a devastating impact on the ability of lower and moderate income households to live in Santa Monica and on the lives of the neediest of Californians.
Retention of Costa Hawkins usurpation of local control over rent control policy represents nothing more than Sacramento hypocrisy. Please vote to support the Justice for Renters Act.
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Ellis Raskin <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 11:42 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Cc: Clerk Mailbox; David White; Douglas Sloan; Denise Anderson-Warren Subject: Comments for Oct. 10, 2023 City Council Meeting Attachments: 2023-10-10 Ltr re Agenda Item 16-F.pdf; 2023-10-10 Ltr re Agenda Item 16-C.pdf; 2023-10-10 Ltr re Agenda Item 4-E.pdf
EXTERNAL
Dear Hon. Councilmembers:
Please find attached comment letters regarding agenda items 4‐E, 16‐C, and 16‐F.
Best,
Ellis Raskin
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
October 10, 2023
Santa Monica City Council
c/o City Clerk
1685 Main St., Room 250
Santa Monica, CA 90401
RE: Agenda item 16-C (Justice for Renters Act)
Dear Hon. Councilmembers,
I urge you to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Rent burdens on City residents are unsustainable. For years, gentrification and displacement have pushed out countless City residents simply because they cannot afford to live in their homes. The Justice for Renters Act will help preserve our neighborhoods and ensure that future generations of City residents can afford to stay in our City. Please support this item.
Best,
Ellis Raskin
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Natalya Zernitskaya <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 11:48 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Cc: Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; Caroline Torosis; David White; Jesse Zwick; [email protected]
Subject: 10/10/23 City Council Agenda Items 16C and 16F
EXTERNAL
Re: Santa Monica City Council Agenda 10/10/2023 - Items 16C & 16F Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, and City Councilmembers, I urge you to please support both Item 16C (for the City to formally support the Justice for Renters Act) and 16F (to adopt a resolution in support of the tenants of Barrington Plaza as they fight mass eviction). The reason I include both items in one email is because they are both about protecting tenants.
With regards to Item 16C, the “Request of Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick that the City Council support the Justice for Renters Act. The California Secretary of State has verified that the Justice for Renters Act has qualified for the November 2024 state ballot. The Justice for Renters Action is an initiative which will expand local control over rent laws by replacing The Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. Costa Hawkins prohibits rent control on single-family homes, condominiums and rental units that were built after 1995. The Justice for Renters Act removes this ban on rent control in California, giving local communities the right to stabilize rents and make apartments more affordable for low-income and middle-income renters.
Repealing Costa Hawkins will help local government address one of the root causes of homelessness-- skyrocketing rents and unaffordable housing. Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick also request that the City Manager issue a press release indicating the City Council’s support for the proposed ballot initiative and send a letter of support from the City to the Governor, Senator Ben Allen, Assemblymember Rick Zbur, and to the proponents of the Justice For Renters Act.”, support of this ballot measure should be an easy yes vote given Santa Monica’s strong support of our rent control tenant protections and our limitations in expanding rent control protections for tenants due to the Costa-Hawkins Act of 1995.
With regards to Item 16F, the “Request of Councilmember Torosis, Mayor Davis and Councilmember Zwick that the City Council adopt a resolution in support of the tenants of Barrington Plaza as they fight mass eviction, and direct staff to send copies of the adopted resolution to the Barrington Plaza tenants' association, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, the Los Angeles City Councilmember that represents the tenants of Barrington Plaza, and to Douglas Emmett Inc. headquartered in Santa Monica, and other parties as deemed appropriate.” , it is important for our City to show solidarity with the tenants of Barrington Plaza and send a strong signal that we oppose these types of actions not only in our own city borders but in our larger community as well. We support the fair and equitable treatment of all renters and we should not be afraid to voice that support.
Additionally both of items are supported by our City’s legislative priorities including:
Support legislation that amends or repeals the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. Support legislation that increases tenant protections and eliminates the incentive for property owners to remove rent control eligible properties from the rental market through the Ellis Act or other means Please vote yes on both Item 16-C and 16F.
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
2 Sincerely,
Natalya Zernitskaya
Natalya Zernitskaya (she/her)
[email protected]
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Ted Winterer <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 12:06 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Ted Winterer
[email protected]
639 Ozone Street
Santa Monica, California 90405
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Mia Joiner <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 12:29 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Mia Joiner
[email protected]
1646 S Centinela Ave
Los Angeles, California 90025
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Leah Pressman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 1:34 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Leah Pressman
[email protected]
4262 Jasmine Avenue
Culver City, California 90232
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Miriam Alpern <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 1:38 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Miriam Alpern
[email protected]
930 Euclid St., Apt. 303
Santa Monica, California
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Norman Williams <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 9:03 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Norman Williams
[email protected]
1237 Berkeley Street
Santa Monica, California 90404
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Catherine Gentile <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 10:30 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Support - Item 16C Justice for Renters Act
EXTERNAL
Council Comments ,
Dear Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Negrete, and members of the Santa Monica City Council,
The homelessness and housing supply shortage crisis continues to get worse. We need strong protections for renters. Santa Monica has long been a leader rent control, and we encourage you to adopt the motion from Mayor Davis and Councilmembers Torosis and Zwick for the City to support the Justice for Renters Act.
Thank you!
Catherine Gentile
[email protected]
1128 Ocean Park Blvd., #312
Santa Monica, California 90405
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023
ITEM 16.C.
October 10, 2023