Amid Eviction Measure Passage, Opponents Continue Push For Protections

SANTA MONICA - A new Santa Monica eviction measure has officially passed. Now, members of a renter advocacy group say they feel disappointed by the results, but are more motivated than ever to continue their fight.

Measure GG grants landlords two new pathways to evict tenants from deed-restricted affordable housing units - If a tenant refuses to provide documentation proving that their income qualifies for the deed restriction, or if their documentation shows they no longer qualify. The measure also changes the maximum fee for registering as a renter for these units. Beginning in 2028, the fee will no longer be capped at $288 - instead, it will be adjusted by up to 5% annually to address inflation.

With Measure GG now passed, some advocates are still warning of the risks to Santa Monica's large population of renters.

"We're not just talking about evictions. We're talking about communities completely changing," said Loya. "The diversity of our city is at risk."

Loya founded Renters United as an advocacy group following a PNA town hall meeting about the measure where she described seeing confusion and worry from her neighbors. She previously told the Westside Current that the group was formed to educate her community, many of whom are long-term renters, on the impact Measure GG could have on their eviction protections.

"There's a need for Renters United at this moment, especially with what happened with Measure GG," said Maria Loya, Pico Neighborhood Association (PNA) chair and Renters United founder.

Ashley Oelson, who won a City Council seat during Tuesday's election, opposed Measure GG. She told the Westside Current that she shares some of Loya's concerns about the measure.

"At a time when so many Santa Monica residents are struggling to afford to stay in their homes, we need to be extremely careful about expanding the circumstances under which someone can be evicted," Oelson said. "My greatest concern is that these new provisions could be misused or unfairly applied, putting longtime residents, seniors, and working families at risk of losing their homes."

Loya also said she worries that landlords could be incentivized to buy rent-controlled properties before enacting the Ellis Act, a California law that allows landlords to evict all of their residents in order to permanently take the property off the rental market.

"That will create an incentive for the big investment companies to come in and buy off the mom and pop," said Loya.

Despite Measure GG ultimately passing, Renters United member Brittany de Guzman told the Westside Current that she is motivated by the turnout in opposition to the measure. 58.78% of voters supported the measure with 41.22% voting against it.

"I am hopeful that this is just the beginning of our efforts to protect renters and ensure that tenants have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their homes and their futures," said de Guzman. "We may not have had the resources of the larger organizations, but we showed that a small group of committed residents can still make an impact. And I think that's something worth being proud of."

For Loya, the turnout proves the demand for a group like Renters United, and the work to protect Santa Monica's large population of renters has only just begun.

"I'm hopeful that people that came out to vote against Measure GG, that's what they're voting for, they're voting to preserve the diversity in our neighborhood," said Loya. "They're voting to preserve the long term renters."

After Tuesday's election resulted in the measure passing, Measure GG is expected to be enacted once the charter amendment is submitted to the Secretary of State. The fee cap change will be enacted by 2028.