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The Dirt on the Drought
California is facing yet another drought just two years after the last one ended. Our 1,500 reservoirs are at only 50% of their average levels and federal and local agencies have begun to issue water restrictions. “What we are seeing right now is very severe, dry conditions and in some cases and some parts of the west, the lowest in-flows to reservoirs on record,”… Continue Reading The Dirt on the Drought
Exodus Dirt
A few of my friends like to debate this but according to a state Department of Finance report issued in December 2020, it’s estimated that 135,600 more people left California than moved here last year. It’s only the 12th time since 1900 the state has had a net migration loss, and 2020’s was the third largest ever recorded. The percentage of California residents who… Continue Reading Exodus Dirt
Conspiracy Dirt
Can you imagine that our iconic Santa Monica Pier could be part of a conspiracy of gang activity, turf wars, and umbrellas used as weapons? Hold onto your tinfoil hats for this one because this is one wild ride. Rumor has it that our SM Pier is home to an alleged crime syndicate called the Murcia Family Gang. According to SM Observed, a conservative leaning publication,… Continue Reading Conspiracy Dirt
Supercharged Dirt
A few years ago Tesla announced a plan to start building a V3 Supercharger station located at 1401 Santa Monica Boulevard. With a whopping 62 charging stalls, this would have been the largest V3 Supercharger facility in the world. The current largest all-V3 Supercharging station is located at Firebaugh, California at 56 stalls. On March 3rd, the Santa Monica Planning Commission finally approved the project… Continue Reading Supercharged Dirt
The Dirt on the Fast-Food Ban
A ban on fast food restaurants in the Third Street Promenade has been retroactively reestablished but Santa Monica’s Planning Commission has asked City Council to revisit the ordinance later this year. In November 2018, in order to ensure that the Promenade maintained its authentic characteristics, City Council adopted an urgency Interim Zoning Ordinance (IZO) to prevent the proliferation of fast food restaurants on the… Continue Reading The Dirt on the Fast-Food Ban
Santa Monica Surcharge Dirt
Wildfires have become a way of life in California, relentlessly ravaging lives and communities. But millions of electric utility customers will continue to be reminded of their potential for more destruction – every month for at least the next 15 years. Beginning last October the state’s three largest investor-owned utilities – Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas… Continue Reading Santa Monica Surcharge Dirt
The Dirt on The Permit
I am sure you’ve heard about property owners making alterations to their homes without permits…but what about the construction of a major hotel on Ocean Avenue? The Shore Hotel, a luxury Ocean Avenue hotel (you know the one, its bright blue pool and heat lamp torches look incredibly inviting at night) seems to have been built without the required permits. The owners have agreed… Continue Reading The Dirt on The Permit
The Dirt on Spec vs Custom Home Development
DID YOU KNOW? Construction spending this year is up 4.1% from last year, according to new data for September. During the first nine months of the year, some $1.058 trillion was put toward public and private construction, compared with $1.016 trillion for the same period in 2019. Speaking of construction; have you ever wondered why some homes tend to seemingly “go up overnight” while… Continue Reading The Dirt on Spec vs Custom Home Development