By Lookout Staff

January 31, 2022 -- Santa Monica extended its protections against evictions for reasons other than nonpayment of rent under an emergency supplement signed by the City Manager on Friday.

The City’s Forty-Second Emergency Supplement also extends the City’s remaining local emergency orders through June 30 or "the termination of the County Health Officer Order," City officials said Monday.

The order also extends the City’s temporary curbside pickup program through February 28 "to support restaurants and essential food service in Santa Monica."

“As long as COVID-19 is impacting our residents, businesses, and social life, the City will continue to respond in all the ways we can to keep our community safe and to ensure we adapt to the moment,” said City Manager David White.

Friday's order continues the City's 41st Emergency Supplement issued October 29 that bars no-fault termination of leases and evictions for owner move-ins, nuisance and unauthorized occupants or pets.

Under the order, those who have applied for rental assistance from the State and are waiting to learn if they are eligible cannot be evicted through March 31, 2022 if they have met certain conditions.

Friday's supplement also extends other orders set to expire January 31, including the suspension of water shutoffs for nonpayment of water bills, time limits on loud construction activities and extensions of deadlines for planning and permit-related activities.

Also included are orders adopting the enforcement of County public health orders and reporting requirements on notices of endeavors to evict.

The latest order comes as Los Angeles County Health officials announced Monday that the county of more that 10 million had "likely passed the peak of Omicron transmission."

In Santa Monica, case numbers dropped last week to the lowest level since the Omicron variant became the dominant strain in mid-December ("Local COVID Cases Drop to Lowest Level Since Omicron Took Hold," January 31, 2022).

“As we begin to see a reduction in cases, please remember your best protection is to be vaccinated, boosted, and masked when indoors with people outside your household," White said.

"These steps not only protect one another, but they also safeguard our incredible local hospitals that are still operating at capacity.”