Former Rent Board Chair Named to Planning Commission

By Jorge Casuso

Jay Johnson, the former chair and eight-year member of the Rent Control Board, was appointed to the Planning Commission by the City Council early Wednesday morning.

A marketing executive, landlord and longtime force with Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (the powerful tenants group that controls City government), Johnson was appointed to the commission with a 4 to 0 vote. Mayor Pro Tem Pam O'Connor abstained, saying she had not had time to review Johnson's application.

Johnson's appointment rounds out a commission that has completely turned over in the past year with the appointment of seven slow growth proponents by the SMRR-controlled City Council.

In his application form, Johnson listed the following goals:

· "To preserve and improve quality of existing residential housing."
· "Promote mixed-use development in commercial areas."
· "Promote new single family housing compatibility w/neighborhood."
· "Improve enforcement of existing rules/regulation/codes."
· "Promote team approach w/utilities/city depts. in infrastructure improvements."
· "Improve traffic/pedestrian balance & flow throughout city, especially in the downtown."

In addition to being elected to two four-year terms on the Rent Board, Johnson is past president of the Santa Monica Democratic Club and a board member of North of Montana Association (NOMA).

A real estate broker for 15 years, Johnson is the marketing director of a Lee Apparel franchise.

Johnson also has traveled to Europe, Asia, Central America and Cuba, where he has looked into comparative housing and development methods and planning, according to his application.