Plan to eliminate redevelopment agencies meets with stiff opposition
Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to eliminate California's municipal redevelopment agencies as part of his proposed state budget has met with strong opposition at the local level.
Critics say Brown's plan would take away one of the most potent tools city officials have to improve blighted areas by building housing and commercial projects.
Redevelopment agencies collect billions of dollars in property tax revenue and dole out hundreds of millions annually in contracts, making them a significant source of power for the city officials who control them.
Brown projected that killing the agencies would save the state $1.7 billion in the next fiscal year.
Santa Monica's head of economic development, Andy Agle, called the idea "shameful."
-- Jessica Garrison
Photo: Section of redeveloped Bunker Hill in downtown Los Angeles. Credit: Los Angeles Times
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Just listen to what the article says. " Redevelopment agencies collect billions of dollars in property tax revenue and dole out hundreds of millions annually in contracts, ". If they collect Billions and distribute hundreds of millions, what happens to the rest of the hundreds of millions ???? Taxpayers pay billions and reap hundreds of millions. That means many hundreds of millions are sucked up by the bureaucrats that run the agencies.
I just hope you taxpayers are paying attention to this. It sounds like a GREAT place to cut ! ! !
Posted by: CaliPHOBE | January 15, 2011 at 08:57 PM
Does Santa Monica really need to be redeveloped? I don't see much blight or slum like conditions lately in that "hood".
Posted by: former USC Professor | January 15, 2011 at 10:11 PM
Of course, it's meeting stiff opposition -- from the people who are making billions off redevelopment on the backs of the tax payers. Those who feed at the trough are going to get riled up when the trough is taken away.
Posted by: Alexandra Remington | January 16, 2011 at 04:05 AM
No redevelopment agency= Privatized construction companies and scabs.
Posted by: jay | January 16, 2011 at 04:22 AM
THERE IS NO MONEY !!!! These municipals can wait until CA improves. It just astounds me that people don't GET IT! "".... making a significant source of POWER for the city officials who CONTROL them.""
This is a huge part of the problem. The people are to be in control. Not for city officials. I believe EVERTHING SHOULD BE VOTED BY THE PEOPLE. Too bad if these CONTRACTORS don't make their millions and billions. I AM SICK OF IT.... THERE IS NO MONEY!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: ello | January 16, 2011 at 06:57 AM
Jerry Brown is back again killing more businesses in California. First he is planning on destroying more funds for higher education, resulting in a less educated, poorly prepared workforce later down the line, and more student debt for those who do decide to go to school. Now we can't rebuild the bad parts of our cities, what is next? This article even tells us that these agencies collect "billions" in property taxes and dole out "millions" in contracts. I think the 1.7 billion for hiring them is hardly anything for the work they do. California is a sorry state, with the least uneducated 20 somethings voting for people they forgot messed up the state 20 years ago. All they believe is rhetoric. I hope we recall Jerry Brown at some point. I may have not liked Arnold at all, but Jerry is already doing more damage to the State of California that is going to put us further in the mud hole.
Posted by: Jenner | January 16, 2011 at 07:36 AM
Cut Cut Cut! But not mine. Take away from all the poor people because they have no voice and no opposition.
Posted by: JC | January 16, 2011 at 08:56 AM
"meets with stiff opposition" - what is it a porn star?
The word "with," in a headline - really?
Posted by: Where have all the copy editors gone? | January 16, 2011 at 12:18 PM