The California Redevelopment Association and its allies have long fought "attacks" on eminent domain and exclusionary housing, which involve a form of legalized extortion. Agencies force property owners to give up their homes or businesses so that the government can give them to other private owners who promise to develop the land in a way preferred by City Hall. They also force builders to essentially give away housing units at below-market prices to provide affordable housing.
So now it's funny to read a statement from CRA's Executive Director John Shirey decrying the extortion involved in the state's ongoing efforts to shut down redevelopment agencies and send the money back to the state budget. Said Shirey, with no apparent sense of irony: "We're deeply disappointed that slim majorities in the legislature passed this budget that relies on the illegal extortion of revenues from redevelopment agencies that will never materialize. This plan is unconstitutional, violating Proposition 22 which was just passed overwhelmingly by voters in November." As I say to my kids, "Where's the world's smallest violin?"
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