The California Redevelopment Association, the organization that represents government officials who were best known for abusing eminent domain and sending subsidies to big-box retail stores in the name of "redevelopment," has announced that it is closing its doors. Hooray! Government redevelopment agencies across the state likewise are closing their doors. So, yes, it's possible for life to go on with a smaller public sector. Here are excerpts from the sour-grapes letter from CRA President and Alhambra City Manager Julio Fuentes and CRA Interim Executive Director Jim Kennedy (he is interim, because the executive director, John Shirey, saw the hand-writing on the wall and jumped ship):
"(W)e are confronted with the unfortunate reality that the years of incredible success with redevelopment - building affordable housing, creating jobs, cleaning up and reusing contaminated sites, and revitalizing communities - have now come to an end due to a policy choice of the State of California to address its fiscal imbalance in part by dissolving redevelopment agencies. As a result, cities and counties in California will, at least for a time, have to address community revitalization needs without this incredibly powerful tool.
"With the dissolution of local redevelopment agencies as of February 1, it has become clear to the board and executive staff that the business plan for CRA is no longer sustainable. (T)he CRA Board of Directors has now concluded with great reluctance that it has no other prudent choice but to initiate the dissolution of the association. This process will take a period of time... (and) will include a membership vote to affirm dissolution actions that the Board of Directors will be asked to take."
But here's a warning for property rights activists:
"The League of California Cities has already convened a Next Generation Task Force to assist in these discussions. The imperative for California's communities to continue addressing their infrastructure, affordable housing, jobs/economic development, brownfield reuse, and military base reuse challenges remains. We encourage CRA members to stay active with your local legislators and the League of California Cities as the State Legislature discusses both fixes to current law, and the next generation of local government tools for community revitalization."
"With the dissolution of local redevelopment agencies as of February 1, it has become clear to the board and executive staff that the business plan for CRA is no longer sustainable. (T)he CRA Board of Directors has now concluded with great reluctance that it has no other prudent choice but to initiate the dissolution of the association. This process will take a period of time... (and) will include a membership vote to affirm dissolution actions that the Board of Directors will be asked to take."
But here's a warning for property rights activists:
"The League of California Cities has already convened a Next Generation Task Force to assist in these discussions. The imperative for California's communities to continue addressing their infrastructure, affordable housing, jobs/economic development, brownfield reuse, and military base reuse challenges remains. We encourage CRA members to stay active with your local legislators and the League of California Cities as the State Legislature discusses both fixes to current law, and the next generation of local government tools for community revitalization."
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