Here's something you might be interested in.
Centre City Development Corp. has canceled its recently-announced series of sales spiels around the city. They were to be called "Community Benefit Assessment outreach meetings." It was clear from the outset that they would be similar to the dire warning meetings that Mayor Sanders' goons held around the city, warning of woes if Prop. D did not pass. Prop. D was defeated overwhelmingly. The purpose of the CCDC meetings was supposedly "to provide the public with accurate information" on what would happen downtown if Gov. Brown successfully closes down redevelopment agencies and "to use that information in framing public dialogue." Says the downtown redevelopment agency," CCDC is working with the city to renew this outreach program once the future of redevelopment has greater focus."
Centre City Development Corp. has canceled its recently-announced series of sales spiels around the city. They were to be called "Community Benefit Assessment outreach meetings." It was clear from the outset that they would be similar to the dire warning meetings that Mayor Sanders' goons held around the city, warning of woes if Prop. D did not pass. Prop. D was defeated overwhelmingly. The purpose of the CCDC meetings was supposedly "to provide the public with accurate information" on what would happen downtown if Gov. Brown successfully closes down redevelopment agencies and "to use that information in framing public dialogue." Says the downtown redevelopment agency," CCDC is working with the city to renew this outreach program once the future of redevelopment has greater focus."
Bravo! Wonder if "greater focus" means "some visible signs of support for Redevelopment by the rabble"? If so, don't hold your breath, CCDC.
The Sacramento Bee has been running some good pieces on Brown's redevelopment proposal. You won't find anything like these in your local fish wrap, so here are a few from SacBee:
Sheriff Brown vs. Redevelopment Marauders: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/04/3376486/sheriff-brown-faces-showdown-with.html
Voodoo Redevelopment Economics: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/06/3381042/dan-walters-watch-out-for-voodoo.html
Brown's Unlikely Ally: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/06/3378854/unlikely-ally-for-browns-big-fight.html
No Evidence of Benefit: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/02/legislative-analyst-ramps-up-r.html
Yes, I have seen some of those and I recommend them to San Diegans. Best, Don Bauder
Hmm. None of those links worked for me. I hope other readers were able to read the pieces. One thing though: That paper is the mouthpiece for the state capital establishment, and that has a built-in bias toward sending more recources to Sacto to be redistributed. Not saying I disagree with shutting down this abusive and unproductive use of public finds, but everyone has an axe to grind.
Sorry, V. Just go to www.sacbee.com and use the search bar with one word: redevelopment
You can pull up a list of stories; most of the stories about Brown and redevelopment are on on the first and second pages of the listed search links.
That will be helpful. Best, Don Bauder
Oh, and just noticed: The local fishwrap did provide a one-sentence story about a possible redevelopment compromise, giving only the link to another paper. How's that for local journalism!!!
Here 'tis (the link to the other paper, not to the fishwrap): http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/09/redevelopment-leader-says-compromise-is-possible/
If this link to the Ventura County Star fails to work, then go to signonsandiego.com and look under the Business tab, then on that page under the Growth & Development segment. The one-sentence story is titled "Redevelopment compromise in the wind?" The lead sentence begins "The head of the state's redevelopment association, signaling a retreat from the organization's entrenched opposition..."
That was evidently too difficult for the U-T to print or contemplate.
If there is a pro-government bias, its roots probably lie in the local economy, like San Diego fawning over biotechs and aerospace/defense companies until most of them departed. Best, Don Bauder
Here is an alternative to CCDC’s canceled propaganda tour: The Grantville Action Group, in conjunction with the Affordable Housing Coalition of San Diego, will put on a community forum on redevelopment. The title of the event is: “Redevelopment: Abolish or Reform?”
Heading the abolish side will be me, Brian Peterson. Heading the reform side will be former SEDC chief Brian Trotier. Together we will discuss Governor Brown’s budget proposal to eliminate redevelopment agencies, and what that means for San Diego.
What: Community forum—Redevelopment: Abolish or Reform? When: Wednesday, March 2nd @ 6:30 PM Where: The Salvation Army’s Door of Hope in Birdland (Serra Mesa), 2799 Health Center Drive (Vista Hill Avenue & Health Center Drive), San Diego 92123; one block from Sharp Hospital Why: Community response to Governor Brown’s proposal to abolish redevelopment agencies Who: Affordable Housing Coalition of San Diego and the Grantville Action Group
Please be sure to attend. Much of the event will be an open forum, so please be sure to bring your stories of redevelopment successes, failures and abuses. I hope to see everyone there. Thank you.
Brian T. Peterson, DVM www.GrantvilleActionGroup.com
It sounds like a provocative discussion. Best, Don Bauder
Any time a Giant Sucking Sound (GSS) entity "cancels," it is a calculated move.
ANY public bull-session is bound to be manipulative.
Anyone who attends is playing into the calculation.
If you want to get something DONE, get the facts together and take action accordingly--talking just takes up your time and energy.
Talking with spinmeisters dispatched by the mayor is especially unproductive. Best, Don Bauder
SacBee says today that Dems working on Brown's budget proposals are holding off on deciding the Redevelopment issue...legislation soon to be written, and Dems think Redevelopment Agencies will come up with a compromise deal.
There is a SacBee report on a series of RA interviews:
"PRNewswire/ -- California Governor Jerry Brown has called for abolishing the cash-rich Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRA's) so their funds can pay off the State's massive debt. The Full Disclosure Network is releasing an exclusive two-part television interview with long-time veteran newsman Ron Kaye, Editor of the L. A. Daily News (1984-2008) who describes waste and fraud in CRA redevelopment projects. The series is to be featured on community and public cable television channels throughout out California..."
Here is the link to six interview segments: http://www.fulldisclosure.net/Programs/589.php
I don't know anything about Ron Kaye, or if Full Disclosure is solid and trustworthy, but the first segment is interesting.
I don't know Ron Kaye either, but it sounds like a good project. Best, Don Bauder
Another interesting SacBee report on the abolishment of redevelopment agencies: http://tiny.cc/z3oqb
Anyone seen this "release"?
Please Distribute!
This coming Monday, February 28th, the City Council will be hearing an item Mayor Jerry Sanders docketed for City Council consideration which includes a list of projects we’re seeking to protect for San Diego if the short-sighted proposal to eliminate redevelopment succeeds.
Please join the Mayor in support and speak on behalf of:
Item 601 – Cooperation Agreement for Payment of Costs Associated with Certain Redevelopment Agency Funded Projects Monday, February 28, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. City Administration Building Council Chambers – 12th Floor 202 “C” Street San Diego, CA 92101
The projects we’re seeking to protect represent the very essence of redevelopment, which for the past 60 years in San Diego has been working to transform economically depressed older neighborhoods throughout the city into places where families and businesses can thrive, providing jobs to our citizens and additional revenue to our general fund.
This includes:
· $1 billion to improve decaying or inadequate public infrastructure, such as replacing broken or missing sidewalks; re-aligning poorly planned streets; installing streetlights; and removing toxic waste from abandoned lots to make them viable for private investment.
· $340 million to build or improve parks and libraries – the hallmark of good neighborhoods and strong communities.
· $88 million to build 4 new fire stations, helping to address the thin fire and emergency medical coverage in San Diego.
· And importantly, the list of planned projects we’re seeking to protect includes more than $1.7 billion to increase San Diego’s affordable housing supply, so that more low-income families have an opportunity to live in stable housing.
The effort to eliminate redevelopment as freeing money for cities’ general funds is a fallacy. What it really does is steal money to fill the perennial Sacramento budget gap, once again allowing them to avoid real reform and forcing the City’s General Fund to take on the full burden of decaying public infrastructure while diverting the resources needed to deal with it.
Please feel free to contact your fellow colleagues and members and invite them to show support and speak on behalf of this item. If you have any questions, please feel free contact me at your convenience.
The Mayor looks forward to seeing you there.
Sincerely,
Stephen Lew
Stephen Lew Director of Community Outreach l Office of Mayor Jerry Sanders [email protected] l 619.236.6330 l 202 C Street, 11th Floor, 92101