By Kevin O'Brien
In the May 26th edition of the LA Times the paper editorialized in favor of two bills, SB 450 and SB 286, both of which are reformative alternatives to Governor Jerry Brown’s redevelopment elimination proposal.
SB 450, introduced by Senator Alan Lowenthal, primarily seeks to limit the amount of resources a redevelopment agency can allocate to administrative costs. In addition, SB 450 seeks to direct how redevelopment agencies allocate redevelopment funds in order to prioritize the production of affordable housing. The LA times concluded their validation of SB 450 by stating, “Lowenthal’s legislation contains valuable safeguards including the imposition of public reporting requirements that will help ensure that money is spent as intended.” That intention would ensure funding for extremely low-income households specifically, ensuring that the most good is provided to the most in need.
Much like SB 450, SB 286 uses new restrictions to better guide redevelopment funds for the maximum economic benefit, instead of haphazardly cutting said funding. The LA Times wrote, “SB 286 would, “…stop governments from simply designating themselves blighted in blanket fashion, then authorizing development and capturing all the tax revenue raised by that development… depriving the state and schools of their share.” Schools districts have questioned redevelopment efforts, however the LA Times explicitly stated that, “…schools are given special protection under the Wright’s Bill.” The piece of legislation, introduced by Senator Roderick Wright, is another example of how the perceived issue within redevelopment can and should be solved through reform, not dismissed through elimination.
The LA Times joins the growing list of those opposed to Governor Jerry Brown’s redevelopment elimination proposal, opting instead for redevelopment reform, most notably the California Redevelopment Association and the League of California Cities. Readers were left with a short, definite endorsement of the upcoming legislation, and an inference of support for a sustained redevelopment effort in California, writing “The Legislature should approve them.”
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