Tag "redevelopment"
Back to homepageMunicipal Bankruptcy Stalks Stockton
FEB. 27, 2012 By WAYNE LUSVARDI Stockton, California’s 13th largest city, may be moving from “Fat City” to “Mudville.” Both were former historical names for Stockton. “BK” is shorthand for bankruptcy. On Feb. 23, Stockton City Manager Robert Deis asked
Read MoreThink ‘Big Labor’ For Arena Deal
Katy Grimes: What does a city do when the chips are down, the deficit is huge, services are cut and public approval is at a record low? Why, of course, it’s time to build a sports arena. In Sacramento, despite
Read MoreRedevelopment Agencies Facing Default
JAN. 23, 2012 By CHRISS STREET Public officials are scrambling to deal with the California Supreme Court’s decision in California Redevelopment Agency vs. Matosantos. It upheld the elimination of the RDAs last year by Gov. Jerry Brown and the California
Read MoreMarket, Not Govt., Builds Cheaper Housing
JAN. 17, 2012 By WAYNE LUSVARDI Is the demise of redevelopment hurting the poor? El Monte Mayor Andre Quintero says it is. He’s bemoaning that, when Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature killed redevelopment, the source of funds for affordable
Read MoreRedevelopment barons plot comeback
JAN. 9, 2012 I’m still giddy after the California Supreme Court ruled last month that the state had every right to shut down those noxious enemies of property rights and fiscal responsibility — redevelopment agencies. Better yet, the state’s high
Read MoreSupreme Court Rebukes Crony Capitalism
The following first appeared in City Journal California. JAN. 6, 2012 By STEVEN GREENHUT On December 29, 2011, the California Supreme Court handed down what the state’s urban redevelopment agencies (RDAs) and their supporters called a “worst of all worlds” ruling—first upholding
Read MoreChoo-Choo Boondoggle Runs Off Cliff
John Seiler: Ding-dong, the stupid bullet train is dead. It’s all over but the scrambling for a couple hundred million dollars of our tax money in various funds. The California High-Speed Rail Peer Review Group yesterday issued a report condemning the
Read MoreRedevelopment Partners In Slime
Katy Grimes: Trying to fill the thrice-vacant City Manager position, Sacramento’s City Council made a job offer to a candidate yesterday. But the politically incestuous connection local politicians have with John Shirey, the candidate and current head of the California Redevelopment
Read MoreDemocrats Pass Hinky Budget
JUNE 29, 2011 By KATY GRIMES With a surprising lack of debate between parties, the California Legislature passed the budget late last evening, and only with a majority vote, attempting to close what began the year as a $26.6 billion
Read MoreRedevelopment is Prop. 13 in Reverse
JUNE 28, 2011 by WAYNE LUSVARDI To California redevelopment advocates, the policy brings the Midas touch to cities, turning everything into gold for the Golden State. Redevelopment fans point to all the beautiful new malls, restored Old Town business districts, industrial
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