Those of us in the trenches fighting redevleopment agency abuses for the past two decades are not taking the summer off .
Following is our latest effort to press the CA GOP to live up to the GOP platform of defending our private property rights. Larry Gilbert, CAPPPR Director.
Conservative Leaders and Property Rights Advocates call on GOP Legislators to Abandon Defense of Redevelopment Agencies
Support for RDAs an affront to conservative principles and private property rights.
For Immediate Release Marko Mlikotin
916.552.0335
Sacramento, CA (May 24, 2011) – Today, conservative leaders and private property rights advocates announced a statewide public education campaign to convince Republican State Legislators to abolish California Redevelopment Agencies (RDAs) to advance the conservative values of property rights and fiscal responsibility. In March, only one Republican voted for Governor Jerry Brown’s budget plan to abolish 425 RDAs.
RDAs have come under considerable public scrutiny for wasteful government spending, eminent domain abuse and, according to independent state analysis, failing to increase theoverall number of California jobs. The campaign is designed to build support among the public and to ask GOP legislators to sign a pledge to abolish redevelopment agencies. This pledge will serve as a commitment to conservative values such as protecting taxpayers and private property.
“Republican Legislators need to convince voters that they remain dedicated to defending private property rights and protecting taxpayers,” said Jon Fleischman, a conservative blogger and former officer of the California Republican Party. “Pledging to abolish redevelopment agencies will reaffirm their commitment to conservative principles.”
A State Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) report found that RDAs divert over $5 billion in tax increment revenue annually without any reliable evidence that they create new jobs.
“All the while redevelopment agencies are using eminent domain to forcibly seize property from unwilling sellers, they have not fulfilled their promise of creating new jobs,” said Marko Mlikotin, president of the California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights. “Redevelopment has failed taxpayers and threatens private property rights. It is time for the Legislature to do away with these government boondoggles.”
A notable taxpayer organization also voiced concerns. Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association said, “Redevelopment agencies have been the biggest abusers of homeowners’ property rights in California. Immediate action is needed now and we urge all legislators, including Republicans, to reject the influence of politically connected developers and do what is right for ordinary California homeowners.”
Redevelopment agencies’ insatiable desire for revenue has led them to forcibly seize places of worship, small businesses and homes by eminent domain that are clearly not blighted. Illustrating that RDAs have run amuck, the Municipal Officials for Redevelopment Reform found that a full 30% of all urbanized land in California has been declared blighted.
A California’s State Controller audit of RDAs reached a similar conclusion that overly broad definitions of “blight” expose private property to eminent domain abuse and invite wasteful spending of tax dollars on dubious redevelopment projects such as luxury golf courses. In addition, redevelopment funds were inappropriately used to supplement the general funds of local governments.
“California’s redevelopment agencies are some of the worst perpetrators of eminent domainabuse in the nation,” said Christina Walsh, from the Institute for Justice, the organization that represented Susette Kelo before the U.S. Supreme Court in Kelo v. City of New London. “Until state legislators abolish these agencies, no private property owner in California is safe.”Californians are encouraged to visit www.stopthemoneypit.com to learn how they can join our campaign to protect private property rights and eliminate government waste, and support legislation that abolishes RDAs, SB 77 and AB 101.
The California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights is California’s leading private property rights (non-partisan) organization founded in 2005 and was a lead sponsor of Proposition 98, a 2008 state ballot measure that sought to protect private property rights.
I’m on board Larry – let’s fill the money pit that is redevelopment agencies and end their eminent domain abuse once and for all.
Yeah well, you guys have to convince people like Don Wagner and Allan Mansoor to do the right thing on this; the Dems are already on board! (And Norby)
It is hard to convince someone to vote yes when it is a proposal from the other party, even if it does make sense.
Sad, and lame-ass, but true these days.
Vern. It’s called gridlock.
While I am a card carrying Republican I will not be a rubber stamp to some of their decisions or candidates. Let’s not forget that I was in the crowd that cost George Bush Senior his re-election bid by voting for Ross Perot who ended up with 19% of the votes cast in that election which enabled Bill Clinton to capture the brass ring.
While I’ve heard SAC GOP justification on their prior votes this is a core issue for me that I will continue to pursue until we can eradicate this growing cancer.
As long as you apply your comment to both parties, I agree Vern. I also agree that many of the Republicans I support need to step up and get rid of these terrible agencies.
Spanky still does not want to talk with me about this issue. The funds from Emperor Bren and his Death Star bootlickers (aka the Irvine Company with help from Boss Agran) must be too good and numerous to pass up.