Stand Up for Redevelopment Money, Urge Community Organizers

The Springs Community Alliance is the first local agency to publicly speak out against the proposed 2011 state budget, and its affect on local redevelopment agencies.

Released earlier this month, Gov. Brown's budget proposal, if ratified, would dissolve redevelopment agencies, and use redevelopment money for a to-be-determined ratio of state and local projects.

In their latest newsletter, the Springs Community Alliance emphasized the huge role redevelopment money plays in the Springs, writing that "[redevelopment] is a critical source of funding to for The Springs and the only public funding directly influenced by representatives elected by the local Springs community."

We published and projects, in both Sonoma and the Springs, currently funded by redevelopment money. 

The Alliance says that the following projects would be threatened if the current budget is ratified, and redevelopment agencies are dissolved:

• The continuation of the Highway 12 redevelopment program, which has provided sidewalks and streetlamps to provide for pedestrian traffic.
• Graffiti abatement and litter abatement programs in the Springs.
• The popular "Commercial Rehabilitation Loan Program," which allows businesses to procure low interest loans to help maintain compliance with signage and Americans with Disabilities Act standards. 
• A Springs-based "Community Health Center," currently in planning stages.

The Alliance is organizing a letter-writing campaign, and asks concerned residents to write individually to the following representatives.

• Gov. Jerry Brown, State Capitol, Suite 1173, Sacramento, CA 95814
• Sen. Noreen Evans, State Capitol, Room 4034, Sacramento, CA 95814
• Assemblyman Jared Huffman, State Capitol, Room 3120, Sacramento, CA 94249-0006

We've reprinted the sample letter, created by the Alliance, below:

RE: Eliminating or curtailing redevelopment will weaken our economy
        and not provide budget relief for the State

Dear Governor Brown, Senator Evans or Assemblyman Huffman:

I am a member of the community known as “The Springs” in the Sonoma Valley, a community that benefits greatly from redevelopment funding. The Governor’s proposal to eliminate or curtail redevelopment is short-sighted public policy that will damage our local economy and bring little budget relief to the State. The proposal to eliminate redevelopment

Will not provide expected budget relief to the State or local governments after obligations are repaid;

Will destroy millions of dollars in local economic activity and hundreds of jobs in The Springs;

Will kill our efforts to provide affordable housing in our community; and

Will harm our efforts to grow responsibly by focusing on infill and sustainable development in The Springs.

The proposal will kill jobs and economic expansion at the worst possible time.

Eliminating redevelopment will have a direct and lasting negative impact on the California economy and job creation.

•  Redevelopment activities support an average of 304,000 full- and part-time private sector jobs in a typical year, including 170,600 construction jobs.

• Redevelopment contributes over $40 billion annually to California’s economy in the generation of goods and services, including increasing the state’s construction sector output by about $19 billion.
• Redevelopment construction activities generate $2 billion in state and local taxes in a typical year.
• INSERT YOUR OWN SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF LOCAL SPRINGS REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESS STORIES AND/OR PROJECTS THAT YOU CARE ABOUT WHICH WOULD BE KILLED BY THE PROPOSAL.

This proposal runs completely contrary to the Governor’s and Legislature’s stated goals of realigning state services to provide more responsibility and funding locally.  Redevelopment funds are already locally-generated property tax dollars (agencies do not receive State funding) directed toward community projects and programs directed by locally-elected officials with input from citizens. The proposal wipes out the only tool local governments have to drive economic growth, build up tax revenues, and grow sustainably.

I urge you to reject this misguided proposal.

Sincerely,

[Your name here]