California's redevelopment agencies take in $5 billion annually, and the money is supposed to go
to fixing blight and promoting economic development. But the funds also are paying for emergency services
and other purposes -- which is illegal. The LA Times' Jessica Garrison has the story.
"This use of redevelopment money is clearly illegal
in some cases, and legal or on the margins in others.
Either way, officials in many cash-strapped cities say they have come to rely on redevelopment
money to avoid making deep budget cuts."
"That helps explain why many are fighting so hard against
Gov.Jerry Brown's proposal to abolish municipal redevelopment and
shift the money to other purposes."
In San Diego, the city is planning some $4 billion in redevelopment projects as far out as 2048 -- a direct challenge to Gov. Brown's budget plan, which seeks to abolish the redevelopment agencies.
From Liam Dillon in the Voice of San Diego: "The draft proposal, which was circulated around City Hall today, includes
nearly $2.5 billion targeted for downtown. The list includes projects
that wouldn't start until as late as 2048."
"San Diego's proposal boosts the month-long fight between cities and Brown to unforeseen heights.
Cities around the state have scrambled to protect redevelopment
dollars from a potential state axe by selling bonds
and, like San Diego is proposing, entering into complicated agreements to secure future property tax dollars without actually
spending money now."
Meanwhile, federal budget cuts proposed by House Republicans
could take billions of dollars from such California
projects as high-speed rail and medical centers, reports the Modesto Bee's Michael Doyle.
"The budget-tightening bill
would divert more than $1 billion from high-speed rail. It would take $1.2
billion from community health centers, such as the
895 centers serving
California. It would cut Head Start for children, Pell
Grants for college
students and research funding for professors."
The 359-page bill is a down payment on congressional GOP promises
to attack the
$1.4 trillion federal budget deficit. The legislation is
still mammoth,
providing more than $1 trillion to fund the federal government for the
remaining seven months of fiscal 2011."
In Sacramento, Democrats aren't happy about their own governor's proposed
budget cuts: They are poised to remove some of them at an Assembly budget subcommittee hearing today. The
Bee's Kevin Yamamura tells the tale.
"In particular, Assembly Democrats will not eliminate
welfare aid for children after a four-year time limit, and they plan to cut
grants by 5 percent rather than 13 percent. They will, however, impose a
four-year time cap for adults proposed by Brown."
"As Senate Democrats did Wednesday, Assembly Democrats
will reject Brown's proposal to cap doctor visits and
prescription drugs for
Medi-Cal patients. They will also reject Brown's plan to
eliminate Adult Day
Health Care."
And now from our bulging "Adults Only" file, we turn to the town of Manassas, Virginia, which
is considering an ordinance that would prohibit minors
from walking a dog.
"The city is also considering impounding and sterilizing
dogs if they are caught running loose three times in
two years."
"Supporters say the laws would protect everyone in
the community,
and most people we spoke with agreed."
"Generally, if a dog is running wild, it's probably
hunting
for something or trying to find something because it
may be in season or it may
be a male trying to find a dog in season,” Cindy
Smith, a Manassas resident, told NBC Washington.
Maybe the city council should be on a leash...
