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Redevelopment in SF: The unknown government
Last week, the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency took the first step toward a massive land grab that will, if approved later this spring by the Board of Supervisors, give the agency control of nearly all of Bayview Hunters Point and “repeople” it with a richer, whiter population. This week, the Bay View learned that all over California, communities are joining forces to fight Redevelopment. We’re joining them. This is a war we can win!
There is an unknown government in California. This unknown government currently consumes 10 percent of all property taxes statewide – $2.1 billion in 2001. It has a total indebtedness of over $51 billion.
It is supported by a powerful Sacramento lobby, backed by an army of lawyers, consultants, bond brokers and land developers.
Unlike new counties, cities and school districts, it can be created without a vote of the citizens affected.
Unlike other governments, it can incur bonded indebtedness without voter approval.
Unlike other governments, it may use the power of eminent domain to benefit private interests.
This unknown government provides no public services. It does not educate our children, maintain our streets, protect us from crime, nor stock our libraries
It claims to eliminate blight and promote economic development, yet there is no evidence it has done so in the half century since it was created.
Indeed, it has become a rapidly growing drain on California’s public resources, amassing enormous power with little public awareness or oversight.
This unknown government is Redevelopment. It is time Californians knew more about it.
State law allows a city council or county board of supervisors to create a redevelopment agency to administer one or more “project areas” within its boundaries. An area may be small, or it can encompass the entire city.
These project areas are governed by a redevelopment agency with its own staff and governing board, appointed by the city council or, in San Francisco, by the mayor.
More
http://sfbayview.com/031506/theunknown031506.shtml
It is supported by a powerful Sacramento lobby, backed by an army of lawyers, consultants, bond brokers and land developers.
Unlike new counties, cities and school districts, it can be created without a vote of the citizens affected.
Unlike other governments, it can incur bonded indebtedness without voter approval.
Unlike other governments, it may use the power of eminent domain to benefit private interests.
This unknown government provides no public services. It does not educate our children, maintain our streets, protect us from crime, nor stock our libraries
It claims to eliminate blight and promote economic development, yet there is no evidence it has done so in the half century since it was created.
Indeed, it has become a rapidly growing drain on California’s public resources, amassing enormous power with little public awareness or oversight.
This unknown government is Redevelopment. It is time Californians knew more about it.
State law allows a city council or county board of supervisors to create a redevelopment agency to administer one or more “project areas” within its boundaries. An area may be small, or it can encompass the entire city.
These project areas are governed by a redevelopment agency with its own staff and governing board, appointed by the city council or, in San Francisco, by the mayor.
More
http://sfbayview.com/031506/theunknown031506.shtml
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You will never stop redevelopment until you get a right to housing. You will never get a right to housing until you raise the level of Constitutional scrutiny for housing from minimum scrutiny to a higher level. What is the higher level and how do you get to it?
The article linked below, which will appear in the November 2006, Stetson Law Review, shows you both things. Good luck!
Cheers,
John Ryskamp
Ryskamp, John Henry, "Housing in the New Constitution" (December 29, 2005). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=562521 or DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.562521
The article linked below, which will appear in the November 2006, Stetson Law Review, shows you both things. Good luck!
Cheers,
John Ryskamp
Ryskamp, John Henry, "Housing in the New Constitution" (December 29, 2005). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=562521 or DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.562521
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