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April 26, 2007
Scamming redevelopment
With little oversight, local redevelopment agencies seize private property and spend tax dollars to subsidize developers.
LA Times, Op-Ed
By Doug Kaplan
Everyone does it!
IN CALIFORNIA last year, redevelopment agencies spent more than $5 billion. They consumed almost $3 billion in property taxes. They forced people from their homes and businesses. And what vital service did they provide? They built shopping centers.
And here's the developers' dirty little secret:
Developers don't demand subsidies because they need them; they demand subsidies because they are there for the taking.
What if I'm wrong? Then redevelopment officials should still ask themselves — or better yet, they should ask the voters — how the public expects its tax dollars to be spent. Does it want more fabulous shopping centers and ever grander avenues? Or, for example, would it prefer better neighborhood schools?
Redevelopment is unwise, unjust and unnecessary and should be repealed before billions more dollars are wasted on public subsidies for private developers who — trust me — don't need the money.
He ought to know:
DOUG KAPLAN is a Northern California developer and former school board trustee. He lives in Aptos.
Posted by lumi at April 26, 2007 7:33 AM