Continuing their excellent coverage of the twists and turns in the California redevelopment saga, CP&DR have run two articles this week providing updates on efforts to navigate a path forward for redevelopment.
As officials across the state continue to struggle with the complexities of the dissolution of redevelopment agencies, Josh Stephens reports on legislative efforts to fund housing and manage the disposal of redevelopment agency assets and the obstacles to moving with a new redevelopment structure.
On the legislative front, Stephens reports on two bills introduced in the state senate, "The first would give cities and successor agencies greater powers to maximize the value of redevelopment agency assets rather than subject them to a 'fire sale.' The second represents a holy grail for many housing advocates: a consistent, dedicated source of funding for affordable housing, to the tune of up to $700 million per year."
On moving forward, Stephens reports on a speech made by one of redevelopment's strongest supporters in the capital, Sen. Alex Padilla, at a conference this week. Padilla provided a bit of candid history by noting that the complete elimination of redevelopment was accidental, "due to legislation...that was crafted hastily and poorly last summer."
Although Padilla is optimistic about the legislature's support for replacing redevelopment, he identified the governor as the biggest potential obstacle, "He got what he wanted," said Padilla. "I don't see the policy pushes and pulls for him to really engage here."
FULL STORY: Padilla: Governor May Be Biggest Obstacle to Redevelopment 2.0
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
How California Transit Agencies are Addressing Rider Harassment
Safety and harassment are commonly cited reasons passengers, particularly women and girls, avoid public transit.
Significant Investments Needed to Protect LA County Residents From Climate Hazards
A new study estimates that LA County must invest billions of dollars before 2040 to protect residents from extreme heat, increasing precipitation, worsening wildfires, rising sea levels, and climate-induced public health threats.
Federal Rule Raises Cost for Oil and Gas Extraction on Public Lands
An update to federal regulations raises minimum bonding to limit orphaned wells and ensure cleanup costs are covered — but it still may not be enough to mitigate the damages caused by oil and gas drilling.
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