LongBeachReport.com | LBReport.com | Must See VIDEO / Redevelopment Debated: Ass'yman Chris Norby vs. Linda Barton, President of CA Redevelopment @ Sacramento Press Club

(Feb. 15, 2011) -- Assemblyman Chris Norby (R, Fullerton), a knowledgable critic of Redevelopment (author of Redevelopment: The Unknown Government, former OC Supervisor and former Fullerton Mayor/Councilman) recently debated Governor Jerry Brown's budget proposal to phase-out Redevelopment with the President of the CA Redevelopment Association (advocacy group for RDAs statewide) Linda Barton (Exec. Dir., Livermore RDA) at the Sacramento Press Club.

Sceen save via the California Channel

The Feb. 1 event was captured on video by the California Channel where it is now available on-demand. In our opinion, the video is must-see viewing. To view the Sacramento Press Club event, click here.

As previously reported by LBReport.com, on Jan. 10, 2011 newly elected Governor Jerry Brown unveiled a proposed budget that would continue funding schools at current levels in the coming year by measures including phasing-out Redevelopment agencies (which currently consume state tax dollars that replace County property taxes diverted by Redevelopment).

LB City Hall, and other city halls and various development interests, oppose the Governor's proposal to phase out Redevelopment agencies. In LB, city officials have over the years declared over 40% of LB "blighted" to put it under Redevelopment and in some cases now tap RDA "blight fighting" money to pay for ordinary capital and infrastructure projects [sparing Councilmembers the need to budget and pay for these projects as part of their General Fund].

On Jan. 18, 2011 (on 24-hours notice given on MLK Day), the LB City Council responded to the Governor's proposed Redevelopment phase out by voting to contractually obligate roughly $1 billion in current and anticipated RDA revenue to fund a list of "planned" city projects (some not yet off the drawing board).

LBReport.com welcomes our readers' reactions below to the Sacramento Press Club event.

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