(January 28, 2003) -- Retired 8th Dist. Councilman Jeff Kellogg has told LBReport.com that during his term of office (1988-2000, retired pursuant to term limits) he consistently opposed using Redevelopment money to construct the North Division LBPD station and remains opposed to doing so now.
We post Mr. Kellogg's statement in full below. He currently serves on the the LB Community College Board of Trustees representing NLB, a position to which he was elected last year.
On January 23, NLB's Redevelopment Project Area Committee (North PAC) voted 16-0 with two abstentions to recommend that the Redevelopment Agency Board use up to $12.5 million in NLB Redevelopment money (otherwise available for a number of blight reducing projects in NLB) to build the new police facility in Scherer Park (8th district) and a "replacement" park on 55th Way (9th district).
On January 27, the Redevelopment Agency Board voted to do so. The matter is slated to come to the City Council next week...when the spotlight will be on current 8th district Councilman Rob Webb (a Council office staffer for former Councilman Kellogg) and 9th district Councilman Val Lerch.
In response to an earlier query from LBReport.com, retired 9th district Councilman Jerry Shultz indicated that in the current circumstances, he supports using Redevelopment funds, citing public safety as the number one priority and officers' need for the facility.
LBReport.com posts Mr. Kellogg's statement in full below:
During my term of office, I was consistently opposed to using Redevelopment dollars to construct the North Division sub station. I remain opposed to this now.
The February, 2000 staff memo detailed by LBReport.com stemmed in part from my desire to have the funding issue discussed publicly with a funding source clearly identified. In addition, before I left office (July, 2000) I asked then LBPD Chief Lance during my final budget workshop if money from the General Fund and part of long range Capital Improvement Projects was in place to build the structure. He indicated it was.
My belief has always been that Redevelopment funding is for the revitalization of neighborhoods and the business corridors. When done properly, redevelopment will improve an area and increase its tax base. Redevelopment should not be used to construct city structures at the expense of neighborhood revitalization. It's bad politics and it's bad policy.
There was at least one previous attempt to raid the North Long Beach Project Area to pull funding to other parts of the City. Now the two Councilmember's who represent the area attend a NLB PAC meeting with city management and recommend just that! Somehow the money from 24 months ago is gone. Since City Management "lost" it they can now go "find" it and not at the expense of the people of North Long Beach.
