One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
State to Review 18 Redevelopment Agencies, Including L.A.'s
Funds for attracting businesses to Hollywood, and to work on the Walk of Fame are part of the CRA's plans (Photo by jeanclaudephot.com via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
With their funding on the chopping block under Governor Jerry Brown's proposed state budget, State Controller John Chiang has announced his auditors were beginning reviews of 18 redevelopment agencies (RDA) across the state in an effort to obtain facts on how RDA funds are used and the extent to which they comply with laws governing their activities.
Chiang and his department are following concerns raised regarding the assertion that redevelopment agencies pose as "engines of local economic and job growth" but may actually be "scams providing windfalls to political cronies at the expense of public services." To that end, the Controller has selected 18 diverse agencies to analyze, including the cities Los Angeles and Pasadena in LA County.
Following the announcement that the agencies would lose funding, the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles was among the many who fast-tracked the appropriation of millions in funding for hundreds of projects.
The State Controller's office will finish their review in March.
The 18 chosen RDAs are as follows:
- Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Jose (Santa Clara County)
- Redevelopment Agency for the County of Riverside
- Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles County)
- Richmond Redevelopment Agency (Contra Costa County)
- Redevelopment Agency of the County of Sacramento
- Redevelopment Agency of the City of Pittsburg (Contra Costa County)
- Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fremont (Alameda County)
- Pasadena Community Development Commission (Los Angeles County)
- Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fresno (Fresno County)
- City of Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency (Riverside County)
- Placentia Redevelopment Agency (Orange County)
- Parlier Redevelopment Agency (Fresno County)
- Hercules Redevelopment Agency (Contra Costa County)
- Anderson Redevelopment Agency (Shasta County)
- Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Citrus Heights (Sacramento County)
- Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Calexico (Imperial County)
- Community Development Agency of the City of Coronado (San Diego County)
- City of Desert Hot Springs Redevelopment Agency (Riverside County)
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
