CRA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – February 23, 2011
REMINDER – VIDEO CONFERENCE TODAY AT 2:00 p.m.
Today at 2:00 p.m., CRA will be hosting a FREE Video conference discussing recent legislative actions and hearings, as well as providing information on other items of importance. Participants include: John Shirey (Executive Director, CRA); Chris McKenzie (Executive Director, League of California Cities); David Jones (Legislative Advocate, CRA); and Brent Hawkins (Legal Counsel, CRA)
To access the video conference:
Visit http://www.ustream.tv/channel/california-redevelopment-association to view and participate on tomorrow’s video conference. This event is FREE.
To ask questions as part of the video conference:
In order to ask the presenters questions, you will need to register at http://www.ustream.tv and utilize the interactive online chat tool provided through the above hyperlink.
Phone access:
If you are unable to view the video stream, you may listen to the presentation by calling (877) 568-4108 (access code: 372-449-453). NOTE: Callers will NOT be able to ask questions unless they utilize the interactive chat feature provided through the Ustream hyperlink listed above.
This event will be recorded and posted on the CRA website for future viewing.
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CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ANNOUNCED - PLEASE CONTACT THEM
The members of the Budget Conference Committee are scheduled to begin meeting this morning (Wednesday, February 23) at 10 a.m. This group is charged with reaching agreement between the Assembly and the Senate versions of the state’s budget and trailer bills. The items related to redevelopment are likely to be discussed on Thursday, February 24.
CRA members and local stakeholders should call the committee members today and tomorrow. The message: Do not agree to a budget package that includes the elimination of redevelopment.
ASSEMBLY:
The Assembly will be represented by the following Assembly Members. Assembly Member Blumenfeld is the committee’s Chair:
Bob Blumenfield (D-Los Angeles)
Felipe Fuentes (D-Sylmar)
Diane Harkey (R-Dana Point)
Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber)
Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley)
SENATE:
Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) is vice chair for the committee. The Senate will also be represented by:
Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach)
Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino)
Robert Huff (R-Diamond Bar)
Bill Emmerson (R-Hemet)
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HOLD STATE LEGISLATORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS
Ask the members of the conference committee to vote “no” on a budget package that includes the elimination of redevelopment! If you have a state legislator who has been selected for this committee, it is important that you contact her/him. If your legislator does not sit on the conference committee, please contact the chair, Assembly Member Bob Blumenfeld. Always follow up with a call to your own state legislators about this urgent matter to ask them to contact the conferees.
Click here to contact your Senate and Assembly legislators directly from the CRA website.
Continue your good work in reaching out to your local elected officials and stakeholders. Invite them to join you in writing, calling, and visiting your community’s state legislators. Materials to help with outreach to local stakeholders and legislators can be found at www.protectourlocaleconomy.com.
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LAST WEEK’S COMMITTEE VOTES TO ABOLISH REDEVELOPMENT
Make sure your legislators hear from their constituents about the votes they made last Friday, February 18, on the Governor’s redevelopment proposals – without legislative language of any substance. We urge you to thank those who voted to reject the Governor’s recommendations. If your legislator voted to eliminate redevelopment and take $1.7 billion from redevelopment agencies, he or she should hear what that means to their local communities.
ASSEMBLY:
The Assembly Budget Committee chaired by Assembly Member Bob Blumenfeld (D-Los Angeles), voted as follows:
Yes Votes to Take $1.7 Billion & Leave Agencies Alive
Bob Blumenfield (D-Los Angeles)
Luis A. Alejo (D-Watsonville)
Michael Allen (D-Santa Rosa)
Susan Bonilla (D-Concord)
Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica)
Joan Buchanan (D-San Ramon)
Betsy Butler (D-Marina Del Rey)
Gilbert Cedillo (D-Los Angeles)
Wesley Chesbro (D-Eureka)
Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento)
Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles)
Richard S. Gordon (D-Menlo Park)
Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael)
Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles)
Bill Monning (D-Carmel)
Sandre R. Swanson (D-Alameda)
No Votes
Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber)
Diane Harkey (R-Dana Point)
Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore)
Dan Logue (R-Chico)
Allan R. Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa)
Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga)
Brian Nestande (R-Palm Desert)
David G. Valadao (R-Hanford)
Donald P. Wagner (R-Irvine)
Absent
Bill Berryhill (R-Ceres)
Brian W. Jones (R-Santee
SENATE:
The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee members voted as follows:
Yes Votes to Take $1.7 Billion & Abolish Redevelopment
Senators Mark Leno (D-San Francisco)
Elaine K Alquist (D-Santa Clara)
Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord)
Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa)
Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley)
Carol Liu (D-La Canada Flintridge)
Alan S. Lowenthal (D-Long Beach)
Michael J. Rubio (D-East Bakersfield)
S. Joseph Simitian (D-Palo Alto)
Lois Wolk (D-Davis)
Roderick Wright (D-Los Angeles)
No Votes
Robert Huff (R-Diamond Bar)
Joel Anderson (R-Alpine)
Bill Emmerson (R-Hemet)
Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield)
Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvalle)
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HELP ON SERAF LETTER DUE MARCH 1
By March 1, 2011, the legislative body of each redevelopment agency is required to notify the county auditor as to how the agency intends to fund its May 10 SERAF payment. (Health & Safety Code § 33690(d)) Each agency should consult with its legal and financial advisors to determine which actions may be appropriate for their circumstances.
Many of you have sought our help with language to include in this letter. Our counsel has updated the language shared with our members in 2010 for the same purpose.
"As you may know, the validity of the legislation mandating this SERAF transfer has been challenged in litigation pending in the Third Court of Appeals, California Redevelopment Association et al v. Genest et al, Case No. 34-2009-80000359-CU-WM-GDS ("CRA v. Genest"). This case alleges, among other things, that the duties of county auditors under Health and Safety Code Sections 33690(a) and 33690.5(a) to deposit funds received from redevelopment agencies in County Supplemental Educational Revenue Augmentation
Funds are inconsistent with various state and federal constitutional provisions and are therefore unlawful and unenforceable. The [name of sender’s agency] Redevelopment Agency reserves any rights it may have to withhold the payment of funds to you under Health and Safety Code Section 33690 or to recover those funds after payment or transfer based on any order or judgment of the Court in CRA v. Genest."
CRA continues to be actively engaged in litigation in the Third District Court of Appeal in order to invalidate ABX4-26 and block the unconstitutional transfer of $2.05 billion in local redevelopment funds by the State this year and last year. While we hope for a decision by May 2011 when the next payment is due, there is no way to predict when a decision will be handed down. In the meantime, CRA is advising agencies to be prepared to make the May payments. However, CRA strongly counsels agencies
not to make the SERAF payments prior to the due date, May 10, 2011, and not until you receive further advice from us.
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REGISTER TODAY FOR CRA'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXPO - March 30-April 1 in San Jose, CA:
Click here to register online. Registration is now open for the 2011 CRA Annual Conference and Expo at the San Jose Convention Center. This year’s conference theme is “Redevelopment: Worth Fighting For!” The conference begins with keynote speaker, Carl Guardino, President & CEO of Silicon Valley Leadership Group, who will be discussing "Re-position RDAs: Can We Mend It Rather Than End It?". Visit http://www.calredevelop.org for
more information on the conference topics and for hotel reservation information.
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Message sent from:
California Redevelopment Association
1400 K Street, Suite 204
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 448-8760
http://www.calredevelop.org