ASSEMBLY AND SENATE ON SPRING RECESS – APRIL 14 – 24

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS WHILE THEY ARE IN THEIR HOME OFFICES – ASK THEM TO VOTE “NO” ON ANY BILL WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE REDEVELOPMENT

Both houses of the Legislature are scheduled to be on Spring Recess April 14-24.  This is a time when legislators will be back in their home district offices, and it is a perfect opportunity to schedule a meeting with them!

CRA encourages our members to personally meet with your legislators and ask them to vote NO on any bill which includes the elimination of redevelopment.  Instead, ask them to support the CRA/League of California Cities Alternative Proposal with Voluntary Redevelopment Contributions to Local Schools.  It is also important to arrange legislator meetings with various coalition members, stakeholders, and redevelopment allies (employee groups, unions, housing providers, builders, environmental groups, etc.) so they can emphasize the importance of redevelopment in building better communities throughout California.

Click here to contact your legislators by using the CAPWIZ tool on the CRA website.  Once you access the CAPWIZ tool, simply enter your address and the legislators representing your area will be displayed along with their contact information. Materials to help with outreach to local stakeholders and legislators can be found at www.protectourlocaleconomy.com or on the CRA website at www.calredevelop.org.

ASK YOUR LEGISLATORS AND LOCAL SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT THE CRA/LEAGUE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL FOR VOLUNTARY REDEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTIONS

As mentioned in previous legislative updates, CRA and the League of California Cities have crafted an alternative to the Governor’s proposed elimination of redevelopment agencies.  The CRA/League Alternative Proposal with Voluntary Redevelopment Contributions to Local Schools offers the following benefits:

• Provides significant funding to schools which could also help close the state’s budget deficit;
• Avoids the unconstitutional provisions of the Governor’s proposal that would lead to contentious and costly legal battles; and
• Continues local redevelopment’s contributions to reviving the state’s economy and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.
• Click here for the details of the CRA/League Alternative Proposal.
• Click here for a Q&A document which helps answer any questions on the alternative proposal.
• This is an excellent opportunity to ask your legislators, local school superintendents, and school board members to support the CRA/League Alternative Proposal and explain the various benefits of the proposal.

CONTACT CRA IF UNABLE TO MAKE MAY 10 SERAF PAYMENT

The 2010-11 SERAF payment, required under AB X4 26 (2009), is due May 10 – 4 weeks from today.  CRA urgently requests any agency that is UNABLE to make the payment to contact us IMMEDIATELY.  Please contact John Shirey, CRA Executive Director, at jshirey@calredevelop.org or (916) 448-8760.

As in the past, CRA strongly counsels agencies not to make SERAF payments prior to the May 10 due date.  It is also imperative that agencies carefully monitor CRA’s ongoing updates concerning the progress of the lawsuit.  Currently, CRA’s lawsuit against the State regarding the 2009 raid of redevelopment funds is on appeal, and we do not expect a decision prior to May 10.