Redevelopment

Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic lawmakers are at odds over a small but crucial part of the state budget -- what happens to $250 million that once funded now-defunct redevelopment agencies. Democrats in the Legislature want to use the money for schools, which would free up other funds for social services. Lawmakers have been scraping for every dollar they can find to help prevent the steeper cuts to welfare, child care and college scholarships that Brown proposed earlier this year.

The daily phone calls at City Hall from people seeking affordable housing options are a constant reminder of how demand continues to outstrip supply. And with the demise of local redevelopment, officials warn there's little chance of the trend reversing any time soon. “We hear these people and their situations on a daily basis,” said Peter Zovak, Glendale's deputy housing director. “We know it continues to be difficult.” For every new project, there are thousands of interested applicants.

Nine cities, including Glendale and Pasadena, filed a lawsuit this week in an effort to force the state to make good on millions of dollars for local officials to pay down debt and other obligations left over by the dissolution of local redevelopment agencies. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Sacramento County Superior Court, comes as so-called successor agencies - made up of various stakeholders in the wind-down of redevelopment operations - wade through the arduous process of untangling assets and paying down existing debts.

Nine cities, including Glendale and Pasadena, filed a lawsuit this week to force the state to make good on millions of dollars for local officials to pay down debt and other obligations left over by the dissolution of local redevelopment agencies. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Sacramento County Superior Court, comes as so-called “successor agencies” - made up of various stakeholders in the wind down of redevelopment operations - wade through the arduous process of untangling assets and paying down existing debts.

With pressure mounting on city resources in the wake of redevelopment's demise, several Glendale City Council members this week expressed second thoughts about several major downtown area projects that were approved more than a year ago. The Museum of Neon Art planned for the 200 block of South Brand Boulevard across from the Americana at Brand, and the Laemmle Lofts, a five-screen movie theater below 42 residential units at the corner of Wilson...

Six Glendale employees received layoff notices last week. They are the first of more than two dozen who are expected to be cut from the city's payroll due to the loss of local redevelopment revenues. The employees are split evenly between management and non-management staff and include two planning assistants, an economic development manager, a redevelopment project manager, a neighborhood services field representative and an administrative analyst, said city spokesman Tom Lorenz in an email.

Six Glendale employees received layoff notices last week, the first of more than two dozen who are expected to be cut from the city's payroll due to the loss of local redevelopment revenues. The employees are split evenly between management and non-management staff and include two planning assistants, an economic development manager, a redevelopment project manager, a neighborhood services field representative and an administrative analyst, said city spokesman Tom Lorenz in an email.

Tensions were high Thursday at the first meeting of the committee charged with guiding the dissolution of Glendale's redevelopment agency. Board members were befuddled by their role and were unsure if they had the expertise to make decisions about the nearly $113 million Glendale wants to cover contracts through the end of the year. “We're confused,” said Carl Raggio, former Glendale mayor and chairman of the so-called Oversight Board. Added to the mix was some head-butting between the city and Los Angeles County appointees.

Tensions were high Thursday at the first meeting of the committee charged with guiding the dissolution of Glendale's redevelopment agency. Board members were befuddled by their role and were unsure if they had the expertise to make decisions about the nearly $113 million Glendale wants to cover contracts through the end of the year. “We're confused,” said Carl Raggio, former Glendale mayor and chairman of the so-called Oversight Board. Added to the mix was some head-butting between the city and Los Angeles County appointees.

If anyone thought the loss of local redevelopment agencies would simply translate into fewer affordable housing projects or shiny new malls, think again. The full brunt of the state mandate eliminating this important tool will come into clearer focus in the coming weeks as Glendale officials wade through a series of budget discussions that will include probable lay-offs in departments that will surely impact public services and the everyday quality of life. Fewer people to respond to code enforcement issues, to staff libraries, to handle planning documents and permits, or to respond to complaints, will mean longer waits and a slower slog to get business done.