Conservative Leaders and Property Rights Advocates Call on GOP Legislators to Abandon Defense of Redevelopment Agencies

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, conservative leaders and private property rights advocates announced a statewide public education campaign to convince Republican State Legislators to abolish California Redevelopment Agencies (RDAs) to advance the conservative values of property rights and fiscal responsibility. In March, only one Republican voted for Governor Jerry Brown's budget plan to abolish 425 RDAs.

RDAs have come under considerable public scrutiny for wasteful government spending, eminent domain abuse and, according to independent state analysis, failing to increase the overall number of California jobs. The campaign is designed to build support among the public and to ask GOP legislators to sign a pledge to abolish redevelopment agencies. This pledge will serve as a commitment to conservative values such as protecting taxpayers and private property.

"Republican Legislators need to convince voters that they remain dedicated to defending private property rights and protecting taxpayers," said Jon Fleishman, a conservative blogger and former officer of the California Republican Party. "Pledging to abolish redevelopment agencies will reaffirm their commitment to conservative principles."

A State Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) report found that RDAs divert over $5 billion in tax increment revenue annually without any reliable evidence that they create new jobs.

"All the while redevelopment agencies are using eminent domain to forcibly seize property from unwilling sellers, they have not fulfilled their promise of creating new jobs," said Marko Mlikotin, president of the California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights. "Redevelopment has failed taxpayers and threatens private property rights.  It is time for the Legislature to do away with these government boondoggles."

A notable taxpayer organization also voiced concerns. Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association said, "Redevelopment agencies have been the biggest abusers of homeowners' property rights in California.  Immediate action is needed now and we urge all legislators, including Republicans, to reject the influence of politically connected developers and do what is right for ordinary California homeowners."

Redevelopment agencies' insatiable desire for revenue has led them to forcibly seize places of worship, small businesses and homes by eminent domain that are clearly not blighted. Illustrating that RDAs have run amuck, the Municipal Officials for Redevelopment Reform found that a full 30% of all urbanized land in California has been declared blighted.

A California's State Controller audit of RDAs reached a similar conclusion that overly broad definitions of "blight" expose private property to eminent domain abuse and invite wasteful spending of tax dollars on dubious redevelopment projects such as luxury golf courses. In addition, redevelopment funds were inappropriately used to supplement the general funds of local governments.

"California's redevelopment agencies are some of the worst perpetrators of eminent domain abuse in the nation," said Christina Walsh, from the Institute for Justice, the organization that represented SusetteKelo before the U.S. Supreme Court in Kelo v. City of New London.  "Until state legislators abolish these agencies, no private property owner in California is safe."

Californians are encouraged to visit www.stopthemoneypit.com to learn how they can join our campaign to protect private property rights and eliminate government waste, and support legislation that abolishes RDAs, SB 77 and AB 101.

The California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights is California's leading private property rights (non-partisan) organization founded in 2005 and was a lead sponsor of Proposition 98, a 2008 state ballot measure that sought to protect private property rights.

www.calpropertyrights.com

SOURCE California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights