In Los Angeles, the number was 192, 80 in Oakland, and 48 in Long Beach. Even a smaller city like Coachella has a number, 2.

These numbers represent the California local government employees who no longer have offices to report to, jobs to do, or paychecks to cash. These numbers are not cold and dry; they are the human and personal side of the demise of Redevelopment in California. It is just a portion of the damage that was done on Wednesday.

When the week began, there were more than 400 redevelopment agencies in the state. Combined, they accounted for roughly $5 billion of annual expenditures. With that money, they alleviated blight, spurred economic investment, and built affordable housing. Perhaps their modern day iteration was a far cry from how they were originally designed, but local control over local issues is an effective, targeted, efficient way of governance.

Redevelopment Agencies were far from perfect. However, imperfection should not be a capital offense.

Originally posted at www.theliberaloc.com

A month and a half ago city officials in Santa Ana were crowing from the 8th floor of City hall about their fabulous ranking by Forbes as one of the most safest cities in the nation. On Friday, Forbes released another ranking which names Santa Ana. I’ve been digging through emails trying to find a press release from the city and I just can’t seem to find one.

Forbes has issued a list of the nation’s most overpriced cities, places where the cost of living–especially housing prices–are the highest compared to median income. Santa Ana is ranked as # 15.

Each week, Louis Dettorre will provide the PublicCEO Staff Report of the Week. Nominate yourself or a colleague by e-mailing ldettorre@publicCEO.com This e-mail address is being Protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Trees have played an important role in the development and history of San Luis Obispo. Local residents take pride in the rare species and sizes of trees that grow in the community due to exceptional climate. According to the City Municipal Code the “Heritage Tree” is any tree within city limits that has been designated by resolution and has a significant historic interest or is an unusual size or species. The program was created in 1971.

Originally posted at www.foxandhoundsdaily.com

California is on an unsustainable financial path, but we can counteract the influence of special interest groups in Sacramento if enough Californians come together and act to fix our state.  Many people care about the issues, but without a collective voice, politicians will not listen.

This week California Common Sense launched a revolutionary civic engagement platform where people can learn more about issues that affect California and “Vote to FixIt!”

At its regularly scheduled board meeting, on Thursday, the California High-Speed Rail Authority elected Dan Richard to be its chairman, succeeding Thomas Umberg who resigned that position last month and will remain on the board as an active member.

“I’d like to thank the board for its vote of confidence. I’m committed to the high-speed rail in California,” Richard said. “This critical infrastructure project will help California meet transportation needs for a growing population and mean a better and brighter future for the entire state. It will also create much needed new construction jobs and business opportunities.”

Richard added, “I’d also like to thank Tom Umberg for his leadership and dedication to this project.”

Looking at the City of Oakland as a case study puts into sharpest relief the paradoxical impact of the Occupy Protests. The costs they impose on the city directly impact the 99% they claim to be protesting for.

The $3 million that Oakland has already been forced to spend as a result of the Occupation had to come from somewhere – taken from some budget in the form of some employee’s salary or some community’s service. Local governments do not have the luxury that so many others enjoy; where books are “balanced” with slights of hand or accounting gimmicks. In the world of local government, budgets must be balanced and cannot endure unsustainable spending habits on a whim.

What does it mean when an Occupy encampment is established? Is it illegal? In most cases, yes. Is it inconsiderate? Maybe. Is it detrimental to the community? Absolutely.

From a local government standpoint, the Occupy protesters have been draining resources and revenues for months.

Courtesy of Capitol Morning Report  www.capitolmr.com

Paul McIntosh, executive director of the California State Association of Counties, likens his love of counties to Tommy Lasorda’s love for the Dodgers. “If you cut me,” McIntosh riffs on the famous Lasorda quote, “I bleed counties.” McIntosh may come to rely on that passion in coming months as he and others at CSAC help California’s 58 counties wade through some of the biggest shifts in policy the local governments have experienced in years.

Gov. Jerry Brown wants to “let the Kernites be Kernites and the Modocians be Modocians.” Or put another way, he’d like to give counties (including Kern and Modoc) more local control. A huge part of that shift is giving counties supervision over non-violent felons who previously would have gone to state prison. It is dubbed realignment and McIntosh says that on Brown’s first full day in office – on Jan. 4, 2011 – the governor visited the CSAC offices on K St. and rolled out his proposal. “He spent an hour and a half here talking with us about his philosophy,” says McIntosh. “He ran on a campaign where he wanted to divest responsibility from the state and bring it back down to the local government.” The shift to local control gives counties greater autonomy in crafting plans to better rehabilitate felons and protect the public, says McIntosh, but the shift will cost big bucks during an era of cutbacks.

Under the direction of the Legislature, all redevelopment agencies in California will be dissolved. In December, the California Supreme Court unanimously upheld the Legislature’s power to abolish redevelopment agencies (RDAs) statewide. This decision adopted arguments made by the County, a party to the case. The result is that scarce public dollars will return to schools, counties, fire districts and other local agencies to perform vital public services. Statewide, RDAs were diverting 12 cents of every property tax dollar away from schools, counties, cities, and special districts. This amounts to $5.5 billion each year, mostly from schools.

“The California Supreme Court has issued its definitive decision upholding the action of the legislature and we are prepared to take the next steps,” said President George Shirakawa, County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors.  “Although it will be awhile before we actually see useable revenue, these funds may make it possible to create jobs, as well as programs that will help people to become more employable.”

The Secretary of State’s office has released scores of political information that could prove worth its weight in gold to local government elected officials. The question is: how can it best be used.

The voter registration report issued by the Secretary of State’s office, is a legally required to be released 154 days before an election. The information covers statewide offices, as well as other Sacramento-centric offices. However, included in the report is a breakdown of voters by County, Supervisorial districts, and even cities.

While local government races are non-partisan, that doesn’t mean they are apolitical. The information released could convince some to seek election or re-election, or be used to dissuade the un-electable from running.

The City of Lindsay will be able to make its bond payments after all, thanks to a $405,000 loan from Tulare County.

The loan, which is effectively a paycheck advance, accelerates payments of the city’s share of property taxes by about two months. The county, which receives the property taxes first, agreed to issue the money early in exchange for an April withholding plus 2.5% interest. But there wasn’t much time to lose. Four bond payments were due at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

The shortfall was caused by the disappearance of redevelopment money, which had been used to service bond debt in recent years. When the city lost its $1.5 million in funding, it was less with roughly half the cash necessary to pay the debt service. The situation was simply compounded by a misunderstanding between the city and the state regarding what paperwork would be required and what would not be to receive funds.