We read in the LA Times this morning a story about Redevelopment by Jessica Garrison. It was a kind of weird hybrid about State budget raids on Redevelopment agencies and about how the California Redevelopment Association had paid to produce a series of TV shows touting the wonders of redevelopment and hosted by Huell Howser click here for story .
We have always considered Howser something of a menace to culture and intelligent television with his dopey drawl, his inability to ask an insightful question, his perpetual overstatement of the obvious, and his complete disregard for whatever his “guests” happen to be saying. The transfiguration of the mundane into the near metaphysical (hey Louie, you gotta get a picture of this bubblin’ mud hole!) is another annoying part of his tiresome schtick. But on balance he seemed to be fairly innocuous, little kids who didn’t know any better liked him, and we remember with fondness his attempt to save the Long Beach Naval Shipyard facilities. Read more.
Good for Huell Howser! The true story of California has to include the generally positive role that redevelopment has played in revitalizing blighted neighborhoods, building quality affordable housing and creating incentives for private-sector investment cities all over the state.
The political hacks and anti-redevelopment whores that perpetuate the right-wing myth of redevelopment as an anti-American, oppressive government evil are afraid that the facts of the California redevelopment story will break political holes into their think-tank created and fortune-seeking lawyer perpetuated, ideological opposition to redevelopment.
Way to go Huell!
Bruce, Bruce Broadwater is that you??
Hey #1, if this is such a righteous story then how come Huelly-boy didn’t touch it until he was getting paid by the lobby?
“Lawyer perpetuated” opposition? That’s just hi-larious, as Huell would say. Lawyers protecting people’s houses, churches and businesses?
It’s the city paid lawyers who have counseled their clients to ignore the law, steal tax revenue, and subsidize developers in the biggest theft and land swindles in California since the heyday of the Central Pacific Railroad.
advocate. Over thepast 47 years have you ever attended a LA Dodger baseball game?
Check out the history of “Chavez Ravine” and what happended to the homeowners who were displaced.
I hope you don’t become a victim and lose your property when you have no desire to sell.
We will still come to your defense.
Larry Gilbert, member Castle Coalition, the “grass roots” associates of the Institute for Justice.
Actually I pray that #1 (heartless) has his private property threatened and taken by Eminent Domain and the sooner the better, so he can experience the pain and heartbreak that whole neighborhoods and real people like the Ravelli and Kelo families had to struggle with as they used their life savings to defend their private property rights against the abuse of power of California elected officials, who use public funds and staff to steal private property for their favored investor or developer. California will begin to flourish on its own when State Redevelopment Agencies are shut down along with Tax Increment Financing and Redevelopment Law abolished and Property tax increments are returned to counties. Obviously #1 you support Redevelopment over services for the people like schools, fire and police protection, parks and libraries.