Local News in Brief : Bernardi Opposes Plan for CRA Funds
Los Angeles Councilman Ernani Bernardi said Wednesday that he will oppose Mayor Tom Bradley’s plan to use downtown redevelopment money for a heralded system of after-school child care and new housing for the poor elsewhere in the city.
Bernardi’s opinion could be crucial since his lawsuit over a decade ago resulted in a spending cap that prevents the Community Redevelopment Agency from using more than $750 million in taxes collected from downtown redevelopment.
Bradley made his proposals on the condition that the CRA cap be raised to $5 billion and that some of the extra money go for his programs. Half of the funds would be used for further redevelopment downtown.
“I am flatly opposed to it, and the way it stands now, I would go to court to block it,” Bernardi said. “The money should go back to the city, the county and the Board of Education.”
John J. Tuite, head of the CRA, said Bernardi’s pronouncement is “a grave concern to me,” but he said the agency has not given up on persuading the councilman to support the new spending limit.
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