Redevelopment Agency’s Role
While it was refreshing to see two articles on the Community Redevelopment Agency in the Metro Section of The Times (May 16 and 18), much more remains uncovered. The CRA is an agency which is totally unaccountable to the people of Los Angeles, as it is currently dominated by wealthy developer interests.
The CRA’s 20-year commitment to subsidizing downtown skyscrapers and condominiums with tax dollars must cease, for this is truly welfare for the corporate elite. Los Angeles needs real low-income housing, quality schools, and safe, affordable child care much more than more another downtown shopping mall or skyscraper.
Because nearly every City Council member receives significant political contributions from downtown developers, Zev Yaroslavsky’s proposal for the City Council to take over the CRA would only help matters slightly. Nonetheless, it represents a significant improvement, since it would make the CRA accountable to the extent that our City Council is accountable. The council is an elected body which must at least listen to the community.
One would think The Times would realize the breadth of opinion on this issue is much more extensive than the City Council and CRA. Community-based groups like the Campaign for Critical Needs and Jobs With Peace have also been outspoken on this issue and ought to be covered.
DAVID WELLS
Los Angeles
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