City Council Orders First Audit of CRA in 10 Years

In another step to increase its oversight of the Community Redevelopment Agency, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday ordered an audit of the agency that controls millions of dollars in rehabilitation projects.

“It’s been 10 years since the last audit of the agency was conducted,” said Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, acting chairman of the Community Redevelopment and Housing Committee, which directly oversees the CRA. “This is something that’s long overdue,” he said.

The CRA earned the animosity of many council members when it approved a controversial $1.7-million contract buyout for agency Administrator John Tuite in December without seeking council approval. The Tuite buyout prompted a series of fiery committee hearings and led the council to move to increase its authority over the CRA.