Millions ‘Squandered’ by Renewal Agency

The Community Redevelopment Agency was enacted by the state to give cities the power to redevelop blighted areas. The truth is it gives too much power to the City Council and deletes the power of the people. Throughout the state, cities have squandered the taxpayer’s money. It has become a cancer on our society.

I will give some very good examples of the taxable waste in Monterey Park. A bad investment, that I call Dog No. 1, is the Newmark project. This cost the taxpayers millions of dollars to clear off the buildings and the land stands vacant. Dog No. 2 is the freeway project. Our City Council spent millions of dollars on this.

Then we come to Dog No. 3, Atlantic Square. This will cost the taxpayers of Monterey Park many millions a year. This property could have been redeveloped, costing the taxpayers nothing. It costs approximately $800,000 per year just to administer the CRA. It seems Keith Breskin, director of the CRA, the former city manager, the city attorney and the City Council just love to squander our tax dollars. Is Keith Breskin’s salary based on how much money he squanders?

I have asked the City Council to put the CRA on the ballot and let the people decide whether we should continue with it. They refused. I can’t understand why our City Council hates the people who pay the bills.

LEN GUSTAFSON

Monterey Park