Bernson Stands Up to CRA ‘Bureaucracy’
Congratulations to City Councilman Hall Bernson for standing up to an intractable bureaucracy, the Community Redevelopment Agency.
After many meetings, lots of input, approval by community leaders in the hardest-hit area of the city by the earthquake, a proposal to meet the needs of the Northridge, Granada Hills and Chatsworth areas was submitted. Included were safeguards so that a Downtown Los Angeles agency could not, once again, use its economic power for sociological and economic experimentation.
Unfortunately, the CRA was more interested in power than in responding to the needs of the 12th Council District in the San Fernando Valley. Happily, Councilman Bernson understands what happens when the CRA takes over an area without limitations. Finally, he said no to the CRA power grab, to protect the jobs and residents of his district. This took courage.
Now it is time to rein in the power of the CRA and change state laws so that local communities can control their own destinies. That was the message of the election on Nov. 8. It is too bad the CRA did not hear it.
STEPHEN R. FRANK
Simi Valley
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
