The dirge at City Hall began as soon as word streaked around town like a runaway fire engine this morning:
The State Supreme Court seemed to have granted Gov. Brown his fondest wish and, apparently, wiped out Caifornia’s mostly small-town Redevelopment Agencies so that an avalanche of tax revenues can flow directly to Sacramento.
“Devastating,” was the first emission — non-greenhouse gas-type — from City Manager John Nachbar.
“Stunned,” said City Councilman Andy Weissman. “We are still reeling. It is hard to overestimate the significance of the decision to Culver City because of what redevelopment has meant to the community for the past four decades. As significant as that has been, perhaps more important is what redevelopment will not be able to do for the community unless the legislature acts promptly to correct its own error in judgment. Even (State Sen. Darrell) Steinberg is saying ‘this is not what we intended.’”
“The worst possible result,” Mayor Mehaul O’Leary told the newspaper.
“Couldn’t be worse,” Mr. Nachbar continued. “This ruling appears to be devastating. At this moment, I am in the midst of trying to speak with legal counsel and learn what I can.
“My preliminary understanding is that it looks devastating.”
Mr. Nachbar paused when he was asked about options.
“I am trying to find out at this point. This is the California Supreme Court. Very sobering. It has somewhat of a limiting factor to our legal options. There may be some options available to us, but I am guessing they are not strong ones.”
The City Manager spoke elliptically as he sought to organize and review his thoughts in the dazed opening moments after the crashing ruling.
“Our better options might be a political process in the legislature,” he said. “I don’t believe this is what the legislature intended. That was the reason they passed (AB) 26 and (AB) 27.
“We have the potential to lose real estate assets that currently are in play. We run the risk of losing Parcel B property, Washington/National property.
“It is not clear to me. But that is what it sounds like.
“This is very serious.
“I am pursuing talks with legal counsel, making sure the City Council is informed and have all the information important to them to strategize and go forward.
“The highest court in the state has just acted,” Mr. Nachbar said once again, “and that is tough.
“Off the cuff,” he said with an exhale, “an option has to be to pursue some kind of redress through the legislature and the governor. I don’t know about the governor. I think this is what he wanted.
“Those are my initial reactions. Couldn’t be worse.”
Mayor O’Leary was stuck in the same grave mood.
“This ruling will have a disastrous effect on our planned development of areas such as Parcel B, Washington/Centinela and Washington/National,” he said.
“In addition to that, think of all the jobs that will be lost. I do not believe that this was the intent of the legislature.
“I look to them to act swiftly before the damage is irreparable.”
