A woman who has worked for the city for several years was feeling empathy yesterday afternoon for an unknown number of fellow City Hall employees.
“Imagine the angst, the anxiety they must be feeling on the third floor,” which houses Community Development, she said, while declining to allow her name to be used.
Some workers say that the top floor of City Hall has resembled an emotional Halfway House since the State Supreme Court’s ruling against Redevelopment Agencies was handed down six days ago.
Now that Culver City’s Agency has been abolished by the Court, what will happen to Community Development Director Sol Blumenfeld and his endangered staff?
No one the mighty length of California holds a satisfactory answer.
Their predicament practically is as clouded as it was before the decision was rendered.
Does City Manager John Nachbar have a line on potential layoffs?
“No, not at this point,” he answered quickly.
Are you studying it?
“No, at the moment we are studying how this is going to unfold and how it might be implemented. There is no perfect clarity. It is going to take some time.
“As you delve into the mechanics, while the Redevelopment Agency is slated to cease to exist Feb. 1, there is a provision (in the court-approved bill) for a successor agency.
“But the successor agency’s role is to wind down the operations of the Agency.”
Does that mean the successor agency’s life only will be temporary?
“Maybe not. I am thinking it may exist for some time because there may be obligations that, potentially, could take years to unwind. I don’t mean many years. But years.
“It also is possible that during the winding-down process, there will be differences of opinion on certain aspects of implementation.
“Possibly there will be litigation over some details.
“This may not unfold all that fast. This may take some time.
“For example, an Oversight Board needs to be created in each (of the 400 communities).”
Mr. Nachbar offered a taste of the bureaucratic complexities involved.
“The Oversight Board,” he said, “has seven members. Different entities have the authority to appoint someone to this board.
“It is hard to know how fast this is going to wind down. I can’t tell today. It is too early.
“It is obvious that the Redevelopment Agency is supposed to end Feb. 1. But just how much effort will be required to wind it down, I can’t say because existing obligations have to be honored.”
(To be continued)
