Re “The Council (Who Are They?) Mark a Reunion Monday Night”
[Editor’s Note: When we left Mayor Andy Weissman’s narrative last week about a business outing to Sacramento, he was explaining how the state Dept. of Finance had just rejected the Culver City party’s attempt to proceed with plans for developing 10 affordable condos on a reclamation project, Globe Avenue.]
City Manager John Nachbar, Mayor Andy Weissman and Community Development Director Sol Blumenfeld flew to Sacramento two weeks ago today for a several-hour visit with the state Dept. of Finance, hoping to nudge forward three financially stalled redevelopment projects.
When the Culver City leaders had proposed long-dormant Globe Avenue as an affordable housing scheme, state officials turned them down.
“I don’t know the reason,” Mr. Weissman said.
Disappointed, the Messrs. Nachbar, Blumenfeld and Weissman gathered their belongings, strolled outside and hailed a cab to the airport.
En route, a cell phone rang, and it was state Assemblyperson Holly Mitchell (D-Culver City) on the other end, the mayor reported. “I just thought you would be interested that when the committee meeting ended,” Ms. Mitchell said, “a representative from the Dept. of Finance came up and said, ‘You should know we have reversed our decision on the Globe Avenue project.’
“Whether it was coincidence or otherwise, we did come home with being told the decision has been changed, but the letter has not come through yet.”
City Hall purchased the declining, freeway-adjacent, four smallish Globe Avenue plots of land before Mr. Weissman was elected to the it Council five years ago.
This is a sampling of how long it takes a bogged-down, state-related project to show the dimmest sign of life.
Meanwhile, the Dept. of Finance remains reticent about greenlighting City Hall to proceed with two other scenarios, long, long dormant Parcel B and Washington/National where the city would like to push ahead with erecting businesses by the light rail station.
But since Gov. Brown usurped the authority of individual Redevelopment Agencies last year, similar projects around California have been stilled while waiting for state approval on financing.
Here They Go Again
For the first time since last October, the City Council will meet tonight for the second time in the same month, 7 o’clock in Council Chambers.
Choosing from among 24 applicants, they will appoint six members to a fledging Financial Advisory Committee.
The Council also will name members to the Fiesta La Ballona Planning Committee.
