It is becoming increasingly ritualistic for City Council candidates — whether incumbents or challengers — to gather at the fashionable and still new L’Epicerie Cafe/Market across the street from City Hall before completing the filing process.
[img]1305|left|Andy Weissman||no_popup[/img]At 8 this morning, dapper Councilman Andy Weissman was holding court for an entourage of supporters.
For the 12th straight day the main civic subject was unchanged — how can Culver City survive the mandated vanquishment of the critical Redevelopment Agency in a standing, ready-to-fight posture?
Mr. Weissman was explaining to his backers that the Agency abolishing process and the amorphous scenarios to follow both are heavily clouded. “I imagine a number of years will pass before it sorts itself out,” he said.
After the State Supreme Court endorsed the legislature’s wipeout bill 12 days ago, Mr. Weissman wrote to Culver City’s two representatives in Sacramento, asking Assemblymember Holly Mitchell and Sen. Curren D. Price Jr. why they voted to eliminate Agencies.
Neither has replied in writing, although Sen. Price spoke with the Councilman Saturday morning at the senator’s coffee-with-the-community at Akasha restaurant Downtown.
The conversation did not appear to mollify Mr. Weissman.
In evaluating the two legislators’ “no” votes last year on retaining the agencies, Mr. Weissman said they believed the abolition bill (AB 26) was inextricably linked with AB 27, which allows for a revival of the Agencies in a cooled down form with a considerably narrower focus.
“Now that the court has thrown out AB 27,” Mr. Weissman said, “I think there is a question of whether 26 can be implemented since 27 did not get enacted.”
Question: Are you saying Agencies may not die?
“I am saying litigation is going to ensue over the next number of years, until it is clear whether Redevelopment Agencies are going to be able to continue to provide redevelopment through their enforceable obligations.”
In the absence of traditional redevelopment activity and their handy funding source, “it is going to be difficult for communities to provide the same levels of support and service. The monies are going to be tied up.
“We are going to create a list of enforceable obligations we think we have a responsibility to pursue. Our list has to be certified by the (state-ordered) Oversight Committee that is not even going to be established until at least May,” Mr. Weissman said.
“It will consist of County representation, a city representative, school districts and the state superintendent of schools.
“I am not sure we know yet what happens between now and then because we are not going to be receiving any tax increment money. That’s all going to the County now.”
Mr. Weissman may be contacted at info@weissmanforcouncil.com
