Not long ago, a prime open space in Culver City, publicly owned property, quietly changed hands in a no-bid agreement to a private party.
Done deal.
According to the Redevelopment Agency, the reason for the sale was to raise needed capital.
Goal was to build a high-end multiple-story, single-floor apartments like condos.
At one of the hearings, it was suggested that the city should hand a refund to the investor and keep the only open space in the area.
The project was stalled until the financial climate changed. No more construction or any other kind of loans available.
Too bad.
Just a sign of the times.
The Mayor, the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency members approved the original deal.
Fast forward to Friday, July 23, 2010
Notice goes out.
Council meeting scheduled for Monday, July 26, 7 p.m., City Hall.
Millions of Dollars in Questions
Developers will get $6 million in loans and mostly grants to set aside 12 low- and moderate- income apartments.
According to the specs, Culver Citians will benefit by teachers firemen and police officers having an opportunity to live in Culver City and renting the 12 apartments.
According to the numbers, these apartments would be available at $1,500 to $2,000 below rents at comparable apartments on the Westside.
I started thinking. You are right.
Manhattan Beach, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Tokyo, San Francisco.
I get there 30 minutes late. The place is sold out. I stood by the wall. One section had mostly a group of people, probably 40 to 50, all wearing the same shirt “Culver City Police Officers Assn.”
$6 million.
I did not want to miss a thing.
The Council started talking about the commissioners.
Do not remember much except that it was something to do with parking passes and badges abuse. That went on for a couple hours.
At the finish, they extended the parking privileges to the School Board members.
Then came the part that all those same shirts were there about. The Civil Service Commission and a possibly change in their duties.
No solution after two hours.
(One Councilman used 45 minutes to confess that he was totally confused.)
Heck most people knew that after 3 minutes. Everything has a purpose. This technique is called the filler. (Used to delay).
At the halfway mark, 10:45 p.m., by now the unshirted crowd started getting thinner. Several of them needed another shot of Geritol.
11:15 p.m. — Only 20 diehards left. Residents on Lafayette Place, members of the Downtown Neighborhood Assn. Association, me and the Superintendent of schools.
4043 is between Lafayette on the west and Irving on the east. Could be 4043 Lafayette Pl., too.
Now the $6 million question:
Twelve 12 apartments for rent @$500K each.
The Mayor, the City Council and the Redeveloping Agency members approved the original deal. The same people. Hmm.
What a difference a name makes.
A couple of the dealmakers have been replaced.
One Councilman excluded himself.
First, the audience voices its concerns. It was again recommended that the city refund to the developer and save the city — oops, the Redevelopment Agency — $4 million in the process.
The big question was the number $$$$$$$$.
I was the last speaker.
Actually, I read a letter that I received from my son Garet, who is on the swim and water polo team.
Dear Parents:
As we all know, funding for education has been negatively impacted by the state of the economy and, as a result, the CCUSD School Board has to make many tough decisions.
Seventy thousand dollars has been cut in transportation funds from the CCHS Athletic budget for the 2010-2011 school year as well as $46,000 in coaching stipends.
We currently offer 23 sports and 60 teams at CCHS. We hope to continue to provide the same variety and quality of athletic programs in the 2010-2011 seasons that we have year after year. However, in order for this to happen, we need your help more than ever.
Without your financial support, we will have no other option but to discontinue the lower levels of some athletic programs and eliminate other athletic programs entirely. Some teams may be allowed to continue but with significantly fewer games.
We simply cannot afford to continue to support all of our current CCHS athletic teams to the degree we do unless we find an additional source of funding. We can use some of that $6 million over here.
I turned around, looked Mr. Developer in the eye and said “no reflection on you.”
Mr. Developer’s team turned to respond, which he did.
City employees testified on his behalf about Mr. Developer’s other properties.
It was clarified that the police, firemen and teachers would be third in line behind those on low- and moderate-income list and those displaced by the city /Redevelopment Agency.
Hmmmm?
Anybody alive ever seen that list?
Doesn’t matter.
Council members were roaring to get this resolution passed over and done.
Reason: The money is already here for low- and moderate- income housing. As one Councilman took the time to single out my question stated, the funds can only be used for that purpose. If we do not use it, the money will be taken back.
The Council was ready to vote on the $6 million even though the public had only a two-day notice over the weekend.
Cooler heads prevailed. It was voted to postpone vote for two weeks.
Only the freshman Councilman voted against the motion. Those election expenses.
Six million dollars can purchase a lot of influence.
I have been against this project that started as a private funded luxury condo mixed use project and evolved into an publicly funded apartment with 12 low to moderate income units.
This project is another done deal just going through the motions for two weeks.
Out of $6million $2.4 million will be forgiven.
$.4 million? Is that the same as $400K? This new math is tough.
Let me see.
$70K and $46K = $116K times 3 years = $348K.
You got my vote, and you get to write it off on your taxes, too. Is that possible? Or is that double dipping?
School Board, help me out.
Is there an attorney in the house?
In fairness to Mr. Developer, as we were about to leave, he walked up to me and stated that he contributed and coached football. At least he heard me.
12:15 a.m. — Meeting in two weeks for vote.
12:20 a.m. — CCUSD Superintendent gets okay to host School board meeting in the City Council Chambers.
12:25 a.m. — Meeting terminated.
Mr. Abrams, a former candidate for the School Board, may be contacted at gabrams@ca.rr.com
