RDA's Un-Natural Development

The natural course of human affairs has included the rise and fall of civilizations. One thing that is repeated has been that when a Government be it the City of Grand Terrace, the State of California or Nero decide to take over the Redevelopment of Property and Businesses which should be done by Private Individuals and Business there is a tendency for individuals to be displaced and economies to suffer, and some times civilizations permanently changed or ended.

Let's look at the City of Grand Terrace. The City of Grand Terrace has 14 plus Million RDA DEBT, on one side of the balance sheet. On the other side of the Balance Sheet it has a Partially Built Senior Center it will take possession of only after it has been used and depreciated to a zero balance. This use of public land and public funds cost the citizens 9.5 Million out of Pocket, and who knows how much interest will cost in addition. The operations of the Senior Housing will not repay the RDA DEBT used to build a building which will most likely have a zero or negative value if it has to be demolished at the end of the Lease.

Let's look at the Out Door Adventure Center Area where the RDA has spent funds again funded by DEBT to purchase land from Friends of the City Council Member/Mayor and City Manager at nearly 2 times the then market value, and much under the current value, and no development has taken place, yet Debt has been used, and interest paid on the loans.

Let's look at the Income and Property Taxes Lost when the RDA Purchases land under the threat of Eminent Domain to facilitate the Private Development of a Shopping Center called Town Center Jacobsen/Brown Development. Private Individuals were forced off their land with threats of the use of Eminent Domain, sell to a single buyer or be told by the City and Courts what your property is worth, have it taken, and no right to sell at what ever the market value was or could bare. Perhaps people just wanted to live and use their land as they wanted but NO... Not in the RDA of GT.

This land included the Purchase of Land of a Former Mayor, a Low or Moderate Income Housing Trailer Park owned and operated by a Private Individual. and Several Homes. The former owners were paying property taxes. The city does not pay property tax on land the RDA owns. No development has taken place, no income to off set the cost of the interest on the RDA DEBT FUNDS use, or the Legal Fees Incurred.

Sure, GT will change. Like the Corner with Mrs. Moo's, the 5 and Dime, and the Original Drug Store, and the Little Pink House. This corner will change via natural course without RDA or City Intervention into the investment. This is how it should be done... Slow and easy, not at the expense of the tax payer.

Yes, prices even property priced should go up and YES DOWN... when a building a business or home no longer has use or function the price should go down, it too depreciates. THEN the market place will set the price it will be sold and a new use will NATURALLY EVOLVE.

In Colton... Let's look at their KMart, and the Development where Big Lots are as examples of how difficult it is for a City to make RDA Funds and Large Box Stores work for a City. Neither of these RDA Projects have been fully occupied for years. GT is going to offer a business a better deal? At what cost, at what benefit?

RDA's are not a good thing if it is used by Governments to build NEW. RDA should only be used to Restore / Repair or Improve Pre-Existing Businesses and Homes. No Business like the Jacobsen/Brown relationship or the Senior Center/Housing. That should be criminal.

The Planning for our City has failed to include the basic need for jobs, and sustainability. The Financial Management and the RDA has also failed to provide for this. We can not live on Retail Consumption as a Country, State or City. IF we do not PRODUCE we DIE.