LET CRA DIE The Best Economics/ Land Rights for GT.

I was asked to forward this to you by someone who does not want their name out there at present.

http://www.coalitionforredevelopmentreform.org/references/morrreport.php

The natural 3% annual increase in property taxes (the increment) accrues to and is paid TO the CRA instead of to local governments, schools, law enforcement etc. this is because the ENTIRE CITY of Grand Terrace is designated as a "blighted area" in need of a whole CRA management staff. Let the CRA die it's natural death at the expiration of ths 20 year term.

This vote should be a referendum on whether the CRA has improved the city in the 20 years of existence, or has not been a good influence for the debt money to be repaid. If CRA could not get the job done in 20 years, what makes anyone think they can do it with a longer term and CRA power extended. The city cannot be a developer, it can only encourage development, or give perks, waive fees, offset costs, to some owner/developers and not to others. But the CRA has money to buy land from favored residents as higher than market prices, while witholding appraised, market sale prices from other owner/sellers.

So far there has been a drastic reduction of residential units, R-1 property converted to commercial use, demolition of existing previously successful retail stores and lots of vacant land sites awaiting higher uses. Bank & construction lending will not re-start until the economy is vastly improved. Retailers are currently closing locations, not building new ones.

The CRA map should be limited to ONLY actual blighted areas of town.

The CRA should honestly provide and report it's Section 8 housing requirement to the State of CA as required to be built from 10% of the CRA debt & bond funds. The Corporation for not better Housing was a flaky business partner from the start for the Senior Center/low income housing project. If the CRA debt is extended there will be an additional requirement for low income housing in town. If the CRA time is extended, more massive debt will be generated, requiring debt service & repayment, all while siphoning existing real estate taxes from other service areas in town.