Archive for the ‘ Redevelopment ’ Category

The PE: MORENO VALLEY: Councilwoman worked for warehouse developer

Moreno Valley seal

June 07, 2013; 07:18 PM

In 2008, Victoria Baca, then a school board member, expressed dismay that Moreno Valley was considering zoning changes to allow warehouse development in the city’s mostly rural eastside.

To read story by David Danelski in The Press Enterprise, click here.

VVDailyPress: Victorville denies Brown Act violation

Victorville

May 29, 2013 7:19 PM
Jim E. Winburn, Staff Writer

VICTORVILLE • City Council members denied allegations that they hid information about property interests with the Victorville 2 Power Plant project at Southern California Logistics Airport.

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The Sun: School districts sue Fontana over payment

Fontana Seal

Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/26/2013 05:34:32 PM PDT

FONTANA — The Fontana Unified School District and two other school systems have sued the city alleging that its now defunct redevelopment agency owes them millions of dollars.

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The PE: REDEVELOPMENT: State audit faults Riverside on asset transfers

city-of-riverside-seal

The city of Riverside says the state report will allow it to go forward with title transfers

May 16, 2013; 12:41 PM

SACRAMENTO — A new state audit identifies $94.6 million worth of former Riverside redevelopment assets that it says have not been properly transferred to the agency in charge of settling the debts of the former program.

To read story by Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: Union’s billboard ruffles feathers in San Bernardino

Campaigns

May 10, 2013; 04:19 PM

A critical billboard targeting five San Bernardino city officials that had already generated controversy over its message has now led to accusations of censorship and political pressure.

To read column by Imran Ghori and Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.

LATimes: O.C. owes state $150 million, judge says in tentative ruling

Orange County Seal

By Nicole Santa Cruz
May 8, 2013, 7:00 p.m.

Orange County may owe the state as much as $150 million after a judge tentatively ruled this week that it must pay back funds originally meant for local schools and community colleges.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Redevelopment lawsuit filed against state

Riverside-County-Seal

April 22, 2013; 03:43 PM

Riverside County is taking the state of California to court over roughly $40 million in funds the county believes it needs to pay off debts of its now-defunct redevelopment agency.

To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press Enterprise, click here.

SFChronicle: State, cities in next round of redevelopment fight

Legal

By JUDY LIN, Associated Press
Updated 10:12 am, Saturday, April 20, 2013

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A second round of bureaucratic bickering has begun over the dismantling of California’s community redevelopment agencies.

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The Sun: As land sales lag, San Bernardino’s debt mounts

San Bernardino Seal

Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/31/2013 07:21:07 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO — The city might take months to comply with the state’s order to transfer $108 million worth of property from a city-controlled nonprofit as city officials investigate potential pitfalls of the move – while unpaid taxes, interest and penalties keep adding to the millions the city already owes.

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Rancho Cucamonga Seal

Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/31/2013 09:09:17 PM PDT
Updated: 03/31/2013 09:15:56 PM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA — Rancho Cucamonga is waiting for approval from the California Department of Finance to use $31 million in bonds to begin construction on improvements to the Base Line Road and 15 Freeway interchange.

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clown-jack-in-the-box

Wednesday, March 27, 2013 – 10:00 a.m.

It’s unbelievable!

Mayor Patrick Morris, the mayor of bankrupt San Bernardino, is still telling newspapers that San Bernardino International Airport (SBIA) will get a scheduled passenger airline.

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InlandPolitics: Is San Bernardino County DA behind the eight ball?

Eight Ball

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 – 10:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 – 09:15 a.m.

Is San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos finally behind the eight ball?

Could a chain of events finally be in-play that has many local politicos, movers and shakers, and campaign contributors cringing?

Read the rest of this entry »

Handcuffs

Andrew Edwards, Ryan Hagen and Joe Nelson, Staff Witers
Posted: 03/25/2013 08:59:57 AM PDT

Bios: Scot Spencer | Felice Luciano
Photo Gallery: D.A. files charges against Scot Spencer
View: Criminal complaint | Statement from 5th District Supervisor Josie Gonzales | 2010-11 Grand Jury report
Timeline: SBIA and Scot Spencer
Related stories: Grand Jury questions management practices at SBIA

Scot Spencer, the former airline executive and convicted felon who was nonetheless entrusted with leading the development of San Bernardino International Airport, faces five years in prison after being charged with an alleged associate with conspiring to steal more than $1 million in public funds.

Read the rest of this entry »

March 25, 2013; 09:25 AM

A long-running investigation into business dealings at the San Bernardino International Airport Authority resulted in criminal charges and the arrest of former airport developer Scot Spencer, District Attorney Michael Ramos announced Monday, March 25.

To read story by Iman Ghori in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: SAN BERNARDINO: Prominent developer Warner Hodgdon has died

Warner Hodgdon - 2

Warner Hodgdon, seen in this file photo surrounded by drawings and plans in his office, headed the San Bernardino Redevelopment Agency from 1967 to 1975. (Contributed Image)

March 20, 2013; 05:21 PM

The man whose vision reshaped downtown San Bernardino with a new mall and City Hall in the late 1960s and early ’70s has died.

Warner Hodgdon, who headed the city’s redevelopment agency from 1967 to 1975, died Wednesday, March 20, after several weeks of declining health, his family said. He was 80.

To read story by Cassie MacDuff in The Press Enterprise, click here.

InlandPolitics: Real Estate Developer Warner Hodgdon dies

Warner Hodgdon

Wednesday, March 20, 2013 – 09:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 – 05:00 p.m.

An extremely talented businessman, and dear friend, Warner Hodgdon passed away early Monday morning at Reche Canyon Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Colton.

He was 80.

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The Sun: San Bernardino may be on hook for $2.9 million from EDC

San Bernardino Seal

Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/18/2013 09:15:27 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – The city’s plan to preserve properties from its defunct Economic Development Agency may have it on the hook for $2.9 million, according to a memo from City Attorney James F. Penman.

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The PE: SAN BERNARDINO: Penman deadline passes with no response

San Bernardino Seal

Posted on | March 17, 2013 |

San Bernardino City Attorney Jim Penman’s deadline for state officials to promise not to collect $15.2 million in former redevelopment funds appears to have elapsed with no response.

To read post by Imran Ghori in The Press Enterprise, click here.

San Bernardino Seal

Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/14/2013 09:31:50 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO — The City Council on Thursday delayed deciding whether to accept $108 million in assets from a city “”controlled nonprofit that had been used to shield the properties from the state’s requirement that cities sell off properties under their control.

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San Bernardino Seal

Ryan Hagen
Posted: 03/13/2013 09:34:08 PM PDT

The city-controlled corporation used to hold $108 million in assets that officials wanted to continue controlling when Gov. Jerry Brown disbanded the state’s redevelopment agency voted Wednesday to give up those assets, as the state controller’s office demanded last week.

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The PE: SAN BERNARDINO: State demands another $15.2 million

San Bernardino Seal

The finance department says it’ll dock San Bernardino’s future tax proceeds if it doesn’t hand over redevelopment funds

March 11, 2013; 09:19 PM

The state Department of Finance is warning that it could dock some of San Bernardino’s future tax proceeds if the city does not hand over $15.2 million in former redevelopment funds — a dispute that could cause the city to become the first in California to face costly post-redevelopment penalties.

To read story by Imran Ghori and Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The Sun: San Bernardino threatens legal action to protect former EDA properties

San Bernardino Seal

Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/08/2013 04:39:11 PM PST

Related stories: San Bernardino landmarks face uncertain future under redevelopment shuffle | State says San Bernardino mishandled over $500M | State controller: San Bernardino’s transfer of funds not valid
View: City Attorney Jim Penman’s letter | San Bernardino EDA asset transfer review report
Special section: San Bernardino

SAN BERNARDINO – The city will sue if the state Controller’s Office tries to take any action to enforce its opinion that the city wasn’t allowed to transfer $108 million in assets from its defunct Economic Development Agency to a nonprofit controlled by city officials, City Attorney James F. Penman said in a letter to Controller John Chiang on Friday.

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San Bernardino Seal

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/07/2013 04:41:59 PM PST

SAN BERNARDINO — The future of several landmark properties seen as the key to economic development downtown remains in question after state Controller John Chiang rejected the city’s effort to move $108million from its shuttered Redevelopment Agency to the nonprofit San Bernardino Economic Development Corp.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Sun: State controller: San Bernardino’s transfer of funds not valid

San Bernardino City Hall

San Bernardino City Hall. (Sun file photo)

By Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/06/2013 11:13:27 AM PST

PDF: San Bernardino EDA asset transfer review report

Special section: San Bernardino

State Controller John Chiang on Wednesday rejected San Bernardino’s last-ditch gambit to transfer $108million from its defunct Redevelopment Agency to a group composed largely of city officials to avoid losing the money when the state abolished redevelopment agencies.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: City sues state over redevelopment debt

city-of-riverside-seal

March 01, 2013; 06:33 PM

After months of limbo over $32.1 million in former redevelopment debt, Riverside officials have sued to try to resolve their dispute with the state.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: REDEVELOPMENT One year after dissolution, litigation and dissension

BY JIM MILLER
SACRAMENTO BUREAU
February 11, 2013; 07:47 AM

SACRAMENTO – A year after the shutdown of redevelopment in California, the process of dissolving the decades-old program has moved from the Capitol to the courthouse as state and local officials haggle over the former anti-blight agencies’ money.

To read entire by Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.

SBCO Seal

Staff Reports
Posted: 01/08/2013 08:00:41 PM PST

San Bernardino County will sue the state Department of Finance in an effort to recover nearly $15 million it loaned to redevelopment agencies in Lake Arrowhead and Fontana, county spokesman David Wert said Tuesday.

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OCRegister: County persuades state to accept $30 million less in redevelopment cash

December 27th, 2012, 12:15 pm
Posted by Andrew Galvin

The County of Orange has persuaded the state’s Department of Finance to lower its demand for unused housing funds from the county’s former redevelopment agency, reducing by $29.6 million the amount the county must pay.

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LATimes: Friday was deadline for turning over redevelopment money

hour-glass

Municipalities were to give California money that had been set aside for affordable housing. But some cities refused to do so.

By Abby Sewell and Nicole Santa Cruz, Los Angeles Times
December 21, 2012, 10:18 p.m.

Cities and counties across California faced a Friday deadline for handing over millions of dollars — tens of millions in some cases — as the state winds down more than 400 redevelopment agencies.

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The Sun: Sabo honored during special San Bernardino memorial service

Pat Morris

San Bernardino City Mayor Patrick Morris speaks at a Memorial for redevelopment attorney Tim Sabo on Thursday.at St. Bernadine’ Catholic Church in San Bernardino. Sabo, who died Nov. 28, was one of the foremost experts in redevelopment law and public finance in California and served as redevelopment counsel to Inland Empire public agencies for three decades. (LaFonzo Carter/ Staff Photographer)
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer

Posted: 12/20/2012 06:01:36 PM PST

SAN BERNARDINO – Friends and colleagues of the late Timothy J. Sabo, who helped lead the charge in the redevelopment of the former Norton Air Force Base, gathered Thursday for a memorial service at St. Bernardine Catholic Church.

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OCRegister: State demands cash from O.C. cities

Hand Out

By BRIAN JOSEPH / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Dec. 20, 2012
Updated: Dec. 21, 2012 7:02 a.m.

The state Department of Finance has demanded in recent weeks that 19 Orange County cities and the county itself turn over a combined $263 million in unused funds previously earmarked for low- and moderate-income housing.

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Jim Steinberg,Staff Writer
Posted: 11/29/2012 07:56:12 PM PST

SAN BERNARDINO – Many described him as the “hardest working attorney” they had ever known.

He was a legend in redevelopment law, they said, and he astounded others in his total recall of events that happened many years ago.

Read the rest of this entry »

The PE: RIVERSIDE: City projects, loans back in limbo

November 27, 2012 – 05:47 PM

Nearly a year after Riverside’s redevelopment agency was dissolved, and after several months of hearing no objection from state officials, city leaders are again finding millions of dollars in planned projects and previous loans up in the air.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

SacBee: Jerry Brown vetoes package of local redevelopment bills

Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
September 29, 2012

Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed a package of bills that could have let local governments retain some redevelopment money for affordable housing and other economic development projects following the dissolution of California’s redevelopment agencies, his office announced this afternoon.

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LATimes: State faces new legal threat to budget

PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
September 26, 2012 | 7:00 am

California cities are suing Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration over its tough tactics to secure money from defunct redevelopment agencies, a key part of the state budget.

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VVDailyPress: Judge halts state from imposing $1.2M fine on A.V.

California pushing for fine due to clerical error
September 12, 2012 5:24 PM
FROM STAFF REPORTS

APPLE VALLEY • A judge granted a preliminary injunction halting the California Department of Finance from imposing $1.2 million in fines on Apple Valley for a clerical error tied to the town’s dissolved redevelopment agency.

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SacBee: Dan Walters: California redevelopment is dead; long live redevelopment

Dan Walters

By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, Sep. 7, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

Redevelopment is dead – or so proclaimed Gov. Jerry Brown and legislators last year when they canceled the legal authorization for the six- decade-old urban renewal program and seized its assets to close the state’s budget deficit.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: City has resolved nearly all disputed debt

City of Riverside officials say most of $158 million in former obligations now has been OK’d by the state

Published: 31 August 2012 – 06:20 PM

About four months ago, Riverside faced a $158 million list of debts the state said weren’t eligible to be paid with remaining redevelopment funds.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press-Enterprise, click here.

LATimes: Cities refuse to hand over redevelopment money

PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
August 14, 2012 | 7:00 am

Twenty-seven cities have not forked over all of the redevelopment money the state says they owe, according to Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration.

The state says the cities owe $129 million total, but they’ve only returned $6.7 million.

Read the rest of this entry »

DailyBulletin: Without redevelopment, cities look to new ways to promote themselves

Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 08/11/2012 12:36:11 PM PDT

With the recent loss of redevelopment money and in a poor economy, some Inland Empire cities are looking to different options to advertise their cities to businesses.

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The Sun (AP): Loss of redevelopment cash hurts struggling cities

Gosia Wozniacka and Amy Taxin, Associated Press
Posted: 08/08/2012 05:59:19 PM PDT

Catch up: Read previous coverage of San Bernardino’s financial crisis

SAN BERNARDINO — This old city at the foot of the mountains limped to its bicentennial two years ago, its finances in tatters from a housing bust that sapped tax revenues and ballooning salaries and pension obligations for city workers.

Then came the final blow – Gov. Jerry Brown’s decision to eliminate state funding for local redevelopment agencies to help close California’s yawning deficit. The move cost the city $30 million annually and highlighted something else: San Bernardino was using about $6 million of those funds to back fill its general fund.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Redevelopment debt $1.6 billion

That’s what Riverside County must repay in bonds taken out for redevelopment projects now that the agency is disbanded

 

Published: 07 August 2012 05:51 PM

Before it was dissolved earlier this year, Riverside County’s redevelopment agency accumulated $1.6 billion in debt, which will take 30 years to pay back, officials acknowledged recently.

To read story by Jeff Horseman in the Press-Enterprise, click here.

 

Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/05/2012 07:05:08 AM PDT

Some Inland Empire cities’ successor agencies to their redevelopment agencies recently had to pay fees – some higher than $4 million – to the California Department of Finance, which upset city officials and a local economist.

“It’s devastating,” said Inland Empire economist John Husing. “What the state has done is to shut down economic development at the local level in the Inland Empire…. It’s the most poorly thought-out money grab by the state I have witnessed in 48 years of following this stuff.”

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The Sun: Loss of redevelopment money adds to San Bernardino’s financial crisis

SAN BERNARDINO’S FINANCIAL CRISIS

Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/30/2012 06:21:46 PM PDT

Special Section: San Bernardino

SAN BERNARDINO – The city’s bankruptcy is not the only major financial challenge for local officials.

Recent decisions in Sacramento effectively neuter the attempt to preserve redevelopment by creating a nonprofit called the Economic Development Corp.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Neil Nisperos, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Created: 07/31/2012 11:38:00 AM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA — The city is unlikely to file a lawsuit over not being able to receive money from the state to complete its redevelopment projects.

The game changer: new legislation – Assembly Bill 1484 – allows development agencies to apply for bond proceeds they would otherwise have been denied after the dissolution of redevelopment agencies.

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The PE: REDLANDS: City pays state $3 million under protest

BY JAN SEARS
STAFF WRITER
jsears@pe.com

Published: 28 July 2012 06:10 PM

Redlands had to loan more than $3 million from its general fund to its redevelopment successor agency on Thursday, July 26, to cover an unexpected demand for more money from the state.

The money to cover the $3.1 million loan came from the city’s water department and was transferred, with City Council approval, to Redlands’ former redevelopment agency, now referred to as the successor agency. The agency needed the money to cover a bond payment due this month.

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VVDailyPress: Grand jury: Should Victorville run SCLA?

July 27, 2012 8:40 AM
Brooke Edwards Staggs, City Editor

VICTORVILLE • It’s been discussed by local leaders — often heatedly — on and off for several years.

Now, armed with a recommendation from the San Bernardino County grand jury, talk of shifting control of Southern California Logistics Airport from Victorville to the regional Victor Valley Economic Development Authority has resurfaced.

Read the rest of this entry »

SFChronicle: State duns cities for millions of dollars

Wyatt Buchanan
Updated 11:01 p.m., Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Sacramento –California cities are in a high-stakes fight with officials in Sacramento over money that the state says the cities owe as part of the winding down of redevelopment agencies.

County officials, under the state’s direction, have sent letters of demand to cities throughout the state in recent weeks, many for millions of dollars. Several cities, including El Cerrito, refused to pay and sued the state, which is threatening to penalize cities by withholding sales tax revenue that cities rely on to pay for police, parks and other general operating expenses.

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The PE: REGION: Cities say they’re not going bankrupt

Officials with other Inland cities say they’re not in danger of declaring bankruptcy like San Bernardino.

BY JEFF HORSEMAN
STAFF WRITER
jhorseman@pe.com

Published: 21 July 2012 05:05 PM

It’s an obvious question after San Bernardino sought bankruptcy — is my city next?

The early answer, at least in the Inland area, is probably not. While three California cities plan to file for bankruptcy and more could follow, local officials say their finances aren’t at the breaking point.

Read the rest of this entry »

InlandPolitics: Brown myopia has unintended consequences for California

Brown

Friday, July 20, 2012 – 09:00 p.m.

Is Governor Jerry Brown’s cash grab to help balance California’s budget having unintended and unforeseen consequences?

You bet it is.

And he didn’t even see it coming and, more importantly, really doesn’t seem to care either.

Read the rest of this entry »

The PE: BUDGET: Ex-redevelopment agencies hand over more money

BY JIM MILLER
SACRAMENTO BUREAU
jmiller@pe.com

Published: 16 July 2012 05:43 PM

SACRAMENTO –Former redevelopment agencies in Riverside and San Bernardino counties handed over more than $30 million for schools and other local taxing entities in recent days, avoiding for now the prospect of stiff penalties by the state.

The state budget package signed in late June relies on $3.1 billion in revenue and assets from the longtime economic-development program. Last week’s payments stem from budget legislation meant to clarify what redevelopment successor agencies owe. It also gave the state new powers to compel them to hand the money over.

Read the rest of this entry »

Jim Steinberg,Staff Writer
Posted: 07/15/2012 11:43:57 AM PDT

View: Impact of state budget RDA cut

SAN BERNARDINO – The demise of California’s redevelopment agencies this year was one of multiple factors in the city’s inescapable decision to seek federal bankruptcy protection, a top city official said Friday.

When redevelopment agencies evaporated on Jan. 1, San Bernardino found itself with needing to pay nearly $5million from its general fund to meet obligations that previously had been covered by RDA funds, said Jim Morris, son and chief of staff for Mayor Pat Morris.

Read the rest of this entry »

LATimes: Grand jury report tells story of Victorville’s plunging fortunes

The city of Victorville paid $375,000 for this property in 2007, with plans to build a 500-megawatt power plant in the area. The home sits abandoned and the power plant is unbuilt, another failed project that has contributed to Victorville’s financial disaster, according to a grand jury report. (Irfan Khan, Los Angeles Times / June 5, 2012)

 

By Phil Willon, Los Angeles Times
July 8, 2012

Victorville hoped to strike it rich with a new hybrid gas and solar power plant near the old George Air Force Base, buying up homesteads for the site amid the High Desert’s real estate boom.

The city shelled out $375,000 alone to Chris Massey and his family in 2007 to buy a tiny house plopped on five desolate acres of scrub and Joshua trees — 10 times the property’s assessed value.

Read the rest of this entry »

Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/06/2012 06:15:26 PM PDT

FONTANA – A fresh source of money totalling close to $14 million means construction of a long-stalled freeway interchange project may begin before year’s end.

That, in turn, could facilitate the construction of thousands of homes as well as new office and retail space.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Sun: Victorville officials respond to Grand Jury

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/03/2012 07:11:14 PM PDT

Document: Read the Grand Jury report

Victorville officials responded this week to the San Bernardino County Grand Jury’s assertions that it recklessly embarked on high-risk power plant projects solely on the word of contractors with an interest in the projects.

The projects cost the city roughly $90 million in total losses.

Read the rest of this entry »

Dan Walters

By Dan Walters
Published: Wednesday, Jul. 4, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

Redevelopment is dead in California, or so we were told last year when the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown erased more than 400 local agencies and seized assets for the state budget.

The dissolution is incomplete, however, as local officials attempt to shelter assets and joust with local oversight boards and state officials over what’s in and what’s out.

Read the rest of this entry »

VVDailyPress: Details on grand jury’s Victorville investigation

 

June 29, 2012 1:11 PM
Brooke Edwards Staggs

The San Bernardino County Grand Jury issued a 100-page report Friday blasting Victorville for decisions that have jeopardized the city’s solvency, including mishandling bond funds, losing track of $13 million and potentially breaking the law by financing failed energy ventures with restricted money. Read more about the report here and read the entire report here.

Here are the five areas of concern cited by the grand jury. Click on the headlines below each section to read related background stories:

Read the rest of this entry »

VVDailyPress: Grand Jury slams Victorville

FBI, SEC investigations continue
June 29, 2012 1:03 PM
From Staff Reports

VICTORVILLE • The San Bernardino County Grand Jury issued a 100-page report Friday blasting Victorville for decisions that have jeopardized the city’s solvency, including mishandling bond funds, losing track of $13 million and potentially breaking the law by financing failed energy ventures with restricted money.

Read the rest of this entry »

The PE: SAN BERNARDINO: Airport agencies to spend $10.8 million

BY KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
STAFF WRITER
kpierceall@pe.com

Published: 27 June 2012 09:52 PM

A year after a county civil grand jury criticized the management of the San Bernardino International Airport and questioned the increasingly unchecked role of a private developer, plenty has changed.

The government agencies overseeing the airport have a new director, new legal battles and now a new budget that doesn’t forecast for any commercial flights landing there for the next 12 months. The agencies also plan to seek new legal counsel.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Sun: Grand jury findings on Victorville to be released Friday

Findings from an unprecedented three-year Grand Jury investigation into allegations of fiscal mismanagement and corruption in Victorville will be released Friday. The city is also under investigation by the FBI and the Securities and Exchange Commission, official sources say.

 

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/26/2012 01:19:33 PM PDT

Findings from a three-year grand jury investigation into allegations of fiscal mismanagement and corruption in Victorville are expected to be released Friday.

The grand jury concluded its unprecedented investigation in April, but Victorville City Manager Doug Robertson, who reviewed the report, said he signed a confidentiality agreement and cannot discuss any of the findings until its release to the public Friday.

Read the rest of this entry »

The PE: REDEVELOPMENT: State rejects plea for $410 million for SB airport fixes

A.J. WILSON
BY KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
STAFF WRITER
kpierceall@pe.com

Published: 08 June 2012 07:27 PM

The Inland Valley Development Agency can count on $22 million in tax revenue for road improvements near San Bernardino International Airport, but it is small consolation for the additional $410 million the state says it will withhold from the agency.

The money would have paid for airport construction and cash incentives to attract a commercial airline.

Read the rest of this entry »

Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/01/2012 07:57:33 PM PDT

The end of California’s redevelopment agencies may result in the Inland Valley Development Agency losing out on $432million that would have gone otherwise gone to improvements at or around San Bernardino International Airport.

Depending on the outcome of an appeal and a separate lawsuit, however, IVDA officials may still be able to collect those millions as complicated proceedings play out in Sacramento.

Read the rest of this entry »

LATimes: Cities lose in court battle over redevelopment funds

L.A. NOW
Southern California — this just in
May 30, 2012 | 4:57 pm

A Sacramento County Superior Court judge Wednesday afternoon refused to side with a group of California cities in their battle with the state over hundreds of millions of property tax dollars that used to flow to local redevelopment agencies.

Read the rest of this entry »

LATimes: Cities to battle California in court for redevelopment money

By Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times
May 30, 2012

The city of Adelanto had planned to spend $15 million on affordable housing. Artesia proposed to invest $2.3 million in downtown improvements. Atascadero budgeted $53 million for upgrades including a pedestrian bridge downtown and a better wall at the city zoo.

These municipal projects and many more statewide are in question because of a dispute between cities and the state over what should become of hundreds of millions of dollars in property tax revenues that used to go to redevelopment.

Read the rest of this entry »

The PE: AIRPORT: State says San Bernardino shouldn’t get $432 million

BY KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
STAFF WRITER
kpierceall@pe.com

Published: 24 May 2012 06:53 PM

The agency developing San Bernardino International Airport shouldn’t count on $432 million it planned to use for airport improvements, incentives and road fixes, says the state’s Department of Finance.

Since the state dissolved redevelopment agencies last year to cover a growing budget shortfall, local governments and joint powers authorities have had to prove why they should get to keep property tax revenue to fund their shuttered agency’s existing contracts and projects.

Read the rest of this entry »

The PE: RIVERSIDE: City likely won’t recoup $49 million for parcels

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 22 May 2012 05:09 PM

Riverside officials say they expect to recover only a portion of the $49.44 million that the former redevelopment agency spent to buy 80 pieces of land that are now up for sale.

Read the rest of this entry »

InlandPolitics: This and that!

Sunday, May 6, 2012 – 10:30 a.m

Ramos struggles through final candidate forum.

Former San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairman and San Bernardino County Board of Supe’s candidate James Ramos showed up for the final candidate forum held at Copper Mountain College on Friday night.

Nothing changed.

Read the rest of this entry »

DailyBulletin: R.C. cuts nearly 20 employees due to loss of redevelopment

By Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 05/02/2012 04:00:20 PM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – The city has been forced to let go nearly 20 employees due to the elimination of millions of dollars in redevelopment funding.

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The Sun: Inland Empire construction jobs not booming, but better

Construction worker Jesus Guerrero works on the KB Homes Development in Fontana on Wednesday. (Rachel Luna / Staff Photographer)

 

Ryan Carter, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/25/2012 11:43:21 AM PDT

Take a drive along local freeways on any given day of the work week, and you might see signs of life – economic life.

Developments are popping up – housing and commercial.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: State says no to some redevelopment debts

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 20 April 2012 05:50 PM

The state Department of Finance has rejected payment of nearly $159 million in projects and debts from Riverside’s former redevelopment agency, potentially leaving the city’s general fund on the hook for at least some of that amount.

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California Watch: State challenges local redevelopment budgets

Money & Politics | Daily Report
April 19, 2012 | Kendall Taggart

In the flurry surrounding the end of redevelopment, 60 state Department of Finance officials are scouring local redevelopment budgets to determine whether their claims about existing debts and obligations are legal.

Cities and other local entities that are overseeing the shutdown of redevelopment agencies were required to submit a list of their ongoing financial commitments by April 15. Now, the department has a three-day window to raise objections. Of the budgets it has reviewed so far, the department has challenged almost two dozen, including budgets from the cities of Riverside, Orange and San Leandro.

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The Sun: IVDA oversight panel discusses financial obligations

Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/17/2012 10:50:07 AM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – The special oversight committee in charge of unwinding the Inland Valley Development Agency’s redevelopment powers has yet to finish compiling a list of financial obligations that could determine whether planned improvements around San Bernardino International Airport are accomplished or not.

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DailyBulletin: Magic Johnson group invests in Montclair development

Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 04/16/2012 05:00:42 PM PDT

MONTCLAIR – A new residential development in the city has received a boost from a well-known figure.

Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund, in which former Los Angeles Laker Earvin “Magic” Johnson is a partner, has made a $25.7 million investment in a joint venture with an affiliate of GLJ Partners for the acquisition and development of The Paseos, a transit-oriented apartment development in north Montclair.

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VVDailyPress: With RDAs axed, time to unload debt, property

Oversight boards charged with navigating complex process
April 14, 2012 2:11 PM
Natasha Lindstrom, Staff Writer

Two and a half months ago, they lost their battle against the state to keep redevelopment agencies alive.

Now, in a complicated, untested process that’s likely to take years, local government officials are members of a select group serving on new boards charged with overseeing the agencies’ demise.

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