tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394711926853801811.post5694503967556044358..comments2024-03-28T07:43:34.335-07:00Comments on The Emeryville Tattler: Bay Street Ready To Receive More Manna From City HallUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394711926853801811.post-81949647661307262302010-07-23T23:03:26.841-07:002010-07-23T23:03:26.841-07:00The problem is no one is paying attention to how m...The problem is no one is paying attention to how much money is being spent through the redevelopment agency (RA), and who ultimately pays the bill--the residents. The R A (2 members of the council and staff, remember Pat O'Keefe was the manager of all of this until his promotion)is paid for by you the citizens of Emeryville. We pay the interest on the bonds, some from general funds, (I believe it is $14,000,000 this year from general funds) and we divert monies from the state through this system. Who is making money from all this: bankers, lawyers, developers, loan agents... So, dear residents pay attention.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394711926853801811.post-32114620024621651682010-07-19T18:57:18.286-07:002010-07-19T18:57:18.286-07:00Let's face it: the City Council and the Redeve...Let's face it: the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency are the same thing. The same five people means the same culture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394711926853801811.post-64295951847721022592010-07-19T07:04:30.641-07:002010-07-19T07:04:30.641-07:00Before a comment can be posted on these issues, on...Before a comment can be posted on these issues, one has to select a "profile" and it's most effective and convenient to select "anonymous."<br />Who can recall, say, a Google Account number?<br />It would be well if people who select"anonymous"<br />put their names at the end of their remarks, to<br />affirm they don't see our community as a police state where they have to fear repercussions for speaking openly. If Big Brother/Sister are watching, then fine, let them watch; the more the merrier.<br /><br />Joe CohenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394711926853801811.post-8118354967167797762010-07-18T15:04:16.476-07:002010-07-18T15:04:16.476-07:00No, that is incorrect. Let's really set the r...No, that is incorrect. Let's really set the record straight. The Redevelopment Agency is made up of the same 5 people as the City Council. However, they are very different entities with separate budgets and very different functions. In most small and medium-sized cities the two bodies are made up of the same people--it's more efficient that way. Things become fractured when the two bodies are different. That said, we should be clear when stating which body is taking an action because their functions are so different.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394711926853801811.post-40550176615038087182010-07-18T11:10:04.285-07:002010-07-18T11:10:04.285-07:00To set the record straight (re commenter #1) - the...To set the record straight (re commenter #1) - the Redevelopment Agency IS in fact the City Council. It's one and the same. And that should be made clear to the residents of Emeryville at every opportunity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394711926853801811.post-52775743445273512562010-07-18T10:31:30.247-07:002010-07-18T10:31:30.247-07:00Note To Readers:
The first commenter is incorrect ...Note To Readers:<br />The first commenter is incorrect about "losing" the $50 million. This is money that was granted to Madison Marquette for Bay Street Site A, the part that was constructed years ago. If the city were to not renew another year of exclusive developing rights to Madison Marquette, the existing mall would continue as it is.<br /><br />This comment shows the level of desperation to continue business as usual in Emeryville in my opinion. Business as usual being government largess going to only certain well connected developers.<br /><br />A smarter way to develop is to open up the process to ALL developers and see what we get. After all, what were ultimately going for is creating a livable town, not creating a pro (specific) developer ideologically driven City Hall.Brian Donahuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12705682112476904502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394711926853801811.post-31121268026207138292010-07-18T07:41:07.438-07:002010-07-18T07:41:07.438-07:00I'm as skeptical of Madison Marquette's pl...I'm as skeptical of Madison Marquette's plans for"Site B" as the Tattler, and as appalled by the millions that have been handed them for their various projects. I doubt they can start work on anything during one more year's extension, in our present economy, but after that there needs to be a citizen rebellion at City Hall, a demanding that any more project<br />offers on that prime site be opened up to<br />other builders, some of which might actually show vision and imagination.<br /><br />Joe CohenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394711926853801811.post-58011790080275849742010-07-18T02:00:01.920-07:002010-07-18T02:00:01.920-07:00If the Redevelopment Agency (it's not the Coun...If the Redevelopment Agency (it's not the Council that takes this action) doesn't renew the exclusive negotiating agreement then taxpayers would lose the $50 million we already spent. That's not a very good use of our money. Also we do better to wait until the economy improves. I work in the development industry and the VERY few projects which are being developed today are sh--ty compared with those developed a few years ago. The unfortunate reality is that Emeryville won't see any projects for a while that are the quality that we saw a few years ago :(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com