If you’re scoring at home, the number of local legislators who say they support dumping state funding for redevelopment is now at two: State Senator Mark Wyland, a Republican who represents a big chunk of North County, told us Friday he thinks “we need the revenue from redevelopment.”
We’re surveying all the state senators and assemblymembers who represent the county. No one has spoken up yet in favor of preserving subsidies that support redevelopment, but there’s still about a dozen legislators to go.
At issue is whether the state should stop providing taxpayer-funded subsidies that keep redevelopment agencies afloat. If the legislature supports Gov. Jerry Brown’s plans, redevelopment agencies across San Diego County and the rest of the state would collapse.
In a statement in response to our survey of legislators, Wyland said:
I understand that there may be benefits with redevelopment, but we are having to make tough choices. Given the fiscal situation and the depth of cuts necessary to balance this budget, we need the revenue from redevelopment.
We are faced with a challenge of determining priorities and given the economic circumstances, I think this is a defensible policy.
We are being forced to make these tough cuts because of years of out-of-control spending and a legislature that continues making California an unfriendly place to do business.
On the other end of the political spectrum, state Senator Christine Kehoe — a Democrat and former city councilmember — said she supports the governor’s plan.
Please contact Randy Dotinga directly at randydotinga@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/rdotinga.