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Trying to save Hwy. 12 project

The Springs Community Alliance, in hopes of saving funding for Phase 2 of the Highway 12 sidewalk project, has written letters to state officials and are urging Valley residents to do the same.

The group is urging passage of SB 659, a bill that would temporarily postpone the Feb. 1 date for the disbanding of redevelopment agencies.

The group wrote letters to Gov. Jerry Brown, Sen. Noreen Evans and Assemblymember Jared Huffman urging the delay.

Steve Cox, chair of the Springs Community Alliance said, “Passage of SB 659 is vital if we want to save the redevelopment funds that have been allocated for the Highway 12 Improvement Project. Without these funds there will be no more sidewalks, street lights and additional parking on Highway 12.”

Cox added, “The major improvements to the Springs neighborhood will end where they are now, at Boyes Boulevard, instead of all the way north to Agua Caliente Road. That means no sidewalks for the kids who walk to Flowery Elementary and the Charter School and no safe pedestrian corridor for the residents and businesses along this portion of the highway.”

Cox said Valley residents can help save the Highway 12 project and other planned community improvements by contacting Gov. Jerry Brown and members of the state legislature and urging them to support SB 659.

In its letter, the group said, “The Springs Community Alliance urges the legislature to pass and you to quickly sign SB 659 (Padilla), a bill that would temporarily postpone the scheduled Feb. 1, date to dissolve California’s 425 redevelopment agencies. Failure to postpone dissolution will lead to chaos, lawsuits and job loss.

“Implementing the legislation passed last year by the legislature, AB 1x 26, is proving to be fraught with uncertainties, legal liabilities and even the potential that the State could be left holding the bag due to gaps and ambiguities in the law. Concerns include restrictions on the ability to transfer property, restrictions on repaying interagency loans, the legal status of successor agencies, the risk associated with bond payments and the inability to commit bond proceeds.

“The biggest concern is the question of responsibility for payment of the more than $20 billion in outstanding bond debt and tens of billions in additional liabilities that the State Controller reports are on the redevelopment agencies’ books. While AB 1x 26 is intended to ensure that all outstanding debt and liabilities get paid, bond experts are raising serious concerns over the lack of clarity about how this massive debt will be repaid in a timely way to avoid defaults once agencies are dissolved. In fact, Moody’s recently downgraded California’s bond rating because of this uncertainty.

“With so many unanswered questions and legitimate concerns, Legislators and the governor ought to hit the pause button in order to try to resolve the myriad potential problems associated with the new law.

“We urge your support of SB 659,” the letter concludes.