Lost lawsuit could cost Glendora up to $3 million
The city will likely appeal a court ruling that could cost Glendora up to $3 million in redevelopment funds, Dan Abendschein reports today.
Glendora could lose funding By Dan Abendschein, Staff Writer Article Launched: 03/07/2008 11:00:10 PM PSTGLENDORA - A ruling in a legal dispute between the city and Los Angeles County could cost the city $2 to $3 million a year in redevelopment funds, officials say.
A Monterey County judge last month wrote that Glendora redevelopment areas are not sufficiently run-down to continue to receive county tax funds slated for redevelopment.
"Glendora's findings of blight are not supported by substantial evidence," wrote Judge Robert O'Farrell. The case was transferred to Monterey County to avoid bias since the plaintiffs in the case were Los Angeles County officials.
Wonder what the city has spent on this lawsuit in legal fees?
From the article, it appears the city intends to pursue the matter on appeal....wonder what that projected cost might be?
Apparently, Glendora does not meet the legal definition of "blight" in this judge's eyes. Diamond Bar met the same fate several years ago, and I think they still don't have a redevelopment agency as a result of that decision.
I guess empty storefronts aren't enough for this judge. Perhaps Glendora could pay some thugs to run through the city and graffitti up the place. Maybe then the eyes of the law would allow Glendora to utilize these monies!
Simply calling an area blighted doesn't make it so - at least that is what the Judge seemed to articulate in his ruling.
Declaring an area blighted simply so that the Council can impose their "vision" upon the property owners just doesn't pass the sniff test.