More Casualties in California's War over Public Money

Governor Brown persuaded the Legislature to abolish local redevelopment agencies, so their $5 billion in taxes could go to public schools. But redevelopment was part of ambitious plans for other public projects all over the state. Today, a judge in Sacramento upheld the Governor's decision that the City of Irvine can't have $1.4 billion in tax revenues, planned for turning the former El Toro Marine Base into the Great Park. Irvine is not alone among cities trying to keep some of the tax money that went to the now defunct redevelopment agencies.