LAUSD Joins RDA Fight

The Los Angeles Unified School District board voted last week to join opponents of local redevelopment agencies in the legal battle over who should control redevelopment funds, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The school board’s position puts it at odds with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who has supported preservation of the RDAs. The agencies, which control billions statewide, have had their existence threatened by state legislation passed this summer.

The California Supreme Court is supposed to rule by January on the constitutionality of two pieces of legislation: one that would eradicate most redevelopment agencies and a related bill that would allow them to remain in existence if they make voluntary payments to the state.

Locally, the issue is whether these dollars should reside with the city — to help it spur development projects — or with counties and school districts.

Until now, a school board majority has been officially silent on the issue, even though the school district could benefit from a transfer of the funds.

School board member Bennett Kayser introduced the resolution that called for filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court over who should control the contested funding, according to news reports. The brief would make legal arguments supporting the transfer that has been advocated by Gov. Jerry Brown.

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