It is or Is it? "All About the MONEY$$$$$$$$$$$$$"

By Gary Abrams

MISSED opportunities or ASLEEP for School District Funding?

The $435 million fire sale or C.C. dba CRA just switching hats?

C.C.U.S.D. Going for Broke. The Big Spend Down $16 million

About those"CUTS" Away from the Kids. District School Bus Breaks Down.

Self-Taxing By Any Other Name. Fool me once!

District's Morse Code Accounting. Spending $$$$Thousands or $$Millions on Attorney Fees to deny own students access. Board uses Illegal maneuver.

Cities are fighting to retain redevelopment agencies and to protect their agency funds.

Four hundred thirty five million dollars ($435 mill. C.C. City Hall to the Guv: We have 30 projects.

ROOM for EVERYBODY?

"OTHER" groups have different opinions of agencies because DEVELOPERS are getting "CHUNKS" of tax payers $$$MONEY from agencies.

But Governor Brown insists that supporting schools and other public programs is a more important use of the funds. In all of his public presentations, Gov. Brown has emphasized that schools will be the principal beneficiary.

$$$ MILLIONS SCHEDULED to be FORFEITED BACK to STATE 2012-

Brown would allow the agencies to retain enough tax money to pay their debts,but shift about $1.7 billion to the state for ONE YEAR,and then to SCHOOLS and local governments

C.C. dba CRA HELPING SCHOOLS. "GIFT" or "OBLIGATION"?

City Council the "WEISMAN" says- August 18, 2011

"By AGREEMENT, the Redevelopment Agency currently gives to the School District $1.2 million a year. If the Agency is eliminated, that million-plus will go away."

"I don't know how the state would make up for that and if taking all of the Redevelopment Agency dollars up to Sacramento is going to result in better schools in Culver City.

"And I don't think it will result in a better community in Culver City."

Mr. Weissman spoke of unofficial reports that Culver City's fee" to the state "for the first year will be $11 million, and is likely to be $3 million every year thereafter.

"It is the city's intention to DIVIDE next year's PAYMENT between the Agency's cash-on-hand fund and the Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Fund."

In Stout "DEFENSE" of the REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

In the opinion of an eight-year member of Culver City's agency and President of Chamber of Commerce Steve Rose.

"Finally, every year for the last 25 or 30, the Redevelopment Agency has written a check to the C.C. Unified School District to assist in the additional cost of what the Raintree MGM Lot 3 project was."

"This year, I believe the Agency wrote a check to the School District for a little more than $2 million," says the Rose. So there!

$435 MILLION TAX DOLLARS COVERED-

Weissman Assesses Potential Loss of Agency -- `We're covered into the 2040s'

Cities plan swiftly for future -are marshaling and shifting their financial resources to prevent such funds from being drained off by the state.

The list was provided by City Manager John Nachbar.

COST (LISTED in $$$$ MILLIONS)

1. Seismic Rehabilitation...$2

2. Public Works Street Improvement (citywide)...$20

3. Redevelopment Agency Cardiff Parking Structure
Purchase...$14

4. Town Hall Plaza Expansion...$3.30

5. Adams Boulevard Improvement...$3.50

6. Washington/National Cooperation Agreement...$2

7. General Plan and Redevelopment Studies...$3

8. Smiley Blackwelder Street and Infrastructure
Improvements...$5

9. Ongoing Maintenance of Agency Assets...$67.30

10. Affordable Housing Projects (Globe, Irving,
Pleasantview, Bridge)...$27.60

11. West Washington Parking at Centinella Boulevard...$6.80

12. West Downtown Park at Hughes (Public, Retail, Jazz
Bakery, Brotman, Jewish Home for the Aging)...$13

13. Downtown Parking at Town Plaza ...$2

14. Washington/National Infrastructure...$4

15. Hayden Tract Parking...$14.80

16. AIP Citywide (Washington/Centinella)...$15

17. Other Parking Development (Surface parking lots
associated with AIP)...$10

18. Washington/National Property Acquisition and Associated
Relocation...$20

19. Washington/National LRT/TRD Parking (Includes
easement)...$60.10

20. Improvements to Veterans Memorial Complex, The Plunge,
Associated and Adjacent Facilities...$60

Total (Cooperation Agreement)...$353.40

21. New Public Safety Headquarters Facility...$48

22. Park Improvements...$0.50

23. New Public Works Lay Down Facility...$5.40

24. Overland Avenue Bridge Replacement...$2

25. East Washington Medians...$1.56

26. Improvements to Public Facilities...$2.60

27. Street Light Replacement...$8.74

28. Washington Boulevard Repavement ...$7.80

29. Expansion of Transfer Plant...$3.12

30. New Fire Training Yard...$2.70

Total (Implementing Agreement)...$82.42

Grand Total...$435.82

$$$$MONEY! NO OBJECT!

The Agency okayed the sale of about $61 MILLION in BONDS "INTENDED" to FUND NUMEROUS FUTURE PROJECTS.

The GOVERNOR BROWN'S THEORY!

Underlying the political exchanges is a phenomenal growth in redevelopment agency activity -- especially their diversion of property tax money into their own activities.

By law redevelopment agencies can retain property taxes on increased development within redevelopment projects,they

MUST SHARE some of it WITH SCHOOLS and other local governments under reform legislation enacted in the 1990s.

A NEW PAYDAY for SCHOOLS?

Brown would allow the agencies to retain enough tax money to pay their debts, but shift about $1.7 billion to the state for one year, and

THEN TO SCHOOLS and local governments.

That $1.7 billion represents 40 percent of the money redevelopment agencies retain,

CALCULATED to be the portion of the retention that the STATE MUST PAY TO the SCHOOLS under Proposition 98, enacted by voters in 1988.

A NEW ATTEMPT to Keep Redevelopment Agencies Breathing By Tony Rice, Culver City's lobbyist in the state April 28, 2011

SB 286 does not call for the elimination of redevelopment Below are the major points of SB 286:

• Increase School Funding: o Beginning in January, any new redevelopment area would be:

Redevelopment agencies would be prohibited from using funds for certain projects, including golf courses, race tracks and sports facilities.

It should be noted that agency FUNDS COULD BE USED FOR SPORTS FACILITIES if approved by voters at an election

The AMERICAN RECOVERY and REINVESTMENT ACT of 2009 abbreviated ARRA.

Commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th U.S. Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.

To respond to the late 2000s recession the primary objective for ARRA was to save and create jobs almost immediately.

Secondary objectives were to provide temporary relief programs for those most impacted by the recession and INVEST in infrastructure, EDUCATION, health, and `GREEN' ENERGY.

The approximate cost of the economic stimulus package was estimated to be $787 billion at the time of passage.

The Act included direct spending infrastructure, education, health, and energy, federal tax incentives.

The rationale for ARRA was from Keynesian macroeconomic theory which argues that, during recessions, the government should offset the decrease in private spending with an increase in public spending in order to save jobs and stop further economic deterioration.

$16 MILLION PLANS, ONLY $12 MILLION ON HAND. Sept 27, 2011

INCOMPLETE-- UNSTARTED-- solar roofs caved in on School Board

With the chastened Board having just absorbed a rare drubbing from two score of teed-off community members for allegedly not disclosing details of four expensive capital projects.

Attorney Gourley concluded that "the PRESS" was to blame for failing to disclose pertinent portions of the four projects that still were baffling Board members themselves last evening.

HERE is the COST. THERE IT GOES.

FOUR PROJECTS are estimated to cost roundly $16 million.

DISTRICT has $12 million in the bank, with the balance -- tentatively -- (never applied)scheduled to arrive in the form of matching state funds.

A YEAR AGO, the Board set off celebrations across the community when it announced intentions to launch four major face-changers across the School District:

• HUGE RENOVATIONS to the Athletic Fields. The District(?) was told by Mr. Delawalla that he thinks we CAN NOW do the athletic field (complex) for $8.5 million;

But ONLY HALF half ($4.25 million) is OURS? The other half $4.25 million would come from the (INSOLVENT)STATE.

"The School Board did NOTE VOTE to spend $8.5 million on athletics, but that is what the Board HAS AGREED to spend.

• NUMEROUS but UNDEFINED RENOVATIONS at the venerable Robert Frost Auditorium.

WILL NOT SOLVE ALL of the PROBLEMS there.

MAY COVER BIG ISSUES: air conditioning, heating, new stage, new sound, new screen.

WON'T BE STATE-of-the-ART. In this case, We just NEED `GOOD ENOUGH,'NOT' BEST in the world.

An RFP is not out yet on the Robert Frost because the Board DOESN'T KNOW exactly what it wants to do.

• Upgraded elevators at the Middle School and Culver City High School."About $1 million, although they WILL COST LESS?

• Solar paneling for the high school, Middle School and Farragut School. Potentially, $2.5 million was earmarked. An RFP is not available on that yet, so it is NOT CLEAR what it will cost.

"BOARD MOVING TOO FAST and TAX PAYERS KNOW TOO LITTLE and COST are much too high, and rising," numerous speakers complained.

Board member Karlo Silbiger said residents themselves were traveling the wrong way.

"This is the MOST BACKWARD PROJECT I have seen since I have been on the Board (the last two years).

COSTS and incompletely identified changes aside, "the biggest problem of all is that we have made almost NO PROGRESS in the PAST YEAR.

Facing accusations that the athletic field costs inexplicably had ballooned when the community was looking the other way,

SPECIFICITY IS MISSING.

When questioned about specific renovations and costs at the Frost, Dellawalla said he and others still were TRYING to FIGURE them out.

Community members and elected offices engaging over complex political, physical and fiscal cross-currents that residents demand be explained simply and immediately, and the Board saying, roughly, we have.

Three of four Requests for Proposal documents misfired. One explanation was too many hands involved and a SURPLUS of "AMATEURS."

The half-dozen committee members repeatedly complained that the rest of the District was not capitalizing on their expertise by consulting them often enough. Others asserted they were meddling too much.

In summary, here is how a District employee described the four capital projects:

"It is only sort of accurate to say the whole project totals $16 million and we have $12 million of it here.

"Let's call the whole project a WORK-NOT-IN-PROGRESS.

ABOUT THOSE "CUTS!" More than just $$$$$$

DISTRICTS POORLY MAINTAINED SCHOOL BUS FULL of SECOND GRADERS FALTERS on way to Gene Autry Museum in Griffith Park. Private bus to rescue two hours later.

The REAL TRENCHES are in the CLASSROOMS WHERE the $$$CUTS AFFECT STUDENTS and LEARNING. October 14, 2009

I volunteered in the classroom daily, 2 to 4 hours. My objective is to let you know what is happening in the classroom.

Have a different perspective than the usual classroom AIDE.

My youngest son had the same teacher my oldest son had eight years ago. What a difference eight years make. Atmosphere is strangely different.

After three weeks, these kids are still unruly. They have improved some because of a system I have implemented to inform the parents.

It is amazing that parents think you are talking about someone else kids. Not my kid.

I checked in, and correct all homework.

Teacher had indicated that she may not check all of the homework, but she expected that it would be done. Started checking from day one. Could tell right away which parents were involved with their kids' education.

PARENTS and the DISCONNECTION.

Was surprised how many parents never checked their kids work. Some never turned in any. Started sending notes home, requesting them to sign and return. Some days it takes me over two hours to correct and keep track.

Parents see the notes coming, so things are improving. Can you imagine a teacher going home and spending two hours on homework? Never will happen these days.

With all the stresses on the teachers pay cuts (furlough days), budget cuts, staffing cuts, crowded classes, no assistance or support, test approved without any input from teachers, it has to be affecting the unfinished product the kids.

SEE the TEACHER and KID BURNOUT COMING.

NEITHER will have an enjoyable experience. Some days it is painful to watch the teacher constantly go into a slow boil.

Most of the kids these days are different. Something is definitely going on at home. Time outs are not working. Feel sorry for the kids, but they do not listen. A big problem, and it is not always the same ones.

Better believe none of my kids have ever been one of those. Discipline! A foreign concept to a lot of kids. Yes, indeedy. I believe in it. Been proven effective 98.5 percent.

There is always that percentage that only medication will do. But you'll know them when you see them.

Kids are not even aware that they are causing their own misery. Kids in timeouts miss a lot of valuable class time. on top of the furlough days, fifteen to 30 minutes a day, over time, adds up.

Another issue is inadequate teacher assistance. I remember a kid (G) from my son's kindergarten class his told me that "G" did not like his class. He had been placed in special education. I was surprised. He was pretty sharp for a kinder back then. Sometimes he would need something explained a little more clearly.

Parents spoke limited English so it is apparent that Spanish is the language spoken at home. Guess that what happens when you have two languages thrown at you.

Last year, he wasn't in my son's class. But I noticed that some other kids had this problem, I would pull them to the side and I would help them. The School system not prepared for the number of ESL students.

What is the teacher supposed to do? No aide and she doesn't have the time.

One girl I occasionally helped was held back in first grade. What are we doing to our kids? Oh, yeah, (budget cuts).

Could tell you many horror stories. I was in the mix. You need to know how these cuts are affecting our kids' future.

DISTRICT'S MORSE CODE ACCOUNTING.

FEE$$$ by any OTHER NAME-Five Card Monte? or Shell Game?

Service Invoice, Purchase Order, Retainer Agreement, Consultant Fees, Lawyers Fees.

DISTRICT OPENLY ACCUSED by PARENT at Board meetings of spending $thousands or perhaps $millions on attorney fees to fight it's own Special Education students.

BOARD ATTEMPTS TO SILENCE ACCUSER by illegal schemes until Civil Liberty counsel intervenes.

FREEDOM of SPEECH who may say what about whom -- was one theme of the Board meeting, stemming from a July 26 SCHOOL BOARD meeting when a SPEAKER'S MICROPHONE was CUT-OFF over comments aimed at a School District officer.

NEW SCHEME- places Accuser LAST on AGENDA then-

NAME CALLS Accuser behind her back, but the Board has never given a coherent response.

Witnessed Accuser being threatened by one District Board member's supporter after Democratic Club forum. All caught on tape.

http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/articles1-8685/WeissmanAssessesPotentialLossofAgencyWeallreCoveredintothe2040s http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/articles1-8677/CityHalltotheGuvWeHave30Projectsat435Million http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/articles1-9686/InStoutDefenseoftheRedevelopmentAgency http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/articles1-9134/ANewAttempttoKeepRedevelopmentAgenciesBreathing http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/articles1-8732/OallLearyIfAgencyGoesWellFightf orSomethingElse http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/articles1-9881/EnvironmentInsideBoardMeetingTurnsDecidedlyUnpleasant http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/articles1-6576 /TheRealTrenchesAreintheClassroomWhereCutsAffectStudentsandLearning http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/articles1-9810/RidingTowardtheSunsetGourleyApologizesandBoardStandswithZeidman