San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed struck a defiant pose yesterday in response to California’s new state budget. After hammering out a difficult budget of his own to cover the city’s $84 million deficit, Reed was shocked to learn that his city could be handing over as much as $100 million to the state.
His strategy is simple: Sue the state. “We will certainly be joining in with other cities in litigation,” he said.
This was echoed by mayors across California. In Riverside, Mayor Ron Loveridge said, “We think these are illegal raids of local funds.” Robin Lowe, Hernet Councilwoman and first vice president of the League of California Cities, reflected the growing unease among city officials across the state:
“No one is going to sit still for this,” she said. League president and mayor of Rolling Hills Estates Judy Mitchell added that the League will sue the state if it takes their gas tax funds.
Counties, which also stand to suffer a hit from the new budget, also called the governor to task. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has already voted to sue the state if it took their money.
Santa Clara County is more fortunate. As part of the painful cuts it made to resolve its own $273 million budget deficit, it created a special $63 million reserve fund to complement its $93 million contingency fund. This was done in the expectation that the state would eventually dip into its coffers.
It may not be enough. Some analysts are suggesting that the county could see as much as $280 million in state cuts, which will force the county to make even deeper cuts to public safety and social services. Later, more conservative estimates put the cuts at $100 million, still described as a “devastating blow” by County Budget Director Leslie Crowell.
As the counties begin to crunch the numbers, it seems that nearby San Mateo may have the hardest time of all. Already faced with a crippling $100 million deficit, it may yet owe the state twice as much as most other counties.
All told, the general atmosphere among local officials is one of militant despair. This was summed up by Redondo Beach Councilman Steve Diels: “The state is broken, and misery loves company. We’re already feeling the pain. Why we should have to pay their debts is absurd.”
Mayor Chuck Reed has issued a formal statement about the new state budget’s impact on San Jose
“The budget deal announced today will force us to cut services and eliminate jobs. San José balanced our budget a month ago, and we closed an $84 million shortfall and saved critical programs, including fire stations, traffic enforcement, the police mounted unit, the park ranger program, library hours, and community centers. Our residents and employee groups stepped forward and worked in partnership to make sacrifices, and we saved critical services. Now, we’re faced with the consequences of Sacramento’s failure and our residents are going to be the ones to feel the impact.”
Mayor Reed has yet to elaborate how city services will be affected by the budget cuts.
Read More at The Mercury News.
Read More at the The Press Enterprise.
Read More at the Contra Costa Times.
Read More at NBC Bay Area.
Read More at KLIV.
San Jose is angry because a the Government is confiscating their money? Gee, that’s too bad. Doesn’t seem fair, does it?
Maybe all the Cities and Counties should get together and have a Tea Party!
I simply cannot get emotional about our State taking $67 million in San Jose RDA funds. For most SJ residents, redevelopment has been nothing more than watching billions of dollars dumped into the bottomless pit known as Downtown. Aside from a couple of projects (e.g., the Arena and the California theater), what do we have to show for all of that money? Money, I might add, which was diverted from other infrastructure requirements like schools, roads, etc.
Chuck campaigns against government waste, citing the Taj Gonzales as the prime example.
Then Chuck gets in and campaigns for BART, a much bigger waste of $ than the TG.
Now Chuck complains that the state is stealing his money. Boo Hoo. Given his flip-flops on government waste, it’s hard to sympathize.
#2-Very well said Greg! Bravo! Hopefully Jake is reading your comment!
Move to Los Banos Greg..Your NIMBY whining is irritating.Thats all you people do here. Complain Complain Complain. NIMBYville U.S.A over here.
Ric Flair (WOOO),
You’re getting NIMBYs confused with NUMBAs. (Not Using My Bank Account) But that’s OK. All conservatives probably look the same to you, right?
Reed is the newest symbol of the Confederacy.
Rally around the Mayor who fights for San Jose’s single star. Reed to lead charge on the bridge in Sacramento.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2F-drjUwNU
Even our city being robbed of money doesn’t stop the suburban drones from bitching about downtown…
Get off my lawn!
We need street repavings! Gah! My Hummer doesn’t like potholes! Almaden Expressway should be twice as wide so I can go around everyone on my way to pick up the kids! Put an Applebee’s there, too!
We are a band of brothers that pay Victor’s belly dancers
Fighting for the bloated budget of San Jose
And when Chuck’s treasure was were threatened, the cry rose near and far
Hurrah for Reed and his clinical depression
Hurrah!
Hurrah!
For San Jose rights
Hurrah for Fallon’s city that bears the single star
As long as Arnold kept Victor on retainer
Like friends and brethren, kind were we, and just
But now, when our redevelopment money for a failed downtown is taken
We hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.
Hurrah!
Hurrah!
For San Jose rights
Hurrah for Fallon’s city that bears the sing star
First gallant Five Wounds that got all the money for Dayana’s folly
Then came Mayor Tom’s third round of bailouts
Next, quickly Snc Snack PAC councils
All raised on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.
Hurrah!
Hurrah!
For San Jose righrs hurrah
Hurrah for Fallon’s city that bears the single star
Ye men of valor gather round the banner of the right,
The John Birchers who gave Reed the blessing of Lester Maddox
Reed and Mayor Tom generals of the fight
Now rally round the belly dancers and Victor’s wacky schemes
Hurrah!
Hurrah!
For Fallon’s city
Hurrah for the new state of Fallon, capital is San Jose
And here’s to Valley Christian High the single client of Chuck Reed Inc.
Reed will hire Crouch and Elliot to sue the state
Chuck never turned down a finder’s fee before it was too late
Tom McEnery will now be governor of Fallon the city state
Hurrah!
Hurrah!
For San Jose
Hurrah for Fallon’s city with the single star
Then here’s to our Confederacy, Fat Darby’s dream
Like patriots of old we’ll fight, our heritage to save.
And rather than submit to shame, we only get nutjob Hazel once a week
So cheer for Santana Row and the Fairmont
Hurrah!
Hurrah!
For San Jose right hurrah
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag of Fallon that bears a single star.
Then cheer, boys, cheer, raise a joyous shout
We tell Piedmont Hills to stay in California
And let another rousing cheer for Sweigart Aasociation, with Il Duce Chuck
The single star of San Jose rises and bans the Terminator
Gosh, there’s some annoying little mosquito buzzing about… SMACK! Ahh, no more buzzing.
Nice comeback there Howe, you really showed him….
In about twenty years when China and India each consume as much energy as America, the downtown core and high density living will be the only affordable option for most people. Suburbs will be dead, bye bye big box strip mall…. bye bye single detached homes and backyards…. bye bye.
This cannot be stopped no matter how much conservatives fuss and cry! We should be investing more in our core and build it outward to a brighter, more pedestrian friendly, less oil driven way of life and let the ‘burbs fade away.
Face it people, our lives all will change in the next two decades and it does not matter who is in the white house, who runs congress… none of that will matter as much as the rise of southeast asia. These forces cannot be stopped…..
You may now put your head back in the sand kids.
#7 Nam: Guess what? It’s our downtown too! Our taxes support the RDA, and you can be damn sure that we have quite a lot to say about it.
Greg, ill ask your wife what NIMBY means. oh and stop trying to compete with our city core. YOU ARE GONNA LOOSE! what are you 60 yrs old? its not 1969 pops. this is not “The Valley of Hearts Delight” any more. welcome to 2009! the 30 somethings like my self are the future of this town and WE WANT A VIBRANT CITY. like it or not, this city WILL be dense, tall and vibrant even if we gotta plow through your willow glen shack! You NIMBYS have no chance. WE WILL BEAT YOU! And yes John Galt, ALL conservatives DO look the same to me. Old, rich, bitter stiffs that are PISSED at the world and spend most of their time bitching about anything and everything.you people belong in Texas! with all the complaining you guys do about this town, its residents and the city government, i just dont get why you are still here? just get the hell out! i dont think you guys understand that you are the minority! just tuck your tails between your legs, pack your bags and get the hell on out of town!
shame on me for missing the banner of the great Ann Coulter on this sites home page. VERY appropriate for SJI.
Ric Flair WOOO, thanks for the laugh, I needed that. Actually, I’m not at all NIMBY (ask your mommy what that means). I just believe that wasting billions of dollars should be a statewide undertaking… share the wealth, so to speak.
If you and others suffer from inferiority complexes because we have a big dud for a Downtown, perhaps you should look inward and find other ways to feel important.
DKH… hmm, what could that possibly stand for… lemme see here. Oh boy, I’ve figured it out but I can’t say it here. It does, however, end with “head,” right?
I really have no interest in commencing a battle of wits with you, handicapped as you are – you have the vision of a blind man.
Were our politicians spending the money wisely, I’d very much resent Sacramento taking SJ RDA money. But the fact is, the RDA pisses away billions on one small area of San Jose. If you think that’s a good investment, I suggest you remove your tinfoil hat and and donate some money to the RDA.
DKH,
If “these forces canot be stopped” then why don’t we allow “these forces” to act on their own. If they’re so powerful, why do “these forces” need an RDA IV drip to sustain them?
Hmmm?
Oh and by the way…
Bye Bye dkh. (Gosh, that sounds familiar. Where have I read that before?)
WOOO (#15),
Whatsa’ matter… hemorrhoids acting up again? Can’t afford a tube of Prep H on your dishwasher salary?
As John Galt notes above, you really ought to live elsewhere, San Jose will never be the place you seek.
Oh, and get some b*lls and post using your real name.
WHOA, WOOO!#15,
Hang on a minute.
San Jose is the perfect place for boring old has-beens like me. Why would I want to move?It’s a boring, laidback TOWN. Look around. Who lives in San Jose? Eclectic, exciting, hardpartiers? I don’t think so. The sidewalks are rolled up at 10:30.
Seems to me that YOU are the one who’s out of his element. Flamboyant young guy like yourself. What are you doing living in a backwater berg like Jotown? No nightlife. Full of yuppies. You’d be much happier in The City. Or over the hill in Santa Cruz.
And remember, Mr. Flair. Try not to be an age bigot. After all, “We’re all in this together.”
WOOO (#21),
You obviously have an anger management problem – see a therapist if you want to enjoy your life a little more and live a little longer.
And I couldn’t care less what your b*lls are made of… brass, diamonds, fairy dust… it matters not. You are insignificant and irrelevant and raging as you do will get you nowhere.
Greg, your still here? Dont you have other topics to bitch about? Move on man.There IS life outside of SJI. Im done. You can have the last word bud. I think I made my point.
You are a real tough guy Greg. By the way, my name happens to be Ric Flair. Oh my god!!! More than one Ric Flair in the world??? Who would’ve thought?? And my B$%$s are made of brass if you ever wanna test me! Dishwasher salary?? haha, good one. you wish. now go hop on to your gas guzzlin f&*k-you-mobile and take the wifey and kids out to applebees like you do every week.
John, SJ is only boring because YOU MAKE IT BORING! Mowing the lawn, reading the paper in your tighty whities and waiting for the cable guy can only entertain you for so long bud. maybe you and greg can both hop in the ‘98 Tahoe and take a cruise down to your nearest Super Walmart. I mean is’nt that what you suburban loving NIMBYS love to do for fun?