HR Files Lawsuit Challenging Redevelopment Bills

Two weeks ago we filed California Redevelopment Association v. Matosantos, an original writ proceeding in the California Supreme Court challenging a two-bill package in which the Legislature first eliminated California's 400 redevelopment agencies and then stayed execution if the agencies, or their sponsoring cities and counties, pay $1.7 billion this year and $400 million annually thereafter, primarily for support of the schools. The writ petition and supporting documents are here; the State's "informal opposition" is here; our "informal reply" is here; and the Supreme Court's docket is here. The petition alleges that the redevelopment bills violate Prop. 1A (2004) and Prop. 22 (2010), two constitutional amendments that prohibit the State from using or diverting local tax revenues.