Stockton Record: Ending state programs would devastate Stockton

Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to eliminate redevelopment agencies and enterprise zones would be devastating for Stockton. These critical economic development tools are essential to improving our neighborhoods, attracting private investment and creating jobs. Redevelopment keeps property tax dollars right here in the community, and enterprise zones offer incentives for businesses to locate and remain in Stockton.

Stockton suffers from 21.5 percent unemployment, high foreclosure rates and a declared fiscal emergency. The governor’s proposal would shift our tax dollars away from Stockton to the state, where they would be redistributed based on the state’s priorities, not ours.

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Stockton is one of the oldest cities in California. Redevelopment is the only viable program we have to upgrade and replace crumbling inner-city infrastructure. Enterprise zones offer incentives for businesses to locate and hire employees from Stockton’s poorest neighborhoods. These two programs are the only economic development tools we have in California for business attraction and retention. In addition, redevelopment has provided the financial foundation to secure state and federal funding for hundreds of projects within redevelopment areas.

California’s budget crisis will be solved only by strengthening California’s economy, creating jobs and cutting costs.

Your City Council is doing just that in Stockton. Elimination of these programs by the state is extreme, counterproductive and detrimental to Stockton.

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