Another Authority

From the Albuquerque Journal - an idea for a city-county redevelopment authority to which my gut reaction is so negative that I struggle to read the entire story as I was shaking my head so hard.  Can we please call it something else?   I'm so wary of authority.

O'Malley has introduced legislation to organize a "work group" to study the issue and report on the viability of creating an authority.  If the idea proves to be sound, the same group would offer recommendations on how the authority should be set up, who would be involved and how much autonomy it should have.  O'Malley said the city's redevelopment office was not efficient enough to ensure continuous progress on larger redevelopments and that it is vulnerable to political pressures. ...

A new board is no less vulnerable to political pressure, IMHO.    

 

Mayor Martin Chávez said he would take a look at the idea but won't take a position until there's more information.  He said he would not support "anything that circumscribes the authority of those that are accountable to the public."

That's an interesting comment.  More likely, a new board circumscribes accountability, while the authority of the individual who sits on such a board may actually increase.  His accountability to the public is generally reduced by new decision-making machinations and another set of poorly attended meetings.  New boards are less transparent to public scrutiny,  and certainly no less vulnerable to politics. 

Here's a link to Denver's redevelopment authority.  Not too exciting but apparently functional. 

 

Comments

[Enrique]

I was at the meeting where this was brought to the Land Use, Planning, and Zoning committee. There wasn't much discussed. I think if there is something that would ensure equitable investment in infrastructure, redevelopment and new development that would be great. I'm not convinced yet, that this is the goal.

If you live in an older or poorer part of the "region" then you are likely to get more of what you have gotten - ignored, forgotten, and underinvestment.

Thanks for your posts!