Last month Alameda city officials admitted that the cash buffer between our local government and bankruptcy is down to 22 days. The prognosis is also not good going forward, since costs will continue to rise and our revenue won’t.
Rather than futile economic finger-pointing, however, what if we got serious about adding to our tax base? Let me see now…
We’d need a major parcel of land, and a whole lot of community input about how to redevelop that land. We’d also need a master plan based on that input which incorporated ways to reduce traffic, preserve open space, protect taxpayers, add workforce housing and bring in more revenue than it costs to serve. And we’d need a new urbanist type developer with massive financial backing and extensive expertise to make it all happen.
Hmmmm. Where we gonna get all this, and in short order no less? Did I hear someone say Alameda Point, and SunCal? What an idea!?!? Why didn’t we think of it sooner!!!
Unfortunately, the train coming down the track behind 3 years of community input to get us to a plan that is Measure A compliant and economically viable is about to be derailed, unless the city council extends the deadline for SunCal under the terms of the current Exclusive Negotiating Agreement. We’ve got these guys on the hook for 3 years of work and millions of dollars in studies. It’s time we cashed in and got them to work turning Tarmac into Tree Lined Streets, Shops, Homes and Offices.
Ding, Ding, Ding!!! Time’s a wasting folks
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Well, the city wants to redevelop the civic center, carve a park out of the old Belt Line rail yard, and create a new brand for itself, so they obviously don't see a looming cash-flow problem.
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