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Let's call off the Redevelopment War
Our City Council declared the Martinez Redevelopment Agency war is on again at the recent special City Council planning meeting on March 21.
Why would the Council throw out the hopeful and positive lessons we just learned by working together as a united community to pass the Library, Parks and Pool Bond?
On the surface the issue is the Redevelopment Agency. But to me the bigger issue is the wedge it places between good people who can do so much working together, and between the City Council and many of the people they are representing.
A Martinez Redevelopment Agency is an incredibly divisive issue. The acrimony and the way it divides the community makes it a toxic topic. Councilmembers are unhappy with and distrust those of us who have a legitimate right to oppose this potential mistake. (Apparently one recently asked a prominent local organization if it really wanted to taint its connection with the City by opposing a Martinez Redevelopment Agency.) Opponents of a Martinez Redevelopment Agency mirror the same feelings of distrust towards the City Council.
The battle has been going on since the 1950s with approximately seven (7) failed attempts to put a Redevelopment Agency in place. If a Redevelopment Agency is allowed to be created, the fighting could last 40-50 more years, as that is how long the typical Redevelopment Agency exists.
We need to unite to move our town forward. There are hundreds of people in this town who would work long and hard to solve our Downtown and waterfront problems, if they were released from this constant battle over the Redevelopment Agency.
Ideas like:
- a low-interest micro loan program for earthquake retrofit,
- cross-marketing programs with the numerous sports, recreational and educational events held all over Martinez,
- an Annual Beaver Festival to use these great furry visitors to attract human visitors Downtown,
- a “Hands Across the Highway” program to invite fellow Martinez residents to visit our Downtown Farmers Markets, retail stores, theaters and restaurants,
…. all could get off the ground and become part of solving our problems.
Just get this Redevelopment Agency issue set aside, as we did so successfully in the bond drive.
Remember, the biggest lesson we learned from the Library, Parks and Pool Bond drive was actually two lessons. The bond passed by only a scant 405 votes out of 17,763.
Lesson 1: working together we CAN succeed.
Lesson 2: we NEED TO WORK TOGETHER to succeed.
City Council, please call the war off and let’s get to work solving problems.
Sincerely,
Tim Platt