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B,A,g HOUSIM; from page 4 .............................................. redevelopment funding becomes the target of state budget raids. One of the ironies of Senator Perata's proposal is that the Legislature has in recent years raided redevelopment funds that would be so impor- tant to transit-oriented housing development. His interest in this area is laudable, but the League believes a full discussion of the options is necessary to meet the critical needs he outfines. .......................... EXCERPTS FROM npERATA WANTS MORE STATE CONTROL, LAWMAKER PROPOSES TAKING SOME ZONING POWER FROM CITIES", OAKLAND TRIBUNE ARTIa.E, 1/07/05 Perata, who once served on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, said city and county officials ultimately "buckle" under pressure from developers, worsening the linked problems of suburban sprawl, gridlock on roads and the affordability of housing. "They are scratching each other's backs," said Perata, who is under federal investigation for alleged money-handling improprieties. "Only a damn fool would say it's not true. We could document that until the cows come home." Experts said the average commute in California is now nearly an hour, and the median price of a home has risen to nearly $475,000. "It's no wonder people are getting angrier and angrier," said the Senate leader, who replaced the termed-out Demoaatic Sen. John Burton of San Francisco. "They have to go hunåeds of miles to be able to buy a home. They spend most of their time in . their cars, not with their families. We are radically changing the lifestyle in Califor- nia based upon our inability to wrestle with the prob- lems of sprawl, congestion and affordability." The root of the problem lies also INith funding - which he hopes Schwarzenegger and the federal government will soon address - along INith local government politics. "The builders get together with the cities and they talk about what kind of changes that we're going to make," Perata said. "Wlat they really talk about is that we'll give up on CEQA (environmental protections) a little bit and you support us on getting out from under the housing element (which guides develop- ment). Cities that want to get out from under the housing element don't want to change the way they live. "So we have to go to some very racfcal things, some bold ideas. I'll say, much to the ãsmay of the League of California Cities, maybe we need to find those places in Caflfomia where it makes a lot of sense for the state to step in and put an overlay zone."... "In the city of Oakland, there is a convergence of an interstate, the BART system, the Capitol Express train system, bus system and ferries. But there is nothing there that would inãcate this is the center of a transportation hub. ':.. "I will guarantee you that if there was any effort to provide affordable housing, through higher density, there would be a (housing) rush like you wouldn't believe, " he said. HOW ARE FUEL COSTS AFFECTING YOUR CITY? NLC is looking for information or stories from cities and towns regarding the impad of increased gas prices on city budgets. This includes: heating oil, fuel, natural gas or any other budget increases related to the cost of fuels. USA Today is trying to do a piece on the impad of fuel costs on communities, and we are trying to provide this information to them. Please email any information to John Pionke at pionketmnlc.ora as soon as possible as they would like to do the story soon. If you have any questions you can call John at 202-626-3051. Please e-mail your responses or questions as soon as possible directly to John Pionke in NLC's Office of Media Relations at pionkellÐnlc.ora. PAGE a/PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site -- www.cacities.org