Bernardi and CRA

* In response to “Turning the Tables: CRA Buys Star on Walk of Fame for Longtime Critic,” Feb. 26:

Perhaps former City Councilman Ernani Bernardi’s Walk of Fame star will shine bright on those Community Redevelopment Agency officials responsible for this “gotcha,” and expose them for what they really are. For 32 years, he has been fighting these outlaws who are so articulate in redefining blight they have been able to sell their glamorous developments to the public without being accountable in any way.

Using tax dollars to purchase a star is but a hint of their irresponsible waste. Bernardi obviously recognizes this is being done by confiscating millions upon millions of hard-earned tax dollars from other desperately needed services, such as police and fire protection, and schools. Most people are not aware that redevelopment agencies do not answer to the voters or their elected representatives, that they are an administrative arm of the state, and they can create debt in inconceivable amounts that eventually must be paid from the income of the citizens.

Bernardi does know. Hopefully his star will shed some light so others can observe the horrors fathered by this much maligned and misunderstood back room of our government.

BOB SLAGLE

Big Bear Lake