California Senate Bill 1129, which would reduce the hurdles in transferring former redevelopment properties for a public use, will be back in the spotlight on May 5, 2014, when the Senate Appropriations Committee holds a hearing at 1:00 PM in Sacramento to discuss the bill’s fiscal impact. This legislation could make it easier for the Daughtrey’s Building in Castro Valley, currently caught in the middle of redevelopment dissolution process, to be kept as a public asset and developed into a Castro Valley town square.

Private citizens don’t usually take the day off of work to attend a California Senate committee hearing, but I’ll be spending my Cinco de Mayo in Sacramento letting my California lawmakers know that SB 1129 could help communities like ours seek creative economic development opportunities despite the chaos brought on by redevelopment dissolution.

When Peter Rosen and I spoke in front the CA Senate Governance and Finance Committee earlier this month, we were surrounded by folks who speak in front of legislative hearings for a living. It was a little intimidating, particularly when the Chair told everyone to make their comments right before I spoke.

But I did speak for about two minutes, and I was even coherent despite the nerves. In the end, being able to tell a panel of California Senators how a proposed law could have a specific impact in my community is pretty empowering if not a little surreal.

If you can’t make it to Sacramento, you can lend your support to the bill by sending an email to Mark McKenzie, the Senate Appropriations Committee staffer managing this bill, by the end of the business day on Wednesday, April 30, 2014.

Mark’s email is Mark.McKenzie@sen.ca.gov.   You can also copy State Senator Ellen Corbett, Castro Valley’s Senator in Sacramento, who is also co-authoring the bill, at Senator.Corbett@senate.ca.gov.  Your email will be made a part of the official public record for SB1129.

Check out our previous posts on California Senate Bill 1129 to understand how this legislation could empower Alameda County Board of Supervisors, the Alameda County Redevelopment Successor Agency, and the Hayward Area Recreation and Parks District (HARD) pursue a “public option” for the Daughtrey’s site.