Good News From Florida’s CRAs

Michael Volk Gainesville Sun Feb. 6, 2018 As a resident of Gainesville, I have witnessed firsthand the encouraging impact and positive effects resulting from projects spearheaded by Gainesville’s community redevelopment agency (CRA). Newly renovated areas — such as Depot Park, Bo Diddley Plaza and the Helyx Bridge — have attracted significantly more residents, tourists and…

Gabe Grass Tallahassee Democrat Feb. 7, 2018 Supporting local growth from within communities is the formula for success, and community redevelopment agencies are a key part of this equation. Unfortunately, the Florida Legislature is seeking to impose an exhaustive list of regulations that will prevent CRAs from effectively rehabilitating the communities they serve. CRAs breathe new…

Sheldon Gardner St. Augustine Record Feb. 6, 2018 St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach officials have taken a stance on a number of topics at the state level, and St. Augustine officials traveled to Tallahassee to fight for, and against, several new proposals last week. The visit last week by City Manager John Regan and…

Jared Beck Naples Daily News Jan. 31, 2018 Traveling through the state, I am reminded of how many of our communities have been transformed from once-derelict and underused areas of neglect to thriving centers of business, tourism and community. Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road, Fort Lauderdale’s A1A and Tampa’s Channel District are just a few examples.…

Josh Cockrell Florida Times-Union Jan. 22, 2018 Picture this: A once-vibrant area within a local community overcome with blight and decay. Children no longer able to utilize youth programs. Public parks no longer accessible — even the lighting and infrastructure are considered hazards. Revitalization of these forgotten and neglected areas is made possible through community…

Business Report of North Central Florida Jan. 11, 2018 While the University of Florida helped put the quaint city of Gainesville on the map back in 1853, modern additions to the city have caught the attention of diverse waves of people beyond students, both prospective residents and tourists alike. With Depot Park, Bo Diddley Plaza,…

Mariel Carbone WCTV Jan. 11, 2018 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV)– Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum spoke out against what he called a “war on cities,” Thursday. Under his campaign, Defend Local Solutions, Gillum and several others spoke out against proposed bills that would preempt local government. Preemption is when a state law blocks local government from passing…

Sarasota Herald-Tribune  Editorial Board Sarasota Herald Tribune Jan. 8, 2018 Legislating in a state with 21 million residents is, no doubt, difficult. In light of Florida’s limits on generating tax dollars, senators and representatives often find themselves committing the political equivalent of robbing Peter to pay Paul — raiding so-called trust funds to shore up…

Naples Daily News Editorial Board Naples Daily News Jan. 8, 2018 What do Naples and Miami have in common? What about Duval County (population 925,000), Collier County (population 360,000) and Baker County (population 28,000)? Marco Island and Clewiston? Bonita Springs and Orlando? If you’re struggling for answers, you might want to ask members of the…

Judah Longgrear Cape Coral Daily Breeze Jan. 5, 2018 Community redevelopment agencies (CRAs) have been the subject of increased attention and scrutiny in recent months following the introduction of two bills in the Florida Legislature which would enact strict limitations in an attempt to eventually dissolve these agencies entirely. With an influx of competing information…

Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board Tampa Bay Times Jan. 4, 2017 From the Tampa Bay Times editorial board: The Florida Legislature’s message is clear: Tallahassee knows best, and cities and counties should sit down and shut up. Like bullies on the block, lawmakers are more determined than ever to control what happens in the neighborhood rather than…

Sun Sentinel Editorial Board Sun Sentinel Jan. 8, 2017 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/editorials/fl-op-editorial-community-redevelopment-agencies-cras-20180105-story.html Guilt by association is a bad way for the Florida Legislature to make policy. Across Florida are 224 community redevelopment agencies, almost all associated with cities. As the name implies, they seek to improve blighted areas, mostly — but not always — downtowns. One of…

Christopher Keller Orlando Sentinel Jan. 4, 2018 Applying local funds to solve local issues — isn’t that what it is all about? That is the formula under which community redevelopment agencies operate. It is efficient and extremely effective. Unfortunately, Florida legislators are considering limiting the effectiveness, or in some instances, calling for the elimination of…

Michael O’Rourke Palm Beach Post Dec. 29, 2017 Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) have recently drawn increased attention following proposals in the Florida Legislature seeking to enact crippling limitations on these organizations. With CRAs under heavy scrutiny, it’s difficult to distinguish reality from the misinformation being spread. Here’s the truth about CRAs: CRAs exist to serve…

Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board Orlando Sentinel Dec. 27, 2017 For almost half a century, a Florida law has entrusted county and city governments to set aside a share of local property tax revenues for urban redevelopment. Now this authority, like other powers of home rule in Florida, is in Tallahassee’s cross hairs. Some state legislators…

LTE: Michael English Tampa Bay Times Dec. 25, 2017 The 2018 Florida legislative session is almost upon us, bringing with it the introduction of two bills attacking community redevelopment agencies, or CRAs. The proposed legislation would enact crippling limitations in an attempt to impede the creation of new CRAs and phase out existing programs all…

Dr. Woody Brown Tampa Bay Times Dec. 22, 2017 Largo is looking pretty good for being almost 113 years old. We’re a little older and a little wiser, but we’re certainly not your grandmother’s Largo anymore. The city is committed to community revitalization, and we know that means that we have to be focused on…

Michael Simon Sun Sentinel Dec. 20, 2017 With increased buzz surrounding Florida’s community redevelopment agencies (CRAs), there has been a considerable amount of misinformation going around. It’s time to sift through the untruths and share the facts about CRAs. CRAs are created by local governments to revitalize targeted areas that have been neglected or forgotten.…

Chris Hand Florida Times-Union Dec. 19, 2017 The Florida Constitution is clear: It protects the important principle of home rule, which recognizes that cities and counties are often best positioned to address their own needs. As the Palm Beach Post editorial page recently explained, “local officials are better equipped to respond quickly to local residents.…