Affordable housing efforts get $1 billion a year from property taxes that go to redevelopment agencies. But if redevelopment funds disappear, so would affordable housing funds.
Spezia: "No other sector is being slated for elimination. They're being asked to take a haircut. We're being scalped."
Julie Spezia is with the group Housing California. She hopes the governor and legislature will find a way to protect affordable housing programs - even if redevelopment agencies are eliminated. She and Democratic Senator Mark DeSaulnier are pushing a proposal that would keep the governor's budget intact this year - but restore at least some of the $1 billion to affordable housing in 2012.
Spezia: "Well, $1 billion is a haircut, and we're asking for the whole billion, and of course we'll talk."
The governor's proposal would split that money up among cities, counties and schools.