By Brittany Hanson/Garden Grove Journal
Although reluctant to do so, the Stanton City Council agreed Tuesday night to pay the state of California $4,429,000 in order to be able to resume the function of the city’s redevelopment Agency.
According to city attorney Kimberly Hall Barlow, state action called ABX126 effectively ended the function of redevelopment agencies unless cities agreed to pay the state from the RDA funds.
Due to this state-mandated suspension of the RDA, Stanton is unable to move forward with infrastructure projects.
“We fought to stop the state from taking more of our money,” said David Shawver, mayor pro tem, “Passing this measure . . . they’ve held every taxpayer in Stanton hostage.”
Shawver said that the city really doesn’t have that kind of money, nor can it function properly if the state takes what is normally paid to it and then additional fees as well.
“They’re making us pay money to be able to keep a small portion of what we have,” said Shawver, “ We’ve used it [RDA money] so well in Stanton, to build parks, the city hall.”
Additionally, Chief of Police Services, Lt. Jeff Passalaqua, the police services in Stanton will be starting a senior volunteer program in September called Volunteers in Policing.
VIP recruits will be assigned duties in staffing the front lobby of the police station, which has been closed since the budget for it was cut. The front lobby staffing will consist of greeting and assisting walk ins and inquiries, answering phones and taking messages as well as sending, receiving and delivering faxes and making copies of reports.
Qualifications are that recruits be 50 years or older, complete their application, be in good health, pass a background check and be able to commit to at least four hours per week.
The program start date is Oct. 1, but recruitment will begin the first week of September.
Also, the Stanton Community Foundation is collecting donations for a family whose home burned on Friday.
A water heater malfunction burned the home to the ground, destroying the victims possessions and all their clothing.
The SCF is asking that donations be made out to “Stanton Fire Victims.”
