Unfiltered With Jan Goldsmith: Former Poway Mayor Discusses Redevelopment, Chargers

Redevelopment.

It's one of the most contentious issues in a state struggling, with what Gov. Jerry Brown's office estimates, is a $9.2 billion deficit for fiscal year 2012-12.

It's also left municipal leaders scrambling to form "successor agencies" to fund redevelopment projects before they are completely eliminated Feb. 1. At the same time, leaders are lobbying for the passage of Senate Bill 659, which would extend the deadline to April 15. For Poway, the elimination of redvelopment agencies could mean the elimination of nearly $7 million in future projects for the "City in the Country" (See PDF).

Amid the redevelopment debate, Jan Goldsmith—a former mayor of Poway and state assemblyman who is now serving as the city attorney for San Diego—believes Poway is an example of redevelopment done right.

In an interview with Patch, Goldsmith shared how he determined where development dollars would go when he led Poway, discussed the revenue from redevelopment, addressed abuses of redevelopment in California and talked about the future of the Chargers.

Watch the videos to see Goldsmith unfiltered.