Jacqui Irwin

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) is a co-author of a bill to allow cities to establish redevelopment housing and infrastructure agencies to fund affordable housing and infrastructure projects in California, according to a March 22 news release.

The bill, AB 3037, would reinvent redevelopment agencies that were eliminated in 2011. At the time of their elimination, RDAs were required to spend $1 billion to fund affordable housing, the news release said.

Since that time, California’s housing crisis has reached an unprecedented level and homelessness has risen by 14 percent.

“As mayor of Thousand Oaks, I saw how redevelopment agencies directly benefited local communities. From 2000 to 2010, we received an annual average of $19.24 million to build affordable housing and spur economic development,” said Irwin. “I’m proud to be part of the conversation to ensure we create RHIAs in a way that supports local priorities while making sure funds are used responsibly.”