HomeMy WebLinkAboutWest, Georgianna_city council meeting - 12_17_2025_Redactedprograms utilizing Housing Set-Aside and HOME
Funds. The EDA/Housing Development Agency used
federal funds for programs offering minor repair or
grants to homeowners. (like mine)
After conducting extensive research, I learned about
the Agency Dissolution: While the EDA was active
throughout 2010, it was part of the statewide
dissolution of redevelopment agencies(RDAs) that
began shortly after. Following a 2011 legislative
decision, the San Bernardino RDA was officially
dissolved on February 1, 2012, with its functions
transferring to a Successor Agency. In 2011, to
address a significant state budget deficit, Governor
Jerry Brown signed legislation (ABX1 26) that
dissolved California's Redevelopment Agencies,
upheld by the Supreme Court, effective February 1,
2012.
I want to mention that the contract did not state any
type of special clause or circumstances. In
September of this year, I became a victim of
domestic violence; my ex-husband was arrested, and
I have an active restraining order against him. I was
forced to sell and move out of the house with my
daughter. The escrow company reached out to the
City of San Bernardino office as soon as escrow
began, but it took the city 40 days to respond. We
learned about this enormous amount just a few days
before the closing, after all parties had already signed
the documents, making it too late for us to back out
of the sale or consider any other options. After
showing several photos and receipts of home
improvements, the amount we owed was reduced to
$122,000.
We sold the house, repaid the City of San Bernardino
$122,000, and I moved out. I had to buy another
home for my daughter and me, and now I am
struggling to pay my bills, my lawyer, and to maintain
a comfortable life. I am in debt because of the City of
San Bernardino—the city that was supposed to help
its own citizens. If we had been informed about what
we were signing and the fact that the city could take
everything away from us, we would have never signed
such an agreement.
I appreciate your attention to this matter and kindly
ask that you consider the fact that the sale of the
house was forced due to special circumstances, and
that I have purchased another home within the City of
San Bernardino.
Thank you for your time regarding this issue.