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Find Out How Your Local Elected Officials Measure Up

Welcome to Liberty First—the Local Government Report Card.

Liberty First allows you, the voter, the ability to rate your local elected representation; comment on their performance; and read how experts and other members of your community are rating your elected representation.

Make your voice heard. Click the elected officials tab, vote, and comment about elected officials.

New as of March 1 2011

Liberty First will soon be measuring Redevelopment Agency votes. Our philosophy with Liberty First is that Redevelopment Reform is about:

1.) Downsizing the size of government. In a principled discussion on the role of government and essential government service (military, police, roads, etc... WHO would like to argue, with a straight face, that RDAs are an essential government program. The cost of staff and administration of RDAs in CA is nearly 3/4 of a billion dollars per year!

2.) Supporting Free-markets and anti-free market programs - local governments should not be in the business of operating slush funds for a few select businesses - the concept of welfare is principally harmful to society, whether for individuals or selected businesses.

3) Protecting Property Rights - RDA's are the primary driver of eminent domain in our state - often replacing small business owners, residents, and churches with big box retailers, stadiums, and nightclubs.

Eminent domain is sometimes a necessary evil to build highways and necessary public projects, but TAKING PRIVATE PROPERTY FROM ONE INDIVIDUAL TO GIVE TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL IS FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG AND AGAINST THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OF OUR GREAT NATION.

4.) Preventing the diversion of local property tax dollars away from local public services and police- increases in property tax revenues diverted from police, fire, and schools to the RDAs.

5.) Inhibiting the creation of more debt - Redevelopment debts have mortgaged California's future by obligating future generations. interest payments on bonds account for approximately 20% of of all costs - nearly $1.5 billion.

6.) Improving economic growth - cities with redevelopment have experienced on-average lower per-capita income growth than cities WITHOUT redevelopment.

* all this is sourced through "Redevelopment: the Unknown Government - What it is, What can be done." (2007)