Kevin Hanley, mayor pro tem for the city of Auburn, is responding to state Sen. Darrell Steinberg's Jan. 15 Viewpoints article "Court closes one door, but redevelopment window is open." The article stated: "The governor and skeptical legislators, including myself, might be much more interested in allocating funding if doing so acts as a catalyst for fundamentally fixing the state-local fiscal relationship and advances our mutual goals of changing land use patterns to ensure long-term transportation and environmental sustainability."

On Feb. 1, Gov. Jerry Brown and legislators will accomplish their goal of shutting down all 425 local redevelopment agencies and putting all their assets on the auction block. People looking for work and small-business owners and residents who want to enjoy the benefits of living in thriving downtowns will pay the price.

But just as the minister is applying final rites to local redevelopment agencies, state Sen. Darrell Steinberg, in the Viewpoints column, proposes to resurrect redevelopment, but only if cities and counties meet his specific conditions. Unfortunately, Steinberg's last-minute proposal to completely restructure the redevelopment process would delay putting people back to work by shackling redevelopment projects with new state mandates. It's like bringing Lazarus back to life but only as an indentured servant rather than a free man.

I invite Gov. Brown, Sen. Steinberg and other state lawmakers to tour our historic Central Square in downtown Auburn to see for themselves how streetscape projects create construction jobs, revitalize small businesses and transform dead spaces into wonderful places for residents to enjoy. From the state Capitol, Auburn is only 35 miles up the hill. A marching band is ready to greet your arrival.

The city of Auburn is a case study in how to do redevelopment right. Auburn residents, business owners and locally elected leaders worked hard to develop a multiphase streetscape plan to revitalize our historic town.

We enacted the toughest ordinance in Northern California to ensure that the city never used the corrupting power of eminent domain to kowtow to big developers and big unions at the expense of homeowners and small businesses.

We built new sidewalks and lighting, provided access for handicapped people and improved parking in our new and improved Central Square. We created construction jobs, and the local shops in Central Square are now thriving. We are proudly displaying our local history, from the American Indian period to our famed 100-mile endurance races. Auburn residents love what we've accomplished.

But unfortunately the city was able to complete only about 20 percent of the streetscape program because state leaders decided last summer to end redevelopment and take all of our remaining funds. This job- and value-producing program is now dead.

Over the last several years, the greater Sacramento region lost 145,000 jobs. A reformed local redevelopment program can create jobs and improve the quality of life for our residents.

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

Kevin Hanley, mayor pro tem for the city of Auburn, is responding to state Sen. Darrell Steinberg's Jan. 15 Viewpoints article "Court closes one door, but redevelopment window is open." The article stated: "The governor and skeptical legislators, including myself, might be much more interested in allocating funding if doing so acts as a catalyst for fundamentally fixing the state-local fiscal relationship and advances our mutual goals of changing land use patterns to ensure long-term transportation and environmental sustainability."

• Read more articles by Kevin Hanley