Some if not all members of the Roseville City Council have joined local officials throughout California in crying like children whose health-conscious parents have taken away their candy. The tears are being shed over the California Legislature’s, in a rare action to reduce government excess, decision to accept Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to eliminate redevelopment agencies in California (Press Tribune, Jan. 25).

Local officials are brooding over the impeding loss of their prized vehicle for funding pet projects without spending money from the general fund. They hope the taxpayers, and more importantly, the voters, will not see the shell game in which the cost is borne by special districts, primarily the schools and by their constituents, after the officials have left office.

Two Roseville city councilmembers mourn over the demise of redevelopment agencies. One member expresses shock that state officials finally have developed the intestinal fortitude to eliminate a mechanism that was created to implement worthy projects, but has increasingly been used with excessive abuse to encumber future taxpayers and deprive school children of their funding.

The state action does, in fact, affect adversely local governments. However, the adverse effects are on local politicians and bureaucrats, not on the taxpayers. Local officials throughout California have called the action as the state’s grabbing money rightfully belonging to local governments. This statement is like the thief accusing the crook of being dishonest. In some cases, that statement may not be a simile; the money belongs to the people.

Dan Sokol, Roseville