The ongoing tragedy of this story is very sad, from such promise a short time ago.
Oak Park wants action
Kevin Johnson fails to show up for meeting about progress in his renovation plan for properties.
By Terri Hardy and Phillip Reese - thardy@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PST Friday, November 16, 2007
For a month, Oak Park community leaders anticipated a presentation from representatives of former NBA all-star Kevin Johnson, detailing plans for resuscitating his flagging economic development efforts and fixing his dilapidated properties.
They're still waiting.
Johnson was a no-show at Wednesday night's meeting of the Oak Park Redevelopment Advisory Committee, and top officials from his St. HOPE Development Corp. who did attend provided scant details, drawing criticism from the committee and audience.
"Let's get real and stop acting like you are better than everybody else," scolded committee Chairwoman Edenausegboye Davis.
Al Williamson, who oversees commercial properties for St. HOPE and lots and other properties for Johnson's for-profit Kynship Development, insisted progress was being made. He alternately dismissed and sidestepped findings from an October Sacramento Bee investigation that half of Johnson's organizations' 37 Oak Park properties have amassed city violations in the past decade and many have been vacant for years.
