From the California Redevelopment Association- CRA .I have copied their FAQ's on redevelopment and blight. See if you can fit paying the salary of a Chamber of Commerce executive into any of these definitions.

What is redevelopment?
 
Redevelopment is a tool created by state law to assist local governments in eliminating blight from a designated area, as well as to achieve the goals of development, reconstruction and rehabilitation of residential, commercial, industrial and retail districts.
Examples of redevelopment tools:
Ability to assemble land for development
Ability to utilize tax increment and issue bonds
Ability to invest in infrastructure to "lure" private enterprise
Ability to create affordable housing opportunities
 
Redevelopment is a locally driven activity that assists local governments in revitalizing their communities. Redevelopment encourages new development, creates jobs and generates tax revenues in declining urbanized areas by developing partnerships between local governments and private entities. Over 400   California cities and counties have adopted local redevelopment plans.
 
What is blight?

Blight consists of the physical and economic conditions within an area that cause a reduction of, or lack of, proper utilization of that area.
 Redevelopment can only be used in areas that suffer from adverse physical and economic conditions, defined in the law as “blight.”
 

The following types of adverse physical and economic conditions have been observed in redevelopment areas to be examples of blight.
 Adverse Physical Conditions
Unsafe building conditions;
Aging, deteriorating, and poorly-maintained buildings, sometimes interspersed with well-maintained buildings;
Incompatible adjacent or nearby uses of land parcels that hinder economic activity;
Adverse physical factors, such as susceptibility to flooding and earthquakes, that demand significant improvements to buildings in order that they be safe for occupancy;
Small and irregularly shaped lots under multiple ownership that are vacant or underutilized;
Outdated and inefficient building configuration and design that does not meet current business needs;
Unsafe access into buildings or parking lots; and
Inadequate and obsolete infrastructure, (i.e. utilities, storm drainage, sewers, street lighting, and confusing and inefficient street systems).

Adverse Economic Conditions

High business vacancies, low commercial leases and high turnover rates;
Vacant and underutilized land or buildings;
Depreciated or stagnant property values and other evidence of disinvestment;
Hazardous waste and other negative environmental conditions;
High incidences of criminal activity, sometimes equated with an over-concentration of bars, liquor stores or adult stores;
Lack of neighborhood businesses to serve residents, such as banks, pharmacies or grocery stores; and Residential overcrowding.

What are the powers of an agency?

California Community Redevelopment Law (CRL) prescribes the powers of a redevelopment agency. An agency may prepare and carry out plans for the improvement, rehabilitation and redevelopment of blighted areas. Once the plan adoption process has begun, an agency may exercise certain additional powers, such as acquiring property.
The redevelopment agency has powers that are typical for a local governmental agency and three unique powers that are exercised only by redevelopment agencies. Examples of these general powers include:
Adopt a budget
Buy and sell property
Make certain types of loans or grants to carry out the redevelopment plan.
Construct improvements
Rehabilitate, modernize, consolidate or remove structures
Assist in the development or rehabilitation of housing for use by moderate-income and low-income families
 
In addition to these general powers, a redevelopment agency has unique powers that include:
 
The ability to buy private property for resale to another private person or organization.
The ability to use the power of eminent domain (condemnation) to acquire private property.
The power to collect property tax "increment" in order to finance the redevelopment program of the community.