Sometimes its good to elect people to do things that aren't popular.  Failures in the former and present Urban Renewal plans are not failures of Urban Renewal, they are failures to operate the activities of government effectively, and choose good projects/contractors.  These are missing political skills that are badly needed.  Mediocrity isn't usually seen as 'dereliction' in real time, though the accumulated errors due to uninspired choices in policy and resource use invites the vilification of public service.  

The sadder issue is that the voters themselves are unable to distinguish and elect those that are competent at the public's business, rather than those who are popular, charismatic, or disingenuously ideologically misdirected enough to get elected.  I believe the Council is genuinely trying to make the city better. There's evidence they generally have.  The 'citizens' as it were are not only inarticulate with their vote, they actively obstruct any and all improvements.