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The governor has scheduled a bill-signing ceremony with representatives of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which bought - oops, make that sponsored - legislation that will fast-track any environmental challenges to construction of the stadium. Under the bill, any objection would be filed with the state Court of Appeal and decided within 175 days. From the LAT:
AEG officials said [the bill] would protect the project from protracted litigation and give investors and the NFL important confidence that the project will not be delayed for years. However, some environmentalists oppose SB 292 for giving special treatment to one developer on provisions of a law meant to protect Californians from unreasonable traffic, air pollution and other environmental problems.
No way this wasn't going to go through - not with the prospect of a few thousand temporary construction jobs (never mind that it means zero for the overall economy). It is disappointing to see Brown and Democratic lawmakers provide developers like AEG a special exemption from what any other business in California has to go through. Reform the environmental laws for everybody - not just the bizjocks.
*Brown also extending the same break to other large projects throughout the state. He said it's time for "big ideas and big projects."
Mark Lacter created the LA Biz Observed blog in 2006. He posted
until the day before his death on Nov. 13, 2013.