LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Today at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 292 authored by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima). The new law will accelerate the approval process for an NFL football stadium and a modernized convention center in downtown Los Angeles. Proponents estimate the project will create 12,000 jobs during the construction phase and another 11,000 permanent jobs upon completion of the project.
“The signing of SB 292 is a win, win, win! Environmental standards are enhanced, the project is expedited and jobs are created at a time when they are desperately needed,” Senator Alex Padilla said. “This project represents a $1.3 billion private investment in our city. It will create thousands of jobs, further revitalize downtown Los Angeles and be an economic boost for the City, the region and the state,” Senator Alex Padilla added.
“I thank Governor Brown for signing SB 292. He clearly recognizes that the building of a new sports arena and convention center is a tremendous investment in our City and its people. I also thank Assembly Speaker John Perez for his leadership in helping craft and shepherd this bill through the legislature,” Senator Alex Padilla added.
Senate Bill 292 elevates and expedites judicial review of the project’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) while establishing ground-breaking environmental protections. Specifically, the new law will:
•Require a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Farmers Field Project and allow for an expedited judicial review of the completed EIR at the Court of Appeals, within 175 days of the completed report.
•Require that the project result in air emission neutrality by the end of the first full NFL season played at the stadium, with at least 10% fewer car trip emissions than any NFL stadium in the country.
•Require that environmental mitigation objectives required by the bill not only be achieved, but maintained, and be supplemental to current environmental requirements.
•Clarify that nothing in the bill affects the project’s ongoing obligations pursuant to environmental laws.
•Ensure that any additional court or CEQA approval costs will be paid by the applicant.
The stadium and convention center will be one of the largest construction projects in the United States. It will be the first LEED certified and carbon neutral stadium and sports district ever built. The City of Los Angeles, which voted to approve the project this year, has projected that it will generate $410 million in new tax revenues over 30 years.
The project has overwhelming support from many organizations and community groups that include the Natural Resources Defense Council, the California League of Conservation Voters, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, the California Labor Federation, the California State Council of Laborers, the State Building and Construction Trades Council, the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers, IBEW 11, Ironworkers Local 300, Teamsters Local 396 and the Greater Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and many more.
Senator Alex Padilla represents more than 850,000 residents of the 20th State Senate District which includes most of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles.
