Will Brown Sign AB900?

12 September 2011 |permalink | email article

After state lawmakers OK’d a bill that would soften parts of a landmark, decades-old environmental law that that could pave the way for quick approval of large developments across California the question is whether environmentalist Gov. Jerry Brown will sign it into law.

If Brown signs AB900 it will touch off a battle with large segments of the environmental community. Under the California Environmental Quality Act passed in 1970 the law requires public agencies to identify the environmental impacts of construction and other projects and mitigate them.

Much of the hoopla and politics is being driven by the successful effort of the Anschutz Entertainment Group owned by billionaire Phillip Anschutz to get the Legislature to pave the way for a $1.2-billion NFL stadium in downtown after Democratic leaders promised it would provide tens of thousands of jobs in the city that would new state standards for reducing traffic and air pollution.

Billionaire real estate tycoon Ed Roski is proposing a rival NFL stadium in City of Industry just 20 miles east of Los Angeles in City of Industry between two freeways that intersect with a four-county regional fan base – L.A., Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino.

While The Los Angeles Times actively pushes for the AEG site NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently told the newspaper he remains in active contact with both AEG and Roski about proposed stadium sites.

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