The L. A. City Council, in an 11-1 vote, gave "preliminary
approval" to provide a downtown sports arena complex for the
Kings and Lakers, according to Jean Merl in the L.A. TIMES. The
"lopsided vote reflected little of the emerging undercurrent of
controversy around the project, but some of the dissent was in
evidence." State Sen. Tom Hayden is calling "for the state's
anti-corruption panel to investigate Mayor Richard Riordan's
advocacy of the project," which would be built "a mere block from
Riordan's downtown restaurant." Hayden is rumored as a possible
challenger to Riordan in next year's mayoral election. The City
Council vote comes less than 24 hours after the Inglewood City
Council voted to raise taxes "in its own drive to keep the two
teams in that city." Inglewood would "increase the hotel
occupancy tax to 15% from 12%, double the parking lot tax to 10%
and raise the sports ticket tax from its current 60 cents to 5%
of the ticket price." Kings spokesperson John Semcken said that
he was "pleased" with the L.A. Council's but "acknowledged" the
team owners will continue discussions with Inglewood (L.A. TIMES,
9/12).
