Industry NFL Stadium Bill Approved, To Go Before State Senate

Majestic Would Start Building Stadium As Soon As Possible If Senate Approves Bill

The California state Assembly late Thursday approved by a 55-17 vote a bill that would allow Majestic Realty Co. to build an NFL stadium in City of Industry, "leaving it to the Senate to decide [Friday] the merits of Majestic and its supporters' case," according to James Wagner of the SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE. The bill, authored by Assembly member Isadore Hall III, "would allow the project to be built with its existing environment impact report and toss out" a lawsuit filed by the neighboring city of Walnut. Majestic has "built a broad coalition of advocates to gain support for an environmental exemption" for its proposed stadium, and Majestic Realty Chair & CEO Ed Roski for weeks has "lobbied hard for a relaxation of the environmental law" to circumvent Walnut's lawsuit. Majestic "would start building as soon as possible" if the bill is approved Friday. Wagner notes if the state Legislature approves the bill, which is sponsored by 25 other Assembly members in addition to Hall, it "will be the biggest step to bringing an NFL stadium and team back to Southern California in years." Majestic Realty VP John Semcken noted that the company "would negotiate with NFL teams between February and May, after the current season ends," and that it "could have a team play in either the Rose Bowl or the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum until the Industry stadium is completed" (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE, 9/11).

CHARGING AGAINST: In San Diego, Michael Gardner notes San Diego County lawmakers are "desperately trying to block" the effort to "fast-track construction" on the stadium. The lawmakers believe if the bill becomes law it "would make it easier for the City of Industry just outside Los Angeles to lure ... the Chargers once a new stadium rises." Chargers Special Counsel Mark Fabiani said that the team "has not lobbied any state legislators about the City of Industry site because the team's focus is on finding a new location in San Diego County." But San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders in a letter of opposition to the bill wrote, "I am concerned that should the City of Industry be rewarded with these unprecedented exemptions, that city would have an unfair advantage to lure any California team, including the San Diego Chargers" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/11).

Neighboring City Requesting Extra Time To Review Santa Clara Stadium Proposal

REQUIRING FURTHER REVIEW: In California, Tiffany Carney reported the Sunnyvale City Council (SCC) is "still reviewing a draft proposal" for the 49ers' proposed stadium in Santa Clara and has asked the Santa Clara City Council "for more time to evaluate potential impacts" the stadium might have on the neighboring city. Santa Clara "released the draft environmental impact report July 25 to Sunnyvale for a 45-day review," and the SCC agreed September 1 to "write a letter asking for an additional two weeks to review the report." The SCC is "also requesting that Santa Clara include a public hearing in the comment process" (Sunnyvale SUN, 9/10). Meanwhile, S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom said the city has the “ability to pull this thing off if the team wants to stay.” Newsom: “The team clearly wants to leave. They’ve made it clear they want to go to Santa Clara. If they change their mind, if they can’t put together the financing even after they get a vote to approve it, we are uniquely positioned to keep them.” He added, “The thing for me is this: if we need to do it -- and the biggest issue for me right now is transportation of the structure -- we’re going to redo that entire (Hunter's Point) area. … If they want us to fast-track it, we’ve got to know that we actually have a reason to do it” ("Chronicle Live," CSN Bay Area, 9/10).