Since 2009, California legislators have passed laws to make it easier to build new football stadiums in the San Gabriel Valley, San Diego, and downtown Los Angeles, and basketball arenas in Sacramento and San Francisco.
Only one, a basketball arena in Sacramento, actually went forward. None of the football stadiums lawmakers targeted since 2009 were built, though a stadium to be shared by the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers is now under construction in Inglewood, near Los Angeles. That stadium did not require state legislation, as a strategy that involved collecting signatures from residents supporting the project proved to be successful.
State lawmakers action did provide the Sacramento Kings with shortcuts in defending environmental lawsuits against their downtown arena project. The legislation limited a judge’s ability to halt construction unless there were serious health and safety risks.
California lawmakers, pointedly, did not authorize state funds to build stadiums in contrast to the Nevada Legislature’s pledge of $750 million, a record public subsidy, to build a new stadium to attract the Oakland Raiders. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg called Nevada lawmakers’ decision “highway robbery,” according to the Los Angeles Times. Sacramento did spend some city funds to get the Sacramento Kings arena built, though. One legislator told the Times that spending public money on private sports arenas is bad policy.
Related Stories
| Dec 13, 2011
Regulators charge pervasive abuse of construction workers in Connecticut
Federal and state regulators say they have uncovered what they call "widespread noncompliance" with minimum wage and overtime laws in Connecticut's construction industry.
| Dec 13, 2011
Philadelphia mayor signs order for project labor agreements
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter signed an executive order establishing project labor agreements for major public works projects in Philadelphia.
| Dec 13, 2011
Improved code requirements for attic ventilation
The Roof Assembly Ventilation Coalition (RAVC) participated in the development of the code.
| Dec 12, 2011
LEED-EB Outpaces LEED for New Construction
The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC’s) LEED certifications for existing buildings standard is outpacing LEED for new buildings for the first time.
| Dec 12, 2011
Philadelphia Mayor Signs Order for Project Labor Agreements
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter signed an executive order establishing project labor agreements for major public works projects in Philadelphia.
| Dec 12, 2011
Improved Code Requirements for Attic Ventilation
The International Code Council (ICC) recently published the 2012 International Residential Code (IRC) that includes improved code requirements for balanced intake and exhaust for ventilated attics.
| Dec 12, 2011
DOE makes 2010 ASHRAE energy standard the reference for state energy codes
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a ruling that establishes the 2010 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ (ASHRAE’s) 2010 energy efficiency standard as the commercial building reference standard for state building energy codes.
| Dec 1, 2011
Chinese cabinet approves regulation to prevent fraud in construction bidding
China’s State Council approved a regulation to standardize bidding processes for construction and other business-related projects in order to prevent fraud and misconduct.
| Dec 1, 2011
More stringent efficiency codes driving growth in green building industry
Thanks partly to upgraded building codes, the building energy efficiency market will soar more than 50% between now and 2017 to $103.5 billion, according to Pike Research.
| Dec 1, 2011
Safety tracking tool helping prevent injuries at World Trade Center site
Since putting in place their Safety Management Systems Tracking Tool three years ago, risk managers for the World Trade Center project in New York say they've seen workplace injuries, reported hazards, and workers compensation claims decline.
