Listen to this segment | entire program

A survey of 1600 LA residents has just found that nearly half of the respondents support a new football stadium in downtown. The Center for the Study of Los Angeles also found in their survey that 47% of respondents did not want the project to be granted an expedited environmental review process.

A 10,000 page Environmental Impact Report costing $27 million dollars to review the proposed NFL stadium in downtown LA was unveiled by billionaire developer Philip Anschutz and his Anschutz Environment Group, or AEG, last Thursday. Two years in the making, the report examined the impacts of building “Farmers Field,” a 72,000 seat football stadium where the West Hall of the LA Convention Center now sits, in the heart of downtown LA.

Critics of the plan say the report gives an overly optimistic estimate of the consequences of building a $1.5 billion dollar football stadium in the middle of an already dense metropolitan area. A major concern is the potential influx of about 20,000 vehicles that will clog downtown streets during game days. The developer, AEG, promised to provide 50,000 parking spaces, while at the same time claiming that many football fans will take public transportation, limiting traffic congestion and pollution.

Another concern has been the possible addition of up to 41 LED billboards around the area, many of them facing the freeway and potentially distracting drivers. Critics are skeptical of the final costs to taxpayers because major infrastructure will have to be altered to accommodate the football crowds, even though Anschutz is claiming he will foot the bill.

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is a major supporter of the plan and even signed a “memorandum of understanding” approving the project back in August, long before the environmental impact report was completed. California Governor Jerry Brown has signed in special legislation to send any lawsuits about the development directly to the California Court of Appeals, bypassing the Superior Court, and thereby speeding up the ruling process to 175 days. The final impact report, available for viewing on the LA city planning website, is now open to a 45 day public comment period, after which it will go to the city council for review. A rival firm, Magic Realty would like to situate the stadium in the City of Industry.

GUESTS: Zahirah W. Mann an Attorney with Community Economic Development Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and Becky Dennison with Community Action Network.

Visit cangress.wordpress.com for more information.