With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Moreno Valley continues to debate 41-million-square-foot warehouse project
Listen
• 1:15
The Skechers distribution center as seen from the 60 freeway. That distribution center has only generated about 500 jobs after promising up to 3,000.
(
Steven Cuevas/KPCC
)
Tuesday night, the Moreno Valley City Council will discuss the proposed blueprint for a massive 41-million-square-foot warehouse complex near the 60 Freeway. The project is getting lots of support from city leaders, but not so much from its neighbors.
The World Logistics Center could consume nearly 4,000 acres of vacant land adjacent to a popular wildlife area. It would also border the edge of quiet neighborhood on the city’s east side.
Moreno Valley would have to revise its general plan to accommodate the sprawling complex. Its developer, Iddo Benzeevi, said that with a jobless rate of close to 14 percent, Moreno Valley needs this project.
"We have built a tremendous amount of housing in Moreno Valley," said Benzeevi. "And [we're] really lagging on job-producing land uses. What the city recognizes is that they need to bring the job-to-housing balance in line."
Support for LAist comes from
He points out that Moreno Valley currently has the lowest job-to-housing ratio "of any community in the region."
"This is an attempt to create a more sustainable, balanced community," Benzeevi said. "And we share in that vision.”
But critics question Benzeevi’s job creation claims. The developer’s other big Moreno Valley project, a million-square-foot Skechers distribution center, has only generated about 500 jobs after promising up to 3,000. Benzeevi said that facility is only in its first phase of operation.
His World Logistics project is also taking fire from environmental groups worried over the project’s potential impact on wildlife, air quality and people who live nearby.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent.
Best of LAist