One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
LA approves plan to fast-track construction of temporary structures for 2028 Olympics
The LA28 Olympic cauldron is lit during a ceremonial lighting at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Jan. 13, ahead of the launch of ticket registration.
(
Frederic J. Brown
/
Getty Images
)
Topline:
The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday approved a move that would fast-track construction on some temporary projects for the 2028 Olympic Games by bypassing planning and zoning requirements.
Why it matters: The ordinance is designed to “establish relief” from review for certain projects around the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics to help "successfully execute” the events. The exempted projects could include anything from training facilities to fan zones and security perimeters.
The City Council voted 13-0 Wednesday to approve the ordinance. Councilmembers John Lee and Hugo Soto-Martínez absent. Once council adjourns after its Friday meeting, the ordinance will head to L.A. Mayor Karen Bass for final approval, according to the city clerk's office.
Concerns from neighborhood groups: Some neighborhood groups pushed back against the proposal in statements to the council, including North Hollywood Northeast and Westside.
Casey Maddren, president of United Neighborhoods for Los Angeles argued in a letter earlier this month that there is no defined project — only broad categories — and that the plan violates the city’s zoning code. Maddren wrote that the “biggest problem with the ordinance is that it also allows the construction of permanent projects, which could be designated as permanent either before or after construction.”
Go deeper: LA considers fast-tracking construction of temporary structures for promised 'no build' Olympics
Sponsored message
LAist's Libby Rainey contributed to this story.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
