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AirTalk

AEG & unions join forces against environmentalists over fight for new LA stadium

By AirTalk Staff
Published Feb 2, 2011
Tim Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG, during an event announcing naming rights for the new football stadium Farmers Field at Los Angeles Convention Center.
Tim Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG, during an event announcing naming rights for the new football stadium Farmers Field at Los Angeles Convention Center.
(
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
)
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AEG & unions join forces against environmentalists over fight for new LA stadium
The Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) has stepped up its efforts to bring both the NFL and a new stadium to Los Angeles. To help move the process along, the entertainment giant recently petitioned state lawmakers to grant the proposed downtown project some environmental exemptions. The move would not be unprecedented in nature as lawmakers granted such immunity to Ed Roski Jr. in 2009, who leads a competing group of investors to build a stadium in the City of Industry. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has endorsed the project saying it would be a boon to the downtown Los Angeles economy, but some environmentalists are not pleased that exemptions are being considered for big business. Should environmental concerns be set aside in favor of LA’s downtown economy?

The Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) has stepped up its efforts to bring both the NFL and a new stadium to Los Angeles. To help move the process along, the entertainment giant recently petitioned state lawmakers to grant the proposed downtown project some environmental exemptions. The move would not be unprecedented in nature as lawmakers granted such immunity to Ed Roski Jr. in 2009, who leads a competing group of investors to build a stadium in the City of Industry. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has endorsed the project saying it would be a boon to the downtown Los Angeles economy, but some environmentalists are not pleased that exemptions are being considered for big business. Should environmental concerns be set aside in favor of LA’s downtown economy?

Guest:

Brian Watt, KPCC reporter, at City Hall

David Pettit, Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council

Robby Hunter, Council Representative of the Los Angeles and Orange County Building Trades Council