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Podcasts Take Two
Massive warehouse project in Moreno Valley takes a big step forward
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Nov 24, 2015
Massive warehouse project in Moreno Valley takes a big step forward
The center could bring billions of dollars to the community every year. But according to opponents, it could also devastate the local traffic and environment.
Warehouses stretch out across the Inland Empire, blanketing several cities including Moreno Valley. But some say that expansion has come at a cost.
Warehouses stretch out across the Inland Empire, blanketing several cities including Moreno Valley. But some say that expansion has come at a cost.
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Jesse Kaplan/BuzzFeed News
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The center could bring billions of dollars to the community every year. But according to opponents, it could also devastate the local traffic and environment.

In the city of Moreno Valley, located just over an hour east of downtown L.A., is a plan to build the World Logistics Center, one of the biggest warehouse centers in the country.

The project came to an important milestone on Tuesday when the Moreno Valley City Council declined to put three potential ballot measures up for a vote by the public. Those measures would have protected the center from some of the nine lawsuits it currently faces.

If citizens voted on the project, then the city would not need to do a costly and lengthy environment review required by the state – an important sticking point for some of those suits.

However, the city council turned down that "protection" because it believes the amount of public support it already has is defense enough in court.

The World Logistics Center has been a source of controversy for months. It would function as a nexus of trade where many goods made overseas are sent before they're routed to local stores and doorstep. It would be so big that it could fit 700 football fields inside and bring billions of dollars to the community every year. But according to opponents, it could also devastate the local traffic and environment.

Imran Ghori from the Press-Enterprise has been covering the project for months, and joins Take Two for a recap.