Print ArticleMERCED – Senate Bill 1133, authored by State Senator Jeff Denham (R-Merced), was stalled on the Senate Floor today. The vote was 16 Senators in favor of the measure and 21 in opposition, however Denham was granted permission to bring it up for reconsideration sometime over the next two weeks.
SB 1133 would require the State to sell the parcel of land occupied by the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. This bill would also rescind the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission and the joint powers agreement between the State, City of Los Angeles and County of Los Angeles.
Because of the commission´s ineffective oversight and local infighting, the Los Angeles Coliseum has fallen into disrepair and has lost several major tenants; hence the state taxpayers are not receiving appropriate services or an adequate investment return on the Coliseum.
"The Governor´s May Revise shows our State is still facing a budget crisis. Before raising taxes, or cutting programs like education, the state needs to review all the properties it owns to see if we can rid ourselves of any unused or underutilized state properties," said Senator Denham. "By selling properties, such as the LA Coliseum, California can reduce its debt by paying off recovery bonds."
The site, commonly referred to as the California Science Center, consists of 152 acres. According to the 2004 "High-Value Urban Properties in the State´s Inventory" report, the total value of this property is estimated at $400 million.
KNBC (Los Angeles) stated the following in a web article posted on November 27, 2007: "The Coliseum has had a long history of tenants departing. UCLA moved its football games to the Rose Bowl following the 1981 season. The NFL's Los Angeles Rams moved from the Coliseum to Anaheim Stadium after the 1979 season, and the Los Angeles Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995 after playing 14 seasons at the Coliseum, which hosted track and field events and the opening and closing ceremonies for the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games."
Denham´s bill would allow either a private sector entity or local agencies such as Los Angeles County or the City of Los Angeles to buy the land and improve the Coliseum.
"This is an ´out-of-the-box,´ creative solution to reducing the state budget deficit," continued Denham. "Yet, the Senate Democrat Leadership is refusing to even consider this bill and the sale of state properties in general as an alternative to raising taxes or drastic cuts. Perhaps when we bring it up again they will not be so close-minded and obsessed with tax hikes."
SB 1133 would require the State to sell the parcel of land occupied by the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. This bill would also rescind the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission and the joint powers agreement between the State, City of Los Angeles and County of Los Angeles.
Because of the commission´s ineffective oversight and local infighting, the Los Angeles Coliseum has fallen into disrepair and has lost several major tenants; hence the state taxpayers are not receiving appropriate services or an adequate investment return on the Coliseum.
"The Governor´s May Revise shows our State is still facing a budget crisis. Before raising taxes, or cutting programs like education, the state needs to review all the properties it owns to see if we can rid ourselves of any unused or underutilized state properties," said Senator Denham. "By selling properties, such as the LA Coliseum, California can reduce its debt by paying off recovery bonds."
The site, commonly referred to as the California Science Center, consists of 152 acres. According to the 2004 "High-Value Urban Properties in the State´s Inventory" report, the total value of this property is estimated at $400 million.
KNBC (Los Angeles) stated the following in a web article posted on November 27, 2007: "The Coliseum has had a long history of tenants departing. UCLA moved its football games to the Rose Bowl following the 1981 season. The NFL's Los Angeles Rams moved from the Coliseum to Anaheim Stadium after the 1979 season, and the Los Angeles Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995 after playing 14 seasons at the Coliseum, which hosted track and field events and the opening and closing ceremonies for the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games."
Denham´s bill would allow either a private sector entity or local agencies such as Los Angeles County or the City of Los Angeles to buy the land and improve the Coliseum.
"This is an ´out-of-the-box,´ creative solution to reducing the state budget deficit," continued Denham. "Yet, the Senate Democrat Leadership is refusing to even consider this bill and the sale of state properties in general as an alternative to raising taxes or drastic cuts. Perhaps when we bring it up again they will not be so close-minded and obsessed with tax hikes."
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