Here is an election eve surprise for U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Santa Monica/South Bay):
He skirted CEQA environmental regulations for big business to help a billionaire build a sports complex in the City of Industry.
When he was in the state Assembly, Mr. Lieu, “Mr. Environmentalist” himself, who declares climate change is the No. 1 priority, exempted billionaire Ed Roski Jr. from environmental laws to build the sports complex. Mr. Roski donated $13K to the Lieu campaign.
Now as a congressman, Mr. Lieu and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) ram-rodded a fraudulent bill through Congress that would make the illegal UCLA baseball diamond and Brentwood School athletic complex “legal.”
He has a history of aiding the wealthy in getting their sports projects passed against serious opposition.
Here is a stadium rending for City of Industry.
Lieu Bill for Stadium Complex City of Industry
From the Los Angeles Times in 2010:
“NFL stadium promoter gives $505,000 to state political campaigns”
Jan. 30, 2010 By Patrick McGreevy
“Reporting from Sacramento — Ed Roski Jr., the L.A. County billionaire who got state legislators to exempt his proposed NFL stadium from environmental laws, has showered the lawmakers with tens of thousands of dollars in campaign cash.
“The money is part of $505,000 that Roski put into California political campaigns during the second half of 2009, including $300,000 toward a proposed ballot measure that would change term limits for future legislators.
“The contributions are significantly higher than in the previous six months, when Roski doled out $49,000.
“The exemption that lawmakers granted Roski’s City of Industry stadium project in October mooted a citizen lawsuit that had stalled it. The measure passed the state Senate in the waning hours of last year’s legislative session despite objections from some that it would undermine environmental protections.
“Some of the bill’s co-authors who received money from Roski and his Majestic Realty Co. between July 1 and Dec. 31 are Assemblyman Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), who was given $13,000; Assemblyman Alberto Torrico (D-Newark), $5,000; Assemblyman Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), $3,900; and state Sen. Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood), $500.”
Mr. Rosebrock may be contacted at rrosebrock1@aol.com