Assembly Votes to Bar Raiders Deal

The Assembly on Thursday narrowly passed legislation aimed at preventing the city of Irwindale from building a football stadium and “giving it” to the Los Angeles Raiders.

A 44-29 vote sent the measure to an uncertain fate in the Senate. It is sponsored by Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles), who is fighting to keep the Raiders in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Roos claims that Irwindale wants to build a $175-million stadium and “give it” to the Raiders for a discount price of only $80 million. His bill would require the title of the stadium to be held by the city, which could then lease it to the Raiders.

A preliminary memorandum of agreement signed last August called for the Raiders to construct the stadium with funds loaned or given to them by Irwindale. The Raiders would own the stadium.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge issued a restraining order prohibiting Irwindale officials from proceeding with drawing up a final agreement with the Raiders until an environmental impact report on the project is completed.

The Assemblyman criticized what he called a “growing mania of city bidding against city” to entice professional sports teams to move from one area to another to get the best deal possible.

But an angry Assemblywoman Sally Tanner (D-El Monte) charged that Roos was waging a “vendetta” against the Raiders.

“This is totally sour grapes,” Tanner said, “and a terrible, terrible bill.

“He (Roos) is angry at (Raiders owner) Al Davis and (is) trying to keep the San Gabriel Valley from having the Raiders team.”

Another opponent, Assemblyman Richard Mountjoy (R-Monrovia), whose district includes Irwindale, said: “The Raiders are not going to stay in Los Angeles. The Raiders are going to move. I understand the city of Santa Monica has made them an offer.”

Roos replied: “All I am saying is you can’t take taxpayers’ money and build a stadium, and deed that stadium over to a private, prosperous corporation.”