Neighbors Still Oppose O’Malley’s Stadium Plan

The Neighbors of Dodger Stadium (NODS), claiming a membership of more than 1,000, have an answer to Dodger owner Peter O’Malley’s comments about his attempts to reach out to the community while proposing the construction of a football facility next to his baseball stadium.

“Peter O’Malley, hard of hearing?” wrote Gary Friedlander, NODS’ vice president, in a media release. “In every meeting with neighbors, the message has been loud and clear. The neighbors steadfastly oppose a second stadium on Dodger property. Yet O’Malley comes away only hearing the minority voice.

“O’Malley claims, ‘We have learned a tremendous amount from our neighbors.’ What is truly remarkable is what he has not learned; two stadiums are too many for our community.”

O’Malley and his advisors have solicited complaints and problems from neighbors in regular meetings and, in response, have initiated a number of programs designed to assist neighbors.

“He has certainly talked to us and has presented a plan to address problems that existed in regards to Dodger Stadium,” Friedlander said. “But they’ve done nothing to address the concerns of a second stadium.

“It’s very frustrating . . . it’s like talking to a wall. He has said on several occasions that he won’t build a stadium if the neighbors don’t want it. We don’t want it and the next thing we see are comments on how everything is going so well with the neighbors. He only hears what he wants to hear.”

O’Malley has said repeatedly he will build a football stadium only if the people of Los Angeles ask him to proceed. His effort to satisfy neighborhood concerns has dominated his time in recent months, but now it appears there has been little headway in his own backyard.

O’Malley’s reputation for providing consistent top-of-the-line entertainment and comfort for Dodger fans made him an instant credible answer for Los Angeles among NFL observers. However, renewed talk about the Coliseum and no public outcry for the NFL’s return will undoubtedly test his commitment.

Friedlander said his group supports the Coliseum as the ideal home for an NFL team, which has been Councilman Michael Hernandez’s refrain. Friedlander said the neighbors have been assured by Hernandez, who represents their district, that he will block O’Malley’s efforts to build a football stadium.

Said Hernandez: “O’Malley has done a lot in recent months, but I believe a lot of people believe that work to be temporary. Using the history of Dodger Stadium, the people don’t believe the reforms will happen.

“I will follow the rule of the people and right now I wouldn’t be supporting a second stadium there. Beyond the neighbors, wherever I go, people tell me they are happy I am fighting the building of a stadium at Dodger Stadium and supporting the Coliseum.”

Friedlander said NODS has 2,000 petition signatures objecting to a football facility at Dodger Stadium. He said he expects the general public to decry O’Malley’s plans once they realize public money will be spent on the project.

“He’s going to ask for public money for road improvement and freeway ramp improvements,” Friedlander said. “I’d like to see them sell the idea of building a stadium with public money. They’re going to spend more money on litigation issues than they would spend to rebuild the Coliseum.

“Dodger Stadium causes tremendous disruption to people’s lives; they have to plan around Dodger events. If they tried to build a stadium there now, it would never happen. The 1950s politics back then allowed them to get away with it. It’s a residential area--the wrong place for a stadium. It was a bad idea 35 years ago. It makes absolutely no sense to repeat a mistake.”