Does CEQA Reform Leverage the Environment for Jobs?

Last week, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into a law two CEQA reform bills that will expedite the court review process for some job-creating projects. Joel R. Reynolds editorializes on the move's risk to the basic principles of CEQA.

October 5, 2011, 6am PDT | Judy Chang

"While job creation is a goal everyone supports, the well-worn juxtaposition of jobs vs. the environment is a hollow refrain. Just two years ago, for example, Majestic Realty Co. promised thousands of new jobs if its stadium project in the City of Industry were exempted from CEQA challenge. The Legislature complied, but the jobs are nowhere to be seen.

In fact, no compelling case has ever been made that California's environmental standards cost more jobs than they attract."

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Viewpoints: Handle CEQA with care; it safeguards state environment

Published on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 in The Sacramento Bee