Playing ball

Based on the latest action in Sacramento, an untrained observer might guess that the crisis devastating California is a shortage of sports venues. Lawmakers are moving to help the Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Clippers build expensive new homes for themselves, granting them special dispensation from a state environmental law that subjects too many construction projects to costly and time-consuming lawsuits.

The dire shortage actually facing the state, of course, is of homes for people, not sports teams, and lawsuits under the California Environmental Quality Act, known as CEQA, have contributed to the stranglehold on housing development. In the shadow of spreading homelessness and soaring prices and rents, the latest examples of the Democratic-controlled Legislature’s ritual exemption of superrich professional sports team owners from the law looks that much more outrageous.

Legislation by Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) that would put a nine-month limit on environmental challenges to a new A’s stadium, AB734, passed a state Senate committee last week. A similar gift to the Clippers, AB987, by Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles), is also well on its way. Judging by the Legislature’s recent history, the bills’ prospects are good: Lawmakers previously passed exceptions for the Warriors’ new arena in San Francisco, the Sacramento Kings and others.

Sports franchises haven’t had a monopoly on such sweetheart deals. Legislators have also seen fit to bestow them on other very special people — including themselves. A bill passed as part of budget legislation this month limits challenges to their plan to build themselves new offices.

Such legislation amounts to an acknowledgment that the law in question doesn’t work. Given that, lawmakers ought to fix it for everybody — and particularly for the many regular Californians who can’t afford shelter — or nobody.