Can L.A. decide on Dodger Stadium gondola in a timely manner?

Shohei Ohtani was four weeks in his major league career when the former owner of the Dodgers, Frank McCourt, launched a gondola from the Union station at the Dodger stadium. Ohtani, then recruited with the angels and now a global superstar with the Dodgers, was 23 years old.

Today, Ohtani is 31 years old and McCourt still has no official response to his argument.

In an effort to accelerate a decision, as the Times reported it last month, the McCourt lobbyists hung on to a state bill designed to accelerate public transport projects and have persuaded legislators to add a language that would put an even faster calendar on potential legal challenges.

This bill should be examined by a Committee of the Assembly on Wednesday, and more than 100 members of the community gathered on Monday in opposition to the bill – or, at least, to the party which would benefit the Gondole project.

Last week, the Los Angeles Municipal Council approved last week – and Mayor Karen Bass signed – a resolution urging states legislators to abandon the gondola part of the bill or completely pour the bill.

“We are fighting a billionaire,” said member of the municipal council Euniss Hernandez on the crowd. “How are you going today?”

There were snacks and stickers, t-shirts and catch-all bags, even dog bandanas (and there were a lot of very good dogs). There were signs, both serious and fun (“Frank McCourt and the Air Cabins of Doom”).

Even if McCourt wins in Sacramento, said Hernandez, the municipal council must approve the Gondole project. In 2024, the Council authorized a study of the circulation of the Dodger stadium, intended to assess alternatives to the gondola, which could include the expansion of the current bus shuttles of the Union station and the introduction of park and ride buses such as those which worked for years at Hollywood Bowl.

Last month – 16 months after the Council authorized the study – The City Ministry of Transport invited the bidders to apply to conduct the study, via a 56 -page document which explains what the city wants to do, how to do it and when the work should be finished.

Sixteen months?

Colin Sweeney, spokesperson for the Department of Transport, said that the preparation of contracts requires compliance with various city rules, coordination with several city departments and the availability of city staff.

“This process can take up to 24 months,” said Sweeney.

An artist rendering from the landing site of the Dodger stadium of a cable car project that would transport passengers to the games.

(Aerial / Killography fast transport technologies)

The study of traffic is due next fall. If delivered in time, it could be an expectation of almost three years for a study before a vote for one of the many government approvals that the gondola would need.

The city – or, at least, are elected officials opposed to the gondola – the slow march of the project?

“We do not do anything in slowness,” said Hernandez, whose district includes the Dodger stadium. “This is how the city moves.”

The board member pointed the tree behind it.

“We need 15 years to cut a tree,” she said.

Excuse me?

“We are going to cut this tree this year,” said Hernandez, “and we will come back to it for 15 years.”

The industry standard, she said, is five years old.

At the, she said, he can take 10 years to repair a sidewalk, from three to five years old to cut a sidewalk for a wheelchair, from nine months to a year to repair a reverber.

“When you have enough resources, you can do things like putting a new section in an invoice to speed up your project,” said Hernandez. “When you have money, you can do it.”

But I wanted to return the question: if McCourt can spend half a million dollars in lobbyists to try to advance his project, and if he approaches a decade without a decision, what hope does the rest of us?

We need accommodation. We need parks. We need shadow. And, yes, we need better ways to enter and get out of the Dodger stadium.

The member of the Los Angeles Council Euniss Hernandez speaks during a press conference in December.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

“Do I think we have to speed up very good projects that have shown that there are financial plans behind them that will benefit the community?” Hernandez said. “If there are ways to do it ethically, let’s do it. But, if we talk about getting a project because you have access to change the law of the state, it is not something that we should do.

“Do I think there are a lot of obstacles to the realization of good projects, whether it be housing or other transport developments?” I do. I think we can cut part of this. I think we should.

“We must deliver to our employees more quickly.”

It is not only the city of Los Angeles. The Gondola project has traveled the metro since 2018.

Love it or hate it, like the gondola or hates it, does Hernandez think that McCourt-or any other developer-should be able to obtain a yes or not on his project proposed in the eight years?

“I think he should, yes,” said Hernandez. “One hundred percent. I think he should. “

Even if the gondola is approved, who knows if a fan could mount it to see Ohtani play? For the moment, the gondola is not approved, not funded and not under construction. Ohtani’s contract with dodgers expires in eight other years.