CEQA Legislative Fix For State Capitol Renovation Upheld, All Work Performed Exempt
Downey Brand
By Dustin D. Peterson & Amy R. Higuera
"Rather than attempting broad CEQA reform measures to prevent projects from becoming mired in litigation, the Legislature has long shown a willingness to pass legislation to simplify the process for particular high-profile projects."
Sacramento Capitol Annex NDAs
KFBK Morning News
"Lawmakers who do not want you to know about the billions of taxpayer dollars they're spending on projects like fixing up their offices...they make people sign non disclosure agreements, forcing them to keep their mouths shut..."
California’s Capitol Annex project is exempt from CEQA, court rules
San Francisco Chronicle
By Bob Egelko
"One community group, Save Our Capitol, argued that the public was not given a meaningful opportunity to review SB174, which was announced, passed and signed into law within only 10 days."
San Francisco Chronicle Letters: "No more secrets"
San Francisco Chronicle
By Bob Ryan
"Right now in the Legislature, NDA might as well stand for No Democratic Accountability."
Third Time’s the Charm: Third District Crowns State the Winner By Legislative Decree In Third Published CEQA Decision Arising From Capitol Renovation Project
Lexology
By Miller Starr Regalia
"For the rest of the regulated community, which must comply with CEQA as written, the “takeaway” from California lawmakers here seems to be: 'Do as I say, not as I do.'"
CA lawmakers exempt Capitol Annex project from state enviro review law, can't be sued
Northern California Record
By Jonathan Bilyk
"The Save Our Capitol group mobilized in response, seeking to stop or modify the project"
Court Rules that California Capitol Annex Project Is Exempt from CEQA
California Globe
By Chris Micheli
"DGS unsuccessfully argued that the enactment of SB 174 made Save Our Capitol’s case 'moot.'"
Save Our Capitol! Responds to California Third District Court of Appeal’s Decision
By Save Our Capitol!
"By upholding the lower court’s ruling, California continues to prioritize political interests over public protection and existing law."
Capitol Annex Remodel Lacks Transparency
KFBK Morning News
By Mark Demsky
As KFBK's Mark Demsky reports, [lawmakers] do not want to talk about how much tax payer money they're spending to fix up their offices...
California Legislature uses non-disclosure agreements to keep Capitol Annex Project information secret
KCRA 3 News
By Ashley Zavala
"A total of 2,093 people signed the NDA, according to a list Joint Rules provided to KCRA 3 through a Legislative Open Records Act Request."
California Drops Millions on Italian Stonework!
FOX News Radio
"The California Legislature was hoping its constituents wouldn’t notice its leaders spent $5.2M to have granite shipped to Italy to be fabricated into bricks and then sent back to Cali..."
California Legislature quietly spends millions on Italian stonework for Capitol Annex Project
KCRA 3 News
By Ashley Zavala
"This state, in a number of different areas, requires certain things, requires certain standards. But when the Legislature itself wants to do a project, it does not want to follow those standards," Hoover said.
Save Our Capitol's Supplemental Brief re: Constitutionality of Senate Bill 174
By Save Our Capitol!
California Officials Can't Build By Their Own Rules
By Joe Matthews
Zócalo Public Square
"I wonder if retreat might be the wiser option. In tough budget times, many other state infrastructure programs could make better use of the $1 billion-plus dedicated to a new annex. And the Capitol does not require an annex."
Matthews: Capitol Annex Project Shrouded in Secrecy and Delays
By Joe Matthews
Ventura County Star
"But what’s most galling is the way that state government exempted its own project from the rules that govern building in California."
Political abuse of power attempts to silence the people and the courts
By Save Our Capitol!
Elected representatives cannot be allowed to undo environmental protections which inconvenience their pet projects...
Media outlets throughout the state have called out the Governor and the Legislature
By Save Our Capitol!
Despite these resources’ inestimable value, and despite the Court of Appeal having already found that the Legislature violated CEQA when it first approved the project, the Legislature voted in favor of SB 174 to exempt itself from the law.
Newsom denounces Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, but displays some himself
By Dan Walters
CalMatters
"Assembly Bill 174 contains a slew of items ... but one passage exempts the Legislature’s Capitol annex project from the California Environmental Quality Act. It aims to shut down efforts by two groups critical of the massive construction project to require changes."
Gavin Newsom likes to use the budget to skirt public debate and get what he wants. Did he do it again?
By Nicole Nixon
The Sacramento Bee
“Trailer bills are supposed to be used to clean up a budget issue. They aren’t supposed to be … the governor’s vehicles to push his own policies through the legislature quickly without deliberation.”
Sacramento Historical Society Presentation: Capitol Restoration
Sacramento Historical Society
By Dan Visnich
July 9, 2024
California lawmakers exempt their new office building from state environmental law
By Mackenzie Mays and Taryn Luna
Los Angeles Times
“It’s absolutely terrible. We’ve spent years trying to make this project better,” Cowan said. “It’s not good democracy. It’s not good government. It shows that someone knows how to play a trick card at the last minute.”
Controversial Capitol annex project would be exempt from environmental law under new bill
By Nicole Nixon
The Sacramento Bee
June 25, 2024
“It’s almost as if the legislature is saying, ‘We don’t want to follow the appeals court ruling and so we’re just going to take this out of the hands of the appeals court,’” ... “There still has not been adequate environmental review here.”
Third District Reverses Order Prematurely Discharging CEQA Writ for Failure to Address Objections That Certified Revised EIR Was Still Noncompliant, Holds Project Opponents Could Properly Opt to Raise Challenge ...
By Arthur F. Coon
Miller Starr Regalia / JD Supra
Save the West Side!
By Save Our Capitol!
"Visitor Center will Destroy the West Side of Our Historic Capitol—Forever! Save the West Side of Our Historic Capitol for the People of California!
Planned Capitol Annex Building– Glaringly Incompatible, Unsafe, Non-Compliant!
By Save Our Capitol!
"The Department of General Services approved the design of the new Annex ... without adequately analyzing and disclosing its incompatibility with the historic Capitol and its noncompliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards (SOIS)."
Save Our Capitol's Opening Brief
By Save Our Capitol!
February 27, 2024
Save Our Capitol! argues that the "planned new Annex, as designed, is visually incompatible with and would denigrate the appearance of the historic Capitol in violation of the SOIS [Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties]."
Dick Spotswood: Crucial time for executive recruitment in Marin County and Novato; Capitol Annex Fiasco
By Dick Spotswood
Marin Independent Journal
"It’s a boondoggle that should be halted at least until the deficit is eliminated. Even then, this project remains a frill the Golden State can do without."
Downtown Sacramento coffee shop is closing after nearly 20 years: ‘Pretty heartbreaking’
By Hanh Truong
The Sacramento Bee
"Nearby construction at the Capitol has also had a 'massive impact' on the shop, he said."
Construction at Sacramento Capitol Annex continues
By Eytan Wallace
FOX 40 News
DGS Once Again Fails in its Obligation to the Public
By Nicole Sauviat Criste,
Vice President, Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc.
Reduce the Cost of the Annex Project: Park at the Swing Space
By Dick Cowan,
Historic State Capitol Commission Chair (resigned)
The Legislature Continues to Refuse to Provide Critical Documents
By Dick Cowan,
Historic State Capitol Commission Chair (resigned)
Save the Capitol’s West Steps: Move the Visitor Center
By Dick Cowan,
Historic State Capitol Commission Chair (resigned)
Denigrating the Capitol: New Annex is an Insult
By Milford Wayne Donaldson FAIA
A Glass Annex – A Heat Sink that Violates the Governor’s Climate Initiative
By Milford Wayne Donaldson FAIA
A Comprehensive Analysis, Annex’s Failure to Respect Capitol’s Architecture
By Milford Wayne Donaldson FAIA
Annex Project Impacts are Irreversible
By Karen Jacques, Ph.D.
Public Accountability for Our Capitol
Respect the Capitol’s History: Build a Compatible Annex Alternative
By Public Accountability for Our Capitol
Trees Are Being Decimated in Capitol Park
By Paula J. Peper
Urban Forest Ecologist, Historic State Capitol Commission Member (resigned)
There’s No Need for a Crystal Palace
By Bill Durston, M.D.
Physicians for Social Responsibility, Sacramento
New Visitor Center Alternatives are Designed to Fail
By Save the Capitol, Save the Trees
Enough Already
By Bill Jurkovich
The Sacramento Bee
"Just restore the Capitol building and the adjacent park to their original historic status. Sacramento and the state will be better off for it."
The Capitol Annex Project is turning into Sacramento’s never-ending nightmare
By Samantha Corbin
The Sacramento Bee
"With hundreds of millions of dollars at stake — coupled with a substantial state budgetary deficit — the lack of a responsible guiding force and a coherent plan is concerning and irresponsible."
Concerns rise over stress caused to State Capitol grounds palm trees
CBS News Sacramento
"Some of the 140-year-old palm trees that were replanted during the California State Capitol annex project appear to be struggling."
Dozens of 141-year-old Sacramento palm trees are struggling to survive at the Capitol
By Nicole Nixon
Capital Public Radio
"There’s no replacing something over a century old."
Activists worry for health of 141-year-old palm trees uprooted for California Capitol Annex Project
CBS Sacramento
By James Taylor
"These palms were moved a month ago and Pskowski says they're already showing signs of stress."
What’s going on behind all those blanketed gates at the California Capitol? We peeked inside
The Sacramento Bee
By Hanh Truong
"No agency, department or lawmaker gave a timeline or progress update."
A Battle Lost, But a War Not Over – Save Our Capitol! Continues the Fight to Save the Historic West Steps
By Save Our Capitol!
"While the historic Annex has been thrown away by the Legislature, the West Lawn, West Plaza, and West Steps still can be preserved and remain a pivotal place..."
Crews demolish part of the Capitol Annex
FOX 40 News
By Sergio Robles
"The demolition work is part of a plan that will eventually see a new structure built in its place that is connected to the main building, although the design of the new structure has not yet been finalized"
Part of California State Capitol demolished on Monday
CBS News Sacramento
By Richard Ramos
"What they are proposing is a building that overpowers the Capitol"
Perata: Stop the Capitol Annex Project
By Former Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata
"I served my time in the notorious East Annex; however, that doesn’t mean I think it deserves to be torn down."
The State Capitol Billion Dollar Boondoggle
By Richard Stevenson
California Globe
"The Legislature would best serve the public by heeding numerous local, statewide, and federal government precedents..."
'Save Our Capitol' group calls for stopping the demolition of the West Steps
By ABC 10 News
"The West Steps of the California State Capitol is set to be off limits the next 2 years, said one community group wanting to stop the partial demolition."
Group rallies to save the west steps at the California capitol
By KCRA 3 News
"A rally was held at the state capitol in Sacramento to preserve the steps on the west side of the capitol."
A Tree From Every Nation on Earth: California's Capitol Park Trees Under Threat
By Paula Peper
American Society of Consulting Arborists
"When most people think of state capitols, they think legislation, legislators, and governors, not trees and parks. From its beginnings in the 1860s, plans for the California State Capitol in Sacramento were different."
After a lawsuit, here’s how to comment on proposed changes to the California state Capitol
By Nicole Nixon
Capital Public Radio
“I don't think the glass is compatible, period,” he said. “It's easy to make a modern building compatible with a historic building.”
She Saved My Life
By Paula Jan Peper
Women in Natural Resources
"As I fought to keep him from plunging towards the trees and boulders at meadow's edge, fought to keep from being catapulted over his head, his legs suddenly slipped out from under him and both of us lost the precarious balance we’d had."
Planned construction could forever change the California Capitol’s west steps. What would that mean for protests and events?
By Nicole Nixon
Capital Public Radio
“I have heard from a lot of people in Sacramento who have concerns about it,” [Freshman state Sen. Angelique Ashby, a Democrat who represents Sacramento] said during an event in March.
The Design of the New Annex and Compliance with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings
By Milford Wayne Donaldson FAIA
"From a moral standpoint, it is shameless to continue construction by abolishing historic preservation standards that other entities must follow."
Preserve Sacramento Capitol Annex and Save Us Half a Billion
By Larry Wilson
Pasadena Star News
"And I’m all in, and so should be all Californians interested in both saving money and saving our historic buildings."
Letter to Governor Newsom from National Trust for Historic Preservation
National Trust for Historic Preservation
"Planning for this project should include a thorough analysis of the feasibility of rehabilitating the 1952 Annex, rather than demolishing and replacing it."
Amid litigation and a lost Democratic seat, group urges California lawmakers to rethink costly Capitol project
By Ashley Zavala
KCRA 3 News
"There need to be some serious discussions on how we move forward," Hoover said. "I'm concerned about the cost of this project, it could be done in a much more cost-effective fashion."
Capitol Annex Pushback
KCRA 3 News
"I'm calling on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to re-open this conversation and let's talk about #1, how can we help taxpayers and help reduce the costs of the overall project; and #2, how can we help preserve these steps for future generations," Assemblymember Josh Hoover.
Debate Over Capitol Renovation Project
FOX 40 News
"What I'm really here for today is to call upon my colleagues to re-open this conversation. So many of these conversations happened during COVID with very little public participation," said Assemblymember Josh Hoover.
'Save Our Capitol' Celebrates Project Delay
ABC 10 News
"I don't know how big it is. I don't know how much disruption when it comes to traffic, parking, and the flow of the urban core of Sacramento. How am I going to be anything for that?" Aziz Bellarbi-Salah, local business owner.
After legal trouble, advocates want state lawmakers to ‘reconsider’ Capitol Annex options
By Nicole Nixon
Capital Public Radio
"Hoover and other opponents have also called on the state to rehab the existing building, rather than spend money on demolition and rebuilding, especially when the state is projected to experience a budget deficit of more than $22 billion this year."
Court Upholds Ruling: Capitol Annex Project Violated Environmental Law
By Save Our Capitol!
“Save Our Capitol! is pleased that the court reaffirmed its earlier decision requiring DGS and JRC to do what they should have done from the start of the Project: fully evaluate environmental impacts."
Capitol Annex Project Needs Major Changes
By David Herbert, Chair
Boulevard Park Neighborhood Association
The Capitol Annex Project as currently proposed would destroy the historic integrity of our State Capitol and would be hugely expensive.
Demolition-by-Neglect: How the Legislature Plans to Destroy State History
Citrus Heights Messenger
In 2005, the Department of General Services (DGS) prepared a plan to upgrade and modernize the building, but the Legislature decided not to move forward with it. Now, lawmakers say it’s too damaged to rehabilitate. That’s simply not true.
A “Capitol” Offense: Third District Holds State Capitol Building Annex/Visitor Center Project EIR Violated CEQA Due To Inadequate Project Description And Analyses Of Historical Cultural Impacts, Aesthetics, And Project Alternatives
Lexology
By Arthur Coon
It appears that the ever-evolving Historic Capitol project will continue to do so and it will be interesting to see what is – and isn’t – ultimately built as a result...
Bee readers comment on Mayor Steinberg’s future career, wolf poaching, Capitol renovation (Money Sink)
The Sacramento Bee
By Kate Riley
While we must protect Capitol Park, the issues of the Capitol Annex project extend far beneath the surface. I am thankful that the Legislature must pause and reevaluate its options after clearly rushing into the wrong decision the first time.
Capitol rebuild in flux; foes battle Legislature over preservation
Capitol Weekly
By Will Shuck
The justices ruled the department had downplayed how the plan might mar the most recognizable side of the Capitol.
Meet the Newbies: Assemblyman Josh Hoover
Capitol Weekly
By John Howard, Tim Foster, and Assemblyman Josh Hoover
"We sat down with Hoover to talk about his legislative priorities (one of which is to scale back the renovation of the Capitol Annex, a project spearheaded by his AD 7 predecessor)..."
Column: A costly project showed California politicians think they own the Capitol. A court reminded them they don’t
Los Angeles Times
By George Skelton
"The politicians have acted as if the Capitol belongs to them and it’s solely their business. The court reminded them in writing that it 'is truly the people’s Capitol.'”
Lawsuit brings California State Capitol Annex project to a halt
CBS Sacramento
By Laura Haefeli
"If our state is pushing environmentalism then why are we destroying all these trees?"
Judge Halts California Capitol Annex Remodel Over CA Environmental Law Violations
California Globe
By Katy Grimes
“It’s all been so sneaky and so secretive,” Peper said. And she said Cooley and the committee refused their California Public Records Act request for information.
California’s $1.2 billion Capitol renovation violated state environmental laws, court says
The Sacramento Bee
By Maya Miller
The court ultimately ruled that the design had changed so significantly it “prevented the people from commenting on significant environmental effects on what is truly the people’s capitol,” the ruling read.
Court halts California Capitol Annex project over - what else? - CEQA challenge
San Francisco Chronicle
By Bob Egelko
“The public was foreclosed from commenting meaningfully on the glass exterior’s impact on the Capitol.... Nowhere does DGS explain how it or any member of the public could meaningfully analyze the new Annex’s impact on the Historic Capitol...”
Capitol Annex project violated environmental regulations, appeals court rules
Capital Public Radio
By Nicole Nixon
The ruling says the plans “did not comply with CEQA’s requirement that the [environmental impact report] consider a reasonable range of alternatives,” therefore “thwarting informed public participation and decision-making.”
Court Rules Capitol Annex Project in Violation of CEQA
By Save Our Capitol!
"Today, the People of California won. While it is unfortunate that legal action was required to compel JRC and DGS to follow the law, Save Our Capitol! is hopeful that, now, they will properly consider alternatives to the Project...”
From legislative staffer to state assemblyman, Joshua Hoover prepares for his new role
By Ashley Zavala
KCRA 3
"Another issue in which Hoover will likely get involved: is the state Capitol annex project Cooley oversaw.... he'd like to make changes to the plan to make it less expensive for taxpayers."
Save Our Capitol! Responds to Assemblymember Ken Cooley Conceding Race to Joshua Hoover
By Save Our Capitol!
“Clearly, AD 07 constituents felt the same, rebuking Cooley and his wasteful Project that aims to excavate the iconic West Lawn, Plaza, and Steps, demolish the historic Capitol Annex, and replace it with an incompatible glass-building which overshadows the Capitol."
Save Our Capitol! Argues $1.2B+ Capitol Annex Project Fails to Adequately Analyze and Mitigate Project Impacts
By Save Our Capitol!
“No one is questioning the critical need to improve and modernize the historic Capitol Annex; however, we maintain that the Capitol Annex Project’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) fails to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)..."
Capitol Annex Project’s Environmental Impact Report Violated CEQA by not Analyzing Alternative Solutions
By Save Our Capitol!
“DGS and JRC’s suggestion that the Project will not adversely impact historic resources on the west side of the historic Capitol... is not supported by substantial evidence."
What Else Are Our Elected Officials Doing In Secret?
By Paula Peper and Richard "Dick" Cowan
"This is probably the most secretive project I've been associated with, including I built hangars for the Stealth Fighter in the middle of Nevada."
Demolition-by-Neglect: How the California Legislature Plans to Destroy State History
By Save Our Capitol!
"... without Governor Newsom’s engagement, state history will be erased and every Californian will lose the ability to walk the halls of their Capitol Annex and gather or protest at the West Steps."
Capitol Annex Project: The Facts
By Victoria Kastner
"What they are trying to do by defacing our historic Capitol is taking somewhere and making it anywhere. That building could go anywhere within the state."
State Architect Alfred Eichler's Historic Capitol Annex
By Victoria Kastner
"This beautiful East Annex he constructed in 1952 and it’s meant to be a pendant piece. It joins visually, a visual corridor between his great Tower Bridge and our great State Capitol."
Capitol Annex Project: Limiting Public Participation
By Tim Holliday
"And you really come to the conclusion there's one true purpose––it's to keep the people of California out of their own house, and that is an outrage, and it's unacceptable."
Save the Citadel – Our Historic Capitol Annex
By Wayne Donaldson FAIA
"... if this project moves forward, and this annex is demolished... it sets a horrible precedent that will start us not believing in our government can preserve historic structures like everyone else has to."
West Steps Rally - Saving Democracy
By Save Our Capitol!
"And you really come to the conclusion there's one true purpose––it's to keep the people of California out of their own house, and that is an outrage, and it's unacceptable."
Save California’s History – Rehabilitate Our Annex
By Richard "Dick" Cowan
"The Historic State Capitol Commission designated all of the materials you can see here as the historic fabric of the building... The marble floors, the ceilings are, in particular, a 1950s style."
