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."
Rescuing California's Historic State Capitol
By Victoria Kastner
"We cannot let the egotism and greed of a few affect all of us as citizens."
California’s $1.2B+ Capitol Annex Project Challenged Due to Defective Environmental Impact Report
By Save Our Capitol!
"DGS and JRC claim that because the DEIR disclosed that it lacked adequate information to analyze the true nature of the Project’s impacts...the Project description was adequate. Not so."
State of California Violated Environmental Laws in $1.2B+ Capitol Annex Project
By Save Our Capitol!
"Yet, DGS and JRC did not recirculate the EIR, instead choosing to deprive the public and responsible agencies of their right to review and comment on the Project’s true impacts to the Capitol Complex."
Save Our Capitol! Files Appeal in Lawsuit Challenging $1.2B+ Capitol Annex Project
By Save Our Capitol!
“We are asking the court to enforce CEQA’s statutory requirement—which mandates the long-term protection of California’s built and natural environment—and reverse the Order and Judgment. There is no urgency to proceed with the unvetted Capitol Annex Project...”
Save Our Capitol Files Reply Brief with the Court of Appeal of the State of California
By Save Our Capitol!
"Nevertheless, Respondents intend to demolish the Capitol Annex in its entirety and to irreversibly damage the historic West Lawn based on a legally deficient EIR that cannot possibly serve its purpose..."
Save Our Capitol Urges $500 Million Rehabilitation, not $1.2 Billion New Capitol Annex as California Tax Revenues Drop
By Save Our Capitol!
September 29, 2022
"By freeing up $700 million from the current Capitol Annex Project, the Legislature and Governor Newsom can better balance the state’s budget and ensure critical projects are funded. Rehabilitation...will cost taxpayers less than $500 million."
The Afternoon News with Kitty O'Neal The Controversy Over the Capitol Annex Project: Hear Both Sides
By Kitty O'Neal
News 93.1 KFBK
Controversy over the CA State Capitol Annex demolition and remodel. Those in favor say safety hazards and aesthetics demand the over billion dollar project. Others favor a $500 million refurbishing that preserves more of the Capitol and surrounding trees.
Lawmakers 'gutted like a fish' lawsuit to stop Capitol annex
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Daily Journal
"When they were completing the annual state budget late last month, lawmakers in Sacramento quietly knifed a lawsuit seeking to block a $1.4 billion project to demolish and rebuild much of the State Capitol building."
Californians “Gutted” by Governor, Legislature, and Court System
By Save Our Capitol!
"We will not be deterred by state leadership’s hypocrisy, claiming to practice “deliberative Democracy” while intentionally denying public participation in self-governance."
Downtown Sacramento restaurants seeing less business during Capitol renovations
By Michelle Bandur
KCRA News
"Downtown: Every time it's been given life, every time it's been given an opportunity, it's been followed by a punch in the face — a nice haymaker," he said.
Legislature's Latest Outrage on Preserving California History
By Richard Cowan
Public Accountability for Our Capitol
"Break the law, get caught, come before a judge, and then in the middle of the night, in a Budget Bill having nothing to do with the Project, write another law getting yourself out of the problem."
PAC Letter re: Capitol Park Master Plan
By Public Accountability for Our Capitol
"We are sure you can see that continued unrestricted proliferation of monuments without a Master Plan will result in damage to the priceless resource of our State Capitol Park. Surely you don’t want this to be part of your legacy as Legislative leaders."
Save Our Capitol! Files Objection to Defendants' Supplemental Request for Judicial Notice
By Save Our Capitol!
"Here, the Legislature’s statement that the Bill’s modifications to the Government Code are merely “declaratory of existing law” is plainly absurd, as the Bill creates an exemption from complying with requirements of the Public Resources Code that did not previously exist."
Summary of Constitutional and Statutory Support for Preservation of the Capitol
By Save Our Capitol!
There are at least three sources of constitutional and statutory support for preservation of the Capitol, each of which is summarized in this document.
Remembrance of Ray Girvigian
Eulogy by Dan Visnich and interview of Raymond Girvigian by Save Our Capitol! Counsel Stephen Cook, with Photojournalist Stan Drury.
Remembering Raymond "Ray" Girvigian
Ray Girvigian, a renowned architect & preservation pioneer, passed away at the age of 96 on June 7 2022. An advocate to the very end, he sent a letter this past January to California Legislature urging leadership to save the Capitol Annex. He will be missed by all. Read his obituary here
Why $1B renovation at California Capitol could uproot history
By Jeffrey Schaub and Greg Wong
KCBS Radio
"Very soon, state legislators, along with Governor Newsom, will move from their offices in the east annex building of the Capitol to make way for a new glass skinned executive building."
New Project Putting Sacramento Trees In Danger
By Sasha Marguiles
KFBK News
"... a new construction plan seeks to relocate and-or remove some of those special trees, and demolish the East Capitol Annex Building. Urban Ecologist Paula Peper explains that puts hundreds of California’s 'historic trees' in danger."
California legislature is endangering over 193 historic trees in controversial plan, tree expert says
By KUSI Newsroom
KUSI News
“Relocation practices are not following national guidelines, and with that, we assume that at least 49 of the palm trees that line — I mean, they’ve been planted since 1898 to 1903 — and at least 49 of those will probably not be successful in the transplanting process."
CA Legislature Ignoring Environmental Laws in State Capitol Renovation and Historic Tree Removal
By Katy Grimes
California Globe
"Ironically, Peper said 'you can sign up for the newsletter on the Capitol Annex website, but there aren’t any newsletters.' The Globe signed up long ago to the Capitol Annex newsletter subscription, and has not received any."
Capitol Weekly Podcast: Revisiting the Capitol Annex
By Tim Foster
Capitol Weekly
"...the work is continuing apace while the lawsuits are being heard. If the judge were to find that the lawsuits are correct, that pre-commitment was made in violation of the law, EIR processes required by the law were not followed, and the SHPO visit was not done..."
Studio Sacramento: California's State Capitol Annex Project
By Scott Syphax
PBS KVIE
"We really do intervene with, significant old structures, and make corrections necessary. So, I think each and every one of the concerns can and would be addressed in a bonafide rehabilitation project."
Saving California's Historic Capitol Annex
By Carl Bott
KCNR 1460 AM
"We had urged ... Mr. Cooley to hire a preservation architect and tell them what he wanted and have them show how much of his needs could get in the old, historic building—but he declined to do that."
Community Roundup with Gene Nichols
By Gene Nichols
"... it is a project that has been done in secret, and that's one of the issues on which the lawsuits are based."
Save Our Capitol Rally
KSBW 8 (ABC) Action News
"The group wants to preserve the original features during demolition. They are also trying to keep trees in the area which are set to be relocated."
Group Voices Opposition to State Capitol Annex Project
CBS 13 / Good Day Sacramento
"Organizers say, the new visitor’s center will negatively impact public access and future public activities on the West steps."
Save Our Capitol Rally
KCRA 3 (NBC) News
"We think it could be done in a much less expensive way, the whole construction, also without removing the trees that you see being removed and set up to be relocated."
Tour of Capitol Annex Project
FOX40 News
"They say the new visitor’s center will impact public access and future public activities on the West step; and a new underground parking garage along 12th street will impact both N and L street."
The Phil Cowan Show
By Phil Cowan
KTKZ-AM
"I was just kind of shaking my head that a sensible and sadly, I think that happens all too often with the relationship between voters and government these days, sensible proposals are never even considered."
Groups Look to Save Historic Capitol Annex in Sacramento
KSRO News
"The group Save Our Capitol continue to speak out against the project citing its $1.4-billion dollar price and insist there is a better way."
The Andy Caldwell Show
By Andy Caldwell
KZSB-AM, KSMA-AM & FM, KWWV-FM
"It's basically just the Joint Rules Committee, three people, you know, behind closed doors, just pushing this thing through."
Letter Urging State Leadership to Comply with State Law
By Richard Cowan & Paula Peper
Save Our Capitol!
"... urgently calling upon the JRC and DGS to promptly comply with State law and to submit a summary of the Capitol Annex project to OHP for its review before demolishing the historic Capitol building..."
Sacramento’s pricy Capitol Annex project
By Jon Coupal
Southern California News Group
"But rather than rehabilitate the Annex, the Legislature is bulldozing ahead with a demolish-and-rebuild plan to erect swanky new digs fit for a tech titan."
Capitol Annex Project on The Lou Desmond & Company Show
By Lou Desmond
KMET-AM
"... if you are building an office building to get the people's work done. No spas, no gyms, no beautiful sit down restaurants, because it's not an appropriate use of the money."
California's $1.4 Billion Capitol Annex Project
By Jennifer Horn
AB 870 The Answer
"A supermajority of Californians are vehemently speaking out against the expensive re-do and are calling on Californians to join in to #StopTheDemolition."
The Voice of the Foothills: Capitol Annex Project
By Charlie Simons
KAHI-AM
"It’s absolutely unconscionable to me. I sure appreciate you taking the time to let us all know about it. I think we need to get a little progress report from you. How much time do we got? When are they making this decision supposedly?"
New poll warns majority of CA opposes $1.4B Capitol Annex Project
By Matt Prichard
KUSI-TV
"... they don’t need to be building new. The building will adequately fit. All we have to do is do a rehabilitation on it."
Good Morning Monterey Bay: Capitol Annex Project
By Rosemary Chalmers
KSCO-AM
But unfortunately, Mr. Cooley got started down the road on demolition, and now I think he’s a little embarrassed to backtrack."
Preservation, environmental groups press for Capitol project restraint ahead of “imminent” demolition
By Sarah Downey
Northern California Record
Cowan noted that numerous environmental, taxpayer and other stakeholder groups have long pressed for more transparency from lawmakers, concerned that a commitment to demolition was made without thorough review.
KNX Morning News with Bob Brill: Capitol Annex Project
By Bob Brill
KNX Morning News
"Over the 70-year life of the Annex, they’ve failed to upgrade it, so they now say, 'Wow it needs a lot of help, let’s tear it down.'"
Taxifornia: California's Capitol Annex Project
By Jim Lacy & Don Romano
KABC-AM
"You know, it’s extraordinary. I just think that is shows the arrogance, the grandiosity of these so-called leaders we have in California. That’s about all I have to say about that."
Letter by Raymond Girvigian to State Leadership re: Capitol Annex Project
By Raymond Girvigian, FAIA
"The Capitol Annex Project has not been reviewed by the various state agencies, including the Office of Historic Preservation, the State Historical Building Safety Board, and the Historic State Capitol Commission, as required by applicable statutes."
Sacramento News Radio
By Nikka Magahis
KFBK News Radio
"... taxpayers shouldn’t be burdened with these extra costs when less expensive alternatives are available. In a recent survey commissioned by the group, 76% of people oppose the project."
Super Majority of Californians Oppose $1.4B Capitol Annex Project as Planned
By Save Our Capitol!
More than three-quarters (76.6%) of Californians oppose the state Legislature’s plan to spend $1.4 billion in taxpayer dollars to demolish the historic Capitol Annex and build extravagant new legislative office spaces, a visitor center, and an underground parking garage.
Majority of Californians Oppose the Capitol Annex Project
By Save Our Capitol!
A majority of Californians (61.2%) support rehabilitating the historic Annex in its existing footprint.
Save the annex, save half a billion dollars
By Quentin Kopp
CalMatters
"So why won’t legislators consider spending at least $500 million fewer taxpayer dollars on a safe and functional office space? It’s hard to know since the approval process ignored the California Environmental Quality Act."
California forum letters: Bee readers take on PG&E, Capitol Annex Project, police pensions
By The Sacramento Bee
"Those of us who oppose the Capitol Annex Project do not oppose it because it will destroy a unique mid-century modern historic building, but because rehabilitation is completely feasible, cheaper and better for the environment."
Dozens Call to Stop New State Capitol Annex Project
By Good Day Sacramento
"Those against the demolition... also fear the project will ruin the character of capitol park and even impact future events on the West Steps."
Calls to Stop New State Capitol Annex Project
By CBS 13 News
"Those against the demolition call the project a waste of money saying that the existing building is solid and can be renovated to meet the needs of Capitol staff."
Capitol Annex Project Concerns
By FOX 40 News
"Preservationists, environmentalists, and tree experts hosted a public walking tour of Capitol Park. They say that project will negatively impact 100 big trees and are concerned of security risks associated with that new Annex."
