Tustin Holds Meeting To Discuss Possibility Of Adopting Angels
TUSTIN (CBSLA.com) — The city council of Tustin, one of the cities in discussion as a potential landing place for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, should the club indeed part ways with Anaheim, held a closed-door meeting Tuesday night.
The Angels cut negotiations with the city of Anaheim over renewing their lease at Angels Stadium, leading to the team considering other options for a home ball park. Tustin, nearby to Anaheim, marks one of the possibilities, as owner Arte Moreno says the team can afford to build a new stadium altogether.
However, not all residents in Tustin are excited over the idea of the Angels moving to their city.
"It would be very, very bad," resident Mike Krupa said. "With all of that extra traffic, I fear for the quality of life in Tustin."
Tustin City Council members held met to discuss ongoing talks between the city and investors of Angels Stadium over the possibility of becoming the Angels' new home.
A number of residents, meanwhile, suspect Moreno may simply be using Tustin as a threat.
"I think Mr. Moreno is not treating Anaheim right," resident Janice Yoshida said. "I think that he's using Tustin to get to Anaheim. I don't like it, and I don't want to pay for a stadium for him."
The proposed stadium in discussion would be constructed near the former Tustin Marine Corps Air Facility, where residents say they were promised parks and homes, rather than a stadium.
"We were really sold on the story that when we move into this new community, there will be great regional parks with a lot of open space and trails," resident Natalie Wong said. "We weren't expecting a lot of traffic and a parking structure."
While Tustin City Manager Jeffrey Parker was unable to discuss the details of Tuesday's meeting, he stated that the city is seriously considering building a new Angels Stadium, under certain circumstances.
"Do we have the acreage that's appropriate for what (the Angels) are looking for? Is Tustin something that's comfortable for them, for their new stadium?"
The discussion will continue at the next meeting on Oct. 7.
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