Is Oakland really going to give the failed Raiders franchise free land and another $120 million in taxpayer funds? That’s what Mayor Jean Quan pledges to do. Yet when asked where the city would find the money her press spokesperson replied, “That’s a great question that we will probably not say anything about.”
I have another great question for Quan’s people: if they have $120 million to spare, why aren’t they giving it to Oakland schools rather than a billion dollar NFL franchise? Shouldn’t hiring more teachers, reducing class size and paying teachers higher salaries take precedent over a giveaway to a sports franchise that plays less than 15 home games a year?
Mayor Jean Quan loves the idea of throwing money at the Raiders. She thinks the public backs her, and she is trying to get this deal done before November. But with Quan trailing badly in polls, it makes no sense for a soon to be lame duck mayor to make a decision of this magnitude. Voters should make the current mayor’s race a litmus test for how they want the city to deal with the Raiders.
Oakland has a long list of needs in addition to improving schools. But when 50% of the city’s African-American males do not graduate high school, and only 13% of those that do graduate go to a UC or CSU school, Oakland needs to spend available dollars helping these young people before it devotes another dollar to the Raiders.
The Raiders are aptly named. This is franchise run by pirates. The billion-dollar enterprise has raided municipal treasuries across the state, saving its biggest act of piracy for Alameda County taxpayers. These taxpayers have spent tens of millions of dollars buying the team’s empty seats, part of the disastrous deal that brought the team back to Oakland
The Raiders Contempt for Oakland
After betraying their loyal fans by taking the money and leaving for LA, the Raiders have done nothing but complain since former Mayor Elihu Harris was pressured to give them a sweetheart financial deal to return. And their complaints are often connected with threats to relocate, as if any city remains that would give them a better deal than the team has had in Oakland (LA doesn’t want the Raiders and won’t fund Coliseum improvements to get them back)
The Raiders have lost their winning tradition. The team has not made the playoffs or had a winning record since 2002. Since 2003, they have lost at least eleven games nine times.
And after being down 27-0 to the Houston Texans in their opening home game last week, it’s clear that 2014 will be more of the same.
Why should Oakland taxpayers pay another dime to the Raiders before Alameda County taxpayers get the nearly $20 million they’ve had to pay each year since the team returned? Money that we were assured would never be due because “everyone” knows the Raiders always sell out.
Oakland’s schools, police and public works department could all have used that money. But its instead going to a disloyal Raiders ownership onetime “Commitment to Excellence” is now a “Guarantee of Failure.”
Wanted: A Mayor the Raiders Can’t Fool
The Oakland mayor’s race has centered on improving city services. Yet with many voters still not paying close attention to this surprisingly quiet contest, what should be a central issue—the diversion of vital funds for city services to subsidize a billionaire football team owner—has been surprisingly low-profile.
I sent emails to the three leading challengers to Quan to get their position on the Raiders deal. Dan Siegel was responded first. He said, “I want to keep the Raiders in Oakland and would support Mark Davis’ proposal to build a new stadium and control some of the surrounding development. But Mayor Quan’s plan gives away too much, including agreeing to have the City liquidate the remaining $120 million owing from the giveaway to Al Davis. Further, the City cannot do this without the County’s agreement, which has not been given, and without making a deal with the A’s, who have signed an agreement to remain at the Coliseum site for 10 more years.”
Jason Overman, campaign spokesperson for Rebecca Kaplan, told me that “we have not yet seen a proposal.” He added that “there are a number of deliverables associated with the Raiders deal that have not been provided as promised.” Kaplan “sees keeping the Raiders in Oakland as absolutely critical, but she cannot assess the deal until substantial information critical to her evaluation is made available.”
The deadline for providing this information was August 31. Kaplan was recently found to be the front runner in the race in a poll released on September 11 by the Oakland Tribune.
Libby Schaaf’s campaign was contacted but did not provide a response.
Oakland’s Psychology
Oakland and San Francisco are both progressive cities, but they have approached sports stadiums very differently. San Francisco required the Giants to privately finance AT&T Park, and took the same position for the future Warriors arena. To his credit, Gavin Newsom refused to break the city’s bank for a new 49ers stadium in San Francisco, passing the fiscal headache off to Santa Clara.
Since the 1950’s when Mayor Christopher gave a political insider a sweetheart deal to build Candlestick Park, San Francisco feels it does not have to subsidize pro sports teams.
Whereas San Francisco has dealt with sports teams from a position of confidence and strength, Oakland acts like a fragile city whose psyche and status depends on it keeping its football team. But Oakland is a world-class city without the Raiders, and this lack of confidence must end
When Jerry Brow was Oakland mayor,he never would have given away the store to the Raiders. Oakland’s next mayor must take the same approach.
Oakland is a great city that needs more money for schools police, parks, housing and other needs. Voters should demand answers from mayoral candidates about the Raiders deal before it is too late.
Randy Shaw is Editor of Beyond Chron
