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BREAKING: Santa Clara Police Chief Warns That Legal Settlement Could Make Levis Stadium Less Safe

By Robert Haugh

The Santa Clara City Council acting as the Stadium Authority held an executive session yesterday to discuss a possible settlement of a stadium public safety cost lawsuit.

The 49ers initiated a lawsuit years ago because they want a cap on public safety costs and do not want to pay the full amount. They also don’t want to pay the costs for the stadium’s VIP buffet.

Police Chief Pat Nikolai has warned the Council that the 49ers’ “best and final” offer would make Levis Stadium less safe.  Wow.

Nikolai could not be reached for confirmation but multiple sources have shared with Santa Clara News Online (SCNO) information about Nikolai’s concerns. 

The Police Chief believes the Police Department can only fund anti-terrorism efforts and neighborhood safety with the cap the team has proposed.

That means Santa Clara police officers will not protect the parking lots and the stadium itself during events and NFL games.  

The 49ers would have to hire private security to protect stadium attendees and be liable for any incidents like fights. They will also be responsible for traffic control.

According to a local law enforcement expert, that may make the stadium less safe, depending on who is hired and the level of training.

And traffic could become even worse than it is now at NFL games and major concerts.

All Councilmembers were present at City Hall except indicted Vice Mayor Anthony Becker.

Becker called into the meeting from Lake Tahoe’s Alpine Inn and Spa, according to City staff. 

At the beginning of the meeting, Becker said he could not get his video to work so he was not visible.

As of SCNO’s deadline late last night, the Council was still in executive session discussing a possible settlement. They also have a regular Council meeting scheduled for tonight. 

This is a developing story.

15 comments

  1. Anyone besides me take the time to look up the Alpine Inn & Spa? LMAO!!! It’s a converted Travel Lodge that went bankrupt in 2020. Hourly rates look competitive though.

    Reply

    • Take a look at those Alpine room pics and then compare to the room Becker called in from last night. No way that was the Alpine. Where’s Becker? What shenanigans is he up to?

  2. Santa Clara is so full of themselves. I hope they throw the 49ers out and are stuck with that eyesore monstrosity and no one to rent it to. Why do you never hear about other teams having such a hard time with their respective cities? It’s not because the 49ers operate in a drastically different way than other NFL teams. Santa Clara had been trying to bleed this franchise dry. Oh you have an 8 million dollar deficit, but 16 million isn’t good enough? City council is like “No! They need to build homes for the homeless (which we won’t do) and pay for our bonuses (that we don’t earn or deserve) and give all the money!! We let them play here and paid a miniscule amount to make that happen, so they must listen to our outlandish rules and pay for all the things FOREVER. Go home Santa Clara, you’re drunk.

    Reply

    • Natalie,

      Santa Clara is correct.

      Accountable to the people is the issue.

      Trust, Open Government, Contract Accountability, Clear Communication, Transparent Goverment Communications, HONESTY – THAT IS THE SOLUTION.

      Maybe,
      A Community Member will have to sue – as I did in San Jose, when District 5 said the Police Department told the Council Office not to talk to me(turned out to be a factual LIE from a City Official Chief of Staff).

      Court brings the truth out of the shadows and into the light.

      In Community Spirit,
      Danny Garza

      President
      Plata Arroyo Neighborhood Association and Gateway East N.A.C.

  3. Seen the “stadium security” at work. Nope. Frickin’ high as kites just cashing in to pad their habits. Great safety.

    Reply

  4. 49ers attempt to get rid of elected police chief to control public safety costs failed so let’s go attack the POA now.

    Stop spewing your lies about the Mayor. It’s getting old, Larry McNeil and all your puppets. Did you run out of money for more ads on Santa Clara Now or are you saving for campaign ads for Becker, Jain and Park? 😂

    Pay your costs! You guys are BILLIONAIRES! The people are starting to revolt. LV voters just voted down a new stadium for A’s. Too bad SC voters didn’t do same for the 49ers.

    Reply

  5. The real problem is the POA will not hire non-union security. This is the PD’s payday at 2X OT and up. Nikoli is the POA.

    Reply

  6. Alpine Inn & Spa? Jed couldn’t afford anything better? Guess it would have looked suspicious if Becker was at the Ritz Carlton. Hope there was good wifi so the 49ers could listen in!

    Reply

  7. Did anyone mention that police officers are paid double time for all events, games & concerts, regardless of whether or not they worked 40 hours that week? Another little “unfair” tidbit from the “infamous” 49er contract…

    Reply

    • Another little tidbit from the infamous 49er contract??? would this be the contract that tne city negotiated witn the 49ers? Signed and supported by Lisa Gilmor?

    • Pretty much! The 49er attorneys were “smarter” than the “city” attorneys & duped the mayor big time…

    • You have no understanding of what you are writing about. All Stadium work is outside the regular work week, therefore a privately paid overtime assignment. The staffing requirements for an NFL game or a Rolling Stones Concerts would require a 400 person police department. Since the 49ers are not paying their proper share of property and other taxes, where do you think the staffing money would come from Mary. Overtime assignments do not pull away from the exceptional police services the residents and visitors enjoy in Santa Clara; whether an officer has worked 40 hours or not prior to accepting an overtime assignment in the hours away from their regular scheduled on-duty assignment times.

    • Relax. I was only regurgitating what a city council person said in an open meeting. I should know better…

      I know for a fact that during the 49er events, crime ramps up in my area across town because the crooks know police officers are at the stadium.

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