By Robert Haugh

The San Francisco Chronicle has been the paper of record for how the 49ers have changed Santa Clara politics and won awards for their coverage.

The Mercury News doesn’t write critical articles or editorials since the team is a major advertiser for the local paper.

The latest San Francisco Chronicle column worth reading was written earlier this week by sports columnist Ann Killion.

Since the paper is behind a paywall, here are some key excerpts from Killion’s column:

The San Francisco 49ers haven’t looked very good on the field this year. They’ve managed to look even worse off of it.

The organization’s dirty laundry was exposed in the recently concluded Anthony Becker perjury trial, and the revelations should alarm not only the citizens of Santa Clara but any advocates of transparent government and taxpayer rights.

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But that doesn’t change much for the 49ers: They will retain a 5-2 majority on the new council, still seem set on vilifying Mayor Lisa Gillmor and outgoing council member Kathy Watanabe, who have tried to hold the team accountable, and still refuse transparency with local taxpayers.

Were the 49ers embarrassed by the ugly revelations in the trial, including — as previously reported by the Chronicle — their hiring of opposition researchers to dig up dirt on grand jury members, a group of private citizens supervised by a judge? Do they feel any shame over the grand jury report that accuses them of meddling in City Council business for their own financial gain? Any chagrin over their purchasing of a team-friendly City Council to the tune of $10 million over four years, an absolutely wild amount in a city of 130,000 people?

Chagrined? Hardly. The 49ers will likely keep conducting business the same way

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This all may be great for the coffers of the 49ers, who are worth an estimated $6.8 billion, but it’s a very bad look for the organization. That unsavoriness includes the quality of the candidates the 49ers have thrown their considerable weight behind. Yet another grand jury report had a harsh assessment of the City Council members the 49ers have supported, accusing them of “insulting and unethical” conduct, and “abusive and belittling behavior.”

Becker was not only abusive and insulting, but he also doesn’t seem very bright. He testified — and lied — to the grand jury without a lawyer’s advice. He communicated with the 49ers via an encrypted digital app — very cloak and dagger — and then deleted it from his phone, something a forensic examination easily uncovered. 

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It all feels so sleazy from the organization that has long crowed about “winning with class.”