By Robert Haugh
The San Francisco 49ers’ political spending and the team’s financial relationship with Santa Clara are becoming major issues in the crowded race for mayor.
NBC Bay Area highlighted the team’s role in the election this weekend, while the San Francisco Chronicle reported that a Bay Area community organization has endorsed former Vice Mayor Kathy Watanabe, citing concerns about the 49ers’ influence at City Hall and the finances of Levi’s Stadium.
The Coalition for Community Engagement announced its endorsement of Watanabe at a press conference outside Levi’s Stadium.
Coalition founder Edward Escobar said the group became involved after learning how much the 49ers were spending in Santa Clara’s elections.
The team has already spent nearly $1 million this year to support mayoral candidate Gary Ferraris and City Council candidate Kimberley Williams.
Since 2020, 49ers political spending in Santa Clara elections is approaching $10 million.
Escobar was blunt about the team’s political involvement.
“They feel they can buy anyone, and I have a problem with that,” Escobar told the Chronicle.
Watanabe used the press conference to raise a related issue: whether Santa Clara residents are getting their fair share from the publicly owned Levi’s Stadium.
“For years we’ve asked for clear transparency from Levi’s Stadium, and for years those answers have been delayed or avoided,” Watanabe said.
She called for an independent analysis of the direct economic benefits Levi’s Stadium provides Santa Clara.
The issue has become more prominent following Super Bowl LX and six FIFA World Cup matches at Levi’s Stadium earlier this year.
Watanabe and other critics have questioned whether Santa Clara has received a full accounting of the costs and reimbursements associated with those events and how much direct economic benefit they produced for the city.
The 49ers disputed Watanabe’s characterization of stadium finances.
The City previously sued the 49ers while seeking greater access to the stadium’s financial records. That litigation was later dropped after a new Council majority took office.
Councilmembers backed by the 49ers have regularly met privately with team lobbyists before voting on stadium financial matters.
Six candidates are running for mayor: Watanabe, Ferraris, David Kertes, Councilmembers Karen Hardy and Kevin Park, and tech entrepreneur Mike Wiltberger.
The election is Nov. 3.
What is sad is that the 49ers did not have to lie. If they had contributed a million to parks and youth sports, they would have been hailed for decades. Amazingly, Suds Jain, one of the most dishonest people ever, began these secret meetings. Completely unnecessary. The 49ers WANTED GILLMOR in 2013. LG had one piece on the agenda. Benefit the city, honor the Youth Soccer agreement. The 49ers LIED. they broke promises to people like my nephew, they violated promises to Northside, they invested in Becker, the Ratso Rizzo. Of Santa Clara, and renewed.
Who fought for them over redevelopment?
Watanabe.
Look at the 2012 cure and correct motion that saved them. It says, Owens/Rowen resolution
The firing of Doyle was done in the WRONG manner.
THROWING FIELD OFF
Totally unnecessary.
At the end of the day, the people will win.
York will find another trailer park.
I’m probably not the only person wondering, so I won’t ask the question off-line.
What was ‘…the 2012 cure and correct motion that saved them. It says, Owens/Rowen resolution’?
And who is the ‘them’ that it saved?
I’m assuming that the Rowen in Owens/Rowen is you. If so, the’ who is them’ becomes important.
Thanks,