FILE: San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York walks the field ahead of the NFC Championship game at Levi’s Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Santa Clara
Politicians in Santa Clara have gone on the offensive after learning 49ers CEO Jed York has invested over $ 3 million in local racing
York’s contributions to a super PAC called Citizens for Efficient Government and Full Voting Rights, supporting the campaigns of four Santa Clara candidates, are nothing less than an attempt to buy the city, critics say Two city council seats, owned by incumbents Teresa O’Neill and Kathy Watanabe, are up for grabs Donations from York have gone to current planning commissioners Anthony Becker and Suds Jain, as well as activists Harbir Bhatia and Kevin Park
As Politico points out, the $ 3 million rises to « $ 100 per registered voter in the city council districts they target »
« It would be unusual for a sports franchise owner or let’s just say a corporation or business to spend that kind of money even on a mayoral race, » said John Pelissero, senior researcher at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics the Mercury news « Instead, it looks like trying to buy four city council seats just to improve the private interests of the 49ers »
The influx of money has drawn strong criticism from Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor, who regularly tweets about the issue
« Say no to #JedYork buying council seats and controlling Santa Clara! » No #Yorkville, ”she wrote last week
« Jed York just added $ 600,000 for a new total of $ 3 million to purchase his seats! » she continued in a second tweet « Obscene! »
In a remarkably positive statement from a representative of the NFL team, 49ers spokesman Rahul Chandhok released this statement to Politico:
« Mayor Gillmor once again backs a list of all white candidates as she spends millions of dollars in taxpayer dollars to change voting rights and dilute minority representation Her voting measures and legal fees have cost residents over $ 4 million on their own. His hypocrisy has no limits and we will not hesitate to support diverse representation and defend the right to vote «
The Nov’s third election marks the final battle in a long war between York and the city of Santa Clara, home to 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium Over the past decade, there has been a steady stream of animosity very public stemming from accusations by politicians in Santa Clara that the 49ers in the business savvy duped the city into a favorable stadium deal only for them
Gillmor has repeatedly accused the team of bypassing the city over its cut in event revenue Earlier this year, Santa Clara City Council unanimously voted to impeach the team as Levi’s Stadium managers, alleging 49ers defrauded taxpayers of nearly $ 1 million by cutting sponsorship deals to the side
The vote, for now, is only symbolic, however the team and the city are linked by litigation; last September, the 49ers filed a lawsuit to retain management of the venue The current arrangement remains in place until a judge issues a ruling
San Francisco 49ers, Jed York, Santa Clara, NFL
World news – United States – « Obscene »: Mayor accuses Jed York of trying to buy Santa Clara elections for 49ers
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
