10 22-0533 Subject: Proposed Ballot Measure On Public Spending On Oakland A's Project At Howard Terminal
From: Councilmember Gallo
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution On The City Council's Own Motion Submitting To The Voters At The November 8, 2022, General Municipal Election An Advisory Measure On Spending Public Funds For Infrastructure And Other Costs Related To The Development Of The Oakland Athletics' Proposed Baseball Stadium And Real Estate Project At The Howard Terminal
This ballot measure is another unnecessary distraction and disruption of a well vetted plan for developing HT. This project will bring economic benefits as well as pride to the city of Oakland. Please stop getting in the way of something GREAT happening in Oakland.
Please reject this farce of an advisory ballot measure. I think most of us know what this is about, even if Council is not in a position to say it. It's a stalling tactic that will allow astroturf group EOSA (again, the sponsorship page is loaded with industrial and maritime interests, not a single community group) to blanket the airwaves and flood mailboxes with misinformation such as this supposed $1 billion subsidy that is not a part of any proposal. Every time you reward these antics with Council time, the more they're emboldened to do even worse.
This is just part an parcel of the history of moneyed activist groups that have pushed through all kinds of bad policies in California. Prop. 22 recently curtailing gig worker rights. Prop. 8 in 2008 banning gay marriage, and EOSA has tipped their hand: the 4 mailers loaded with misinformation over 2 weeks and constant form-letter email floods to council are just a taste of what we're in for should this measure go to ballot. Paid signature gatherers touting a signature as support of "keeping the A's", knowing full well that these kinds of delays and misinformation will hasten their departure for another city, like Las Vegas or Portland, as the A's have said they will only build at the waterfront site if they stay in Oakland. Volumes of form letters rarely reflect true community support. It's just cynical slacktivism, and we have to call these bad actors out and stop them from exerting such a major influence on this process.
If there’s a plan that can work and can benefit Oakland, move forward. There is no need for extra steps such as a ballot measure that will create further roadblocks and delays in what is best for Oakland.
Dear Council Members, my name is Carla Collins, with Signet Testing Labs a construction services business located in Alameda County since 1966, a Town Business member - an initiative launched by 125+ Oakland and regional business leaders to promote economic and civic progress in Oakland, affiliated with the Howard Terminal Waterfront Coalition and these groups support the building of the A’s new ballpark at Howard Terminal. This project has been delayed enough. Losing your last Oakland based professional sports team is not only an Oakland thing, its a NorCal thing and this is coming down to decisions Oakland City Council makes now for the future of the region. Please vote no on this agenda item. If this goes to the ballot millions of dollars and time will be wasted.
Please reject the advisory ballot measure. The ideas of this unnecessary ballot is to cause delay and confusion. Carry on without this additional ballot measure that does not have what's best for Oakland and Oaklanders alike, in mind.
My name is Laurel Poeton and I have been a resident and active member in the Oakland community for over a decade. I love baseball. Oakland has already lost 2 major league times (how may times now?) and we cannot afford to lose another one. I urge you to vote no on this agenda item. It will waste city of Oakland funds and be difficult for the voters of Oakland to understand why they are voting on it. This is Bigger Than Baseball, it is about housing and jobs.
My name is Mike Henneberry and I am a Business Agent for Teamsters Local 853 in Oakland.
Teamsters Local 853 opposes Agenda Item 1.10, for the proposed ballot measure for the future Howard Terminal Ball Park and Housing Project. As the representative for concession vendors at the coliseum and ready mix and material drivers in construction we respectfully request you vote against this measure which will unduly put at risk a very badly needed project in the City of Oakland.
The project is currently being negotiated in good faith by many stake holders on this project including the Oakland A’s, The City of Oakland, Labor Unions and Community Groups.
By allowing this measure to go to the ballot it will cost the City of Oakland millions of Dollars in tax payer money, delay the negotiations and more importantly delay the construction of over $10 billion dollars in new housing for Oakland.
This project will be built with a robust community benefits package, which includes thousands of local union construction jobs and even more union service sector jobs with the Teamsters, Unite Here, IATSE, and SEIU
We ask that you vote this proposal down and allow the process to move forward through the different government entities and boards.
Vehemently oppose a costly ballot measure, the city council is more than capable of deciding this issue. They were able to hammer out a deal that worked for everyone with Brooklyn Basin 9th Avenue Terminal project. Howard Terminal is a larger project that happens to involve a large sports venue, but similar in relatively low investment by the city. An election will merely distort the facts and disrupt the timeline enough to jeopardize its completion, which I believe is it's intention.
Hello councilmembers, please reject the ballot measure. Don’t let the biggest polluters in our community take away something that means so much to Oaklanders. As an East Oakland native, please don’t pass the buck off to the public. We elected you to make these tough decisions and you have the staff and resources to make the right choice for Oaklanders. Please make the right choice and don’t support this ballot measure, and go A’s.
I don't appreciate my mailbox being bombed with flyers from an entity that formed in 2019 and doesn't care about East Oakland and the 2000 jobs that left when the Warriors and Radiers left. I don't think city council appreciates their inbox being torpedoed by form letters that can't be edited and can be sent using fake accounts. This is a delay tactic to kill the project.
How do you expect avg voters to understand the complexities of this project? The fake group will use it as a chance to exploit voters lack of knowledge and produce bomb our boxes with misinformation.
Can you garuntee voters with be properly informed?
You don't need us to advise you? Stand by your position.
Please reject the advisory ballot measure. I think most of us know what this is about, even if Council is not in a position to say it. It's a stalling tactic that will allow astroturf group EOSA (again, the sponsorship page is loaded with industrial and maritime interests, not a single community group) to blanket the airwaves and flood mailboxes with misinformation such as this supposed $1 billion subsidy that is not a part of any proposal. Every time you reward these antics with Council time, the more they're emboldened to do even worse.
This is just part an parcel of the history of moneyed activist groups that have pushed through all kinds of bad policies in CA. Prop 22 recently curtailing gig worker rights. Prop 8 in 2008 banning gay marriage.
And EOSA has tipped their hand: The 4 mailers loaded with misinformation over 2 weeks and constant form-letter email floods to council are just a taste of what we're in for should this measure go to ballot. Paid signature gatherers touting a signature as support of keeping the A's, knowing full well that these kinds of delays and misinformation will hasten their departure. Volumes of form letters rarely reflect true community support. It's just cynical slacktivism, and we have to call these bad actors out and stop them from exerting such a major influence on this process.
I am a district 1 resident, and I am a paralegal and law student here in oakland. I urge you to vote no on the public vote.
I oppose the proposed ballot measure regarding the Howard Terminal ballpark project. The calls for this vote, the emails you have been receiving, are the result of a well funded effort of the maritime industry to kill the project and mislead oaklanders with false and incorrect information. The East Oakland Stadium Alliance, which is funded by SSA Maritime, Scnhitzer Steel, and other port industry groups have sent at least 4 full color double sided mailers to every voter in Oakland. These mailers included misleading information about the project, it's source of funds, and the nature of the vote being called for by this resolution. The mailers included a QR code for people to scan, immediately generating a form email to be sent to the council. Make no mistake, there is no groundswell of natural support for this vote.
As we saw with proposition 22, California's direct democracy can be subject to undue influence of wealthy interesterests who can undermine the authority and vision of elected representatives by spending huge some of money on electioneering. The maritime industry has already shown their willingness and ability to spend heavily to kill this project if it goes to a vote.
This advisory vote is nothing more than a shady tactic to kill this project, in the interest of a maritime industry that pollutes west oakland.
I am against the Howard Terminal Development and if it taken to the public for a vote they are not educated to the fact as to the cost to residents of Oakland; they will vote to have the A's here. All the general public are seeing it that they want to have a ball team in Oakland.
Yes, let us vote! Oakland tax payers need an opportunity to weigh in and this is the best way for that to happen.
I support the construction of the HT!!! It will bring jobs and pride to the city of Oakland!
I oppose agenda 1.10
This ballot measure is another unnecessary distraction and disruption of a well vetted plan for developing HT. This project will bring economic benefits as well as pride to the city of Oakland. Please stop getting in the way of something GREAT happening in Oakland.
Please reject this farce of an advisory ballot measure. I think most of us know what this is about, even if Council is not in a position to say it. It's a stalling tactic that will allow astroturf group EOSA (again, the sponsorship page is loaded with industrial and maritime interests, not a single community group) to blanket the airwaves and flood mailboxes with misinformation such as this supposed $1 billion subsidy that is not a part of any proposal. Every time you reward these antics with Council time, the more they're emboldened to do even worse.
This is just part an parcel of the history of moneyed activist groups that have pushed through all kinds of bad policies in California. Prop. 22 recently curtailing gig worker rights. Prop. 8 in 2008 banning gay marriage, and EOSA has tipped their hand: the 4 mailers loaded with misinformation over 2 weeks and constant form-letter email floods to council are just a taste of what we're in for should this measure go to ballot. Paid signature gatherers touting a signature as support of "keeping the A's", knowing full well that these kinds of delays and misinformation will hasten their departure for another city, like Las Vegas or Portland, as the A's have said they will only build at the waterfront site if they stay in Oakland. Volumes of form letters rarely reflect true community support. It's just cynical slacktivism, and we have to call these bad actors out and stop them from exerting such a major influence on this process.
If there’s a plan that can work and can benefit Oakland, move forward. There is no need for extra steps such as a ballot measure that will create further roadblocks and delays in what is best for Oakland.
Dear Council Members, my name is Carla Collins, with Signet Testing Labs a construction services business located in Alameda County since 1966, a Town Business member - an initiative launched by 125+ Oakland and regional business leaders to promote economic and civic progress in Oakland, affiliated with the Howard Terminal Waterfront Coalition and these groups support the building of the A’s new ballpark at Howard Terminal. This project has been delayed enough. Losing your last Oakland based professional sports team is not only an Oakland thing, its a NorCal thing and this is coming down to decisions Oakland City Council makes now for the future of the region. Please vote no on this agenda item. If this goes to the ballot millions of dollars and time will be wasted.
Please reject the advisory ballot measure. The ideas of this unnecessary ballot is to cause delay and confusion. Carry on without this additional ballot measure that does not have what's best for Oakland and Oaklanders alike, in mind.
My name is Laurel Poeton and I have been a resident and active member in the Oakland community for over a decade. I love baseball. Oakland has already lost 2 major league times (how may times now?) and we cannot afford to lose another one. I urge you to vote no on this agenda item. It will waste city of Oakland funds and be difficult for the voters of Oakland to understand why they are voting on it. This is Bigger Than Baseball, it is about housing and jobs.
Oppose the ballot measure and support the HT project!
My name is Mike Henneberry and I am a Business Agent for Teamsters Local 853 in Oakland.
Teamsters Local 853 opposes Agenda Item 1.10, for the proposed ballot measure for the future Howard Terminal Ball Park and Housing Project. As the representative for concession vendors at the coliseum and ready mix and material drivers in construction we respectfully request you vote against this measure which will unduly put at risk a very badly needed project in the City of Oakland.
The project is currently being negotiated in good faith by many stake holders on this project including the Oakland A’s, The City of Oakland, Labor Unions and Community Groups.
By allowing this measure to go to the ballot it will cost the City of Oakland millions of Dollars in tax payer money, delay the negotiations and more importantly delay the construction of over $10 billion dollars in new housing for Oakland.
This project will be built with a robust community benefits package, which includes thousands of local union construction jobs and even more union service sector jobs with the Teamsters, Unite Here, IATSE, and SEIU
We ask that you vote this proposal down and allow the process to move forward through the different government entities and boards.
Vehemently oppose a costly ballot measure, the city council is more than capable of deciding this issue. They were able to hammer out a deal that worked for everyone with Brooklyn Basin 9th Avenue Terminal project. Howard Terminal is a larger project that happens to involve a large sports venue, but similar in relatively low investment by the city. An election will merely distort the facts and disrupt the timeline enough to jeopardize its completion, which I believe is it's intention.
Hello councilmembers, please reject the ballot measure. Don’t let the biggest polluters in our community take away something that means so much to Oaklanders. As an East Oakland native, please don’t pass the buck off to the public. We elected you to make these tough decisions and you have the staff and resources to make the right choice for Oaklanders. Please make the right choice and don’t support this ballot measure, and go A’s.
I don't appreciate my mailbox being bombed with flyers from an entity that formed in 2019 and doesn't care about East Oakland and the 2000 jobs that left when the Warriors and Radiers left. I don't think city council appreciates their inbox being torpedoed by form letters that can't be edited and can be sent using fake accounts. This is a delay tactic to kill the project.
How do you expect avg voters to understand the complexities of this project? The fake group will use it as a chance to exploit voters lack of knowledge and produce bomb our boxes with misinformation.
Can you garuntee voters with be properly informed?
You don't need us to advise you? Stand by your position.
Please reject the advisory ballot measure. I think most of us know what this is about, even if Council is not in a position to say it. It's a stalling tactic that will allow astroturf group EOSA (again, the sponsorship page is loaded with industrial and maritime interests, not a single community group) to blanket the airwaves and flood mailboxes with misinformation such as this supposed $1 billion subsidy that is not a part of any proposal. Every time you reward these antics with Council time, the more they're emboldened to do even worse.
This is just part an parcel of the history of moneyed activist groups that have pushed through all kinds of bad policies in CA. Prop 22 recently curtailing gig worker rights. Prop 8 in 2008 banning gay marriage.
And EOSA has tipped their hand: The 4 mailers loaded with misinformation over 2 weeks and constant form-letter email floods to council are just a taste of what we're in for should this measure go to ballot. Paid signature gatherers touting a signature as support of keeping the A's, knowing full well that these kinds of delays and misinformation will hasten their departure. Volumes of form letters rarely reflect true community support. It's just cynical slacktivism, and we have to call these bad actors out and stop them from exerting such a major influence on this process.
Dear councilmembers,
I am a district 1 resident, and I am a paralegal and law student here in oakland. I urge you to vote no on the public vote.
I oppose the proposed ballot measure regarding the Howard Terminal ballpark project. The calls for this vote, the emails you have been receiving, are the result of a well funded effort of the maritime industry to kill the project and mislead oaklanders with false and incorrect information. The East Oakland Stadium Alliance, which is funded by SSA Maritime, Scnhitzer Steel, and other port industry groups have sent at least 4 full color double sided mailers to every voter in Oakland. These mailers included misleading information about the project, it's source of funds, and the nature of the vote being called for by this resolution. The mailers included a QR code for people to scan, immediately generating a form email to be sent to the council. Make no mistake, there is no groundswell of natural support for this vote.
As we saw with proposition 22, California's direct democracy can be subject to undue influence of wealthy interesterests who can undermine the authority and vision of elected representatives by spending huge some of money on electioneering. The maritime industry has already shown their willingness and ability to spend heavily to kill this project if it goes to a vote.
This advisory vote is nothing more than a shady tactic to kill this project, in the interest of a maritime industry that pollutes west oakland.
I am against the Howard Terminal Development and if it taken to the public for a vote they are not educated to the fact as to the cost to residents of Oakland; they will vote to have the A's here. All the general public are seeing it that they want to have a ball team in Oakland.