Mayor Schaaf Says She Believes Oakland A’s Will Keep in City – CBS San Francisco
OAKLAND (BCN / KPIX) – Mayor Libby Schaaf reiterated her commitment to keeping the A’s in Oakland on Wednesday morning, saying she hopes the city and team can get a deal on the Howard Terminal stadium plan.
Three major differences now separate Oakland from Oakland A’s April proposal for a new baseball stadium at the Howard Terminal, Schaaf said at the morning press event near the planned stadium location.
CONTINUE READING: Newsom signs law aimed at combating organized retail theft
Both sides need to come together to create affordable housing, a social fund and the structure of the financial deal.
Schaaf made her statements after a critical vote in the city council on Tuesday afternoon that the A’s and Major League Baseball now have to think about, A-President Dave Kaval said on Tuesday afternoon.
The council approved a non-binding overall budget, but the A’s still disagree and hadn’t seen any part of it before city officials presented it during the meeting on Tuesday.
Kaval said the league will look into the new terms immediately.
“We are ready to continue playing,” said Schaaf on Wednesday morning. “We’re on the ball.”
Oakland wants the A’s to commit to 35 percent affordable housing as part of the project. Fifteen percent or about 450 of the 3,000 units to be built at the Howard Terminal on Market Street in Oakland would be on the project site.
“With this deal, we have to have affordable housing,” said Schaaf.
She also said the city has reason to believe the A’s will agree to this request.
Oakland also wants just one infrastructure finance district, while A’s proposal has two. One would be on site and the other outside. The city’s proposal only provides for the district.
The third point of contention is a community benefit fund that would provide services such as legal assistance, tenant rights advice, and investing in land trusts.
Schaaf said A’s proposal for the community fund was based on a source of funding that could only be spent on capital.
CONTINUE READING: The couple is suing eBay for harassment by ex-employees
“This community will hold fast to the community services,” said Schaaf.
An earlier point of contention was the non-relocation agreement, but the A’s and the city have agreed on 25 years. That would start when the first home game is played.
The baseball stadium project consists primarily of a new 35,000-seat stadium, 3,000 new residential units, a new hotel with approximately 400 rooms, 1.77 million square feet of commercial space, a venue with approximately 3,500 seats and approximately 18 acres of parkland.
The stadium is expected to cost about $ 1 billion to build and the entire complex is expected to cost about $ 12 billion.
Schaaf said the city provided essentials that the A’s asked for in order to continue the process.
On Tuesday, the A’s said they want a binding agreement on a new Oakland baseball stadium by the end of this year’s baseball season.
Kaval was optimistic about getting six votes from the city council for a waterfront stadium in the city.
But the team is still looking for a venue in other cities.
“We have to have options,” said Kaval.
On Wednesday, Kaval and other team leaders were in Vegas to continue discussions about a possible move should the stadium deal fail.
“I respect that they are trying to keep the heat going. And what’s better than Vegas for the heat! ” said Schaff. “I’ve worked for Dave Kavel for a long time and have great respect for him as a skilled negotiator.”
Kaval said the A’s are running out of time for a new place to play and the only location in Oakland that is suitable for the A’s and Major League Baseball is at the Howard Terminal.
MORE NEWS: Tamarack Fire Update: Windswept Flames Cross Nevada; Firefighters dig in along Highway 395
© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bay City News Service contributed to this report.
