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Oakland’s incoming mayor will work to keep the A’s — but insists that the city protect its own budget in any deal.
Sheng Thao, who will replace mayor Libby Schaaf in January, has maintained Schaaf’s priority of keeping the team while not depleting city coffers.
- “I am going to put every single effort into keeping the A’s here,” Thao said, “but I refuse to allow for the taxpayers of Oakland to be held responsible for any of the finances of developing the stadium.”
- Schaaf’s administration lobbied for state and federal grants for infrastructure improvements to help account for the increased foot and vehicle traffic a new stadium would bring.
The A’s have proposed a $12 billion waterfront stadium, housing, and retail area at Howard Terminal. In June, a city commission voted to remove the area’s “port use” designation, allowing the project to go ahead.
The city and team must still arrive at a final agreement.
City On Deck to Spend
Whether or not the A’s stay, Oakland is prepared to spend from a $259 million state grant on projects mostly located between Howard Terminal and the downtown area.
While the funding will be key to any deal it is not dependent on the A’s proposed development. The A’s have asked the city to improve streets, sidewalks, and lighting to make transportation to the Howard Terminal area easier and safer for pedestrians.
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