The EastBayCitizen is partnering with newballpark.org to help explain one of the region’s most compelling political and economic issues–the future of professional sports in the East Bay. Below is an article from newballpark.org which has extensively covered the issue in Oakland and San Jose and places in between.
A series of changes at Oakland City Hall and the State Capitol may portend well for Oakland’s chances to get either an A’s ballpark or Raiders stadium built. Or maybe not.
First up, newly hired Oakland City Administrator Deanna Santana, late of San Jose, made two key hires in poaching San Jose Finance Director Scott Johnson and San Francisco Redevelopment head Fred Blackwell to be assistant city administrators, each with different roles. Johnson will be tasked with the responsibilities you’d normally consider as part of a city manager/administrator role, such as finance/budget and labor relations.
Meanwhile, Blackwell will be covering a redevelopment-oriented role. Scuttlebutt is that Community and Economic Develvopment Agency head Walter Cohen may be on his way out (is out!) amidst “major changes” there. Could CEDA and ORA be headed for big time restructuring? It would make sense if they want to deal with next year’s budget deficit early. That shouldn’t mean bad things for the Victory Court EIR or the Raiders project since they’re already in the pipeline. It probably means there will be fewer resources for planning and future projects, both short and long-term…
ebcitizen.com 