COLLUSION IN SANTA CLARA

The stadium deal could take Santa Clara and the 49ers into criminal territory. Why, if Measure J passes, do both partners come onto the field with shields up?

The City, while ignoring Unavoidable Significant Impacts listed in the EIR, files a Statement of Overriding Concerns. The 49ers pay signature gatherers to put a citizens initiative on the ballot that is a Xerox of one already drawn up by the City, adding some advocacy language. Legally, the initiative is a whole new ball game, placing it outside the purview of the California Environmental Quality Act.

These actions forestall legal challenges, based on the EIR, that would halt the stadium project. The partners have acted together to ensure their deal goes through, and one of them will thus receive $114 million dollars of taxpayer funds. Isn't this where we draw the line between partnership and collusion?