Team Chairman Howard Terminal Critics digs ahead of crucial vote – CBS San Francisco

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OAKLAND (KPIX 5) – As Oakland City Council decides next week whether or not to approve a deal on a proposed new baseball stadium for the A’s at Howard Terminal, opponents of the plan spoke out on Wednesday and the president of the team issued a disturbing warning.

The plan to build the new A’s baseball stadium on the waterfront is in its final round.

On Wednesday morning, housing advocates and Chinatown residents rallied outside the team’s offices in Jack London Square to demand that As’s include at least 35% affordable units in any housing estate to avoid pushing the low-income people outside the neighborhood.

“What we’re saying today is if you’re playing… then play by the Oakland rules,” said Cherri Murphy, group organizer Oakland United.

“Give people the affordable housing they need, make sure we have clean air, and make sure people have a place to stay,” Murphy continued.

At ILWU headquarters on Wednesday, Oakland Port employee Linda Adams said she believed any housing development near the port would cost them jobs, when buyers of expensive condos began to complain about noise from the port. trucks and heavy equipment.

“It’s a domino effect,” Adams said, “because by the time they complain we’re back at the table debating when to shut down our operations? “

While others demand a considerable set of benefits for the community, A’s are offering nothing out of pocket. But President Dave Kaval said revitalizing the region could generate $ 450 million in revenue from a special tax district for the city to spend as it sees fit.

Whether it’s gambling or not, Kaval said Howard Terminal was the A’s last attempt to stay in Oakland.

“This is our last batting appearance in Oakland,” Kaval said. “We have already failed at another downtown site, at Laney College. The Colosseum is not an option. It’s Howard Terminal or bust. But if that doesn’t work, we have to find another place, another house. We can’t be in a situation where we don’t have a playground to play. “

Earlier this week, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred stepped up the pressure, saying if the Howard Terminal site was not approved the A’s would have to start looking for other cities to relocate.

The fight for Howard Terminal has turned into a billion dollar chicken game. And that leaves A-loyal fans like Myles McGinn wondering if the end is nigh.

“It would be a stab in the heart if we lost the A’s,” he said. “This is our last team, so we have to do something to keep them.”

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