Like a firecracker with a bad fuse, the much-touted Stadium Audit has turned out to be a serious dud!
As you recall, last year’s election was centered around the “millions” the 49ers were allegedly stealing from our City.
Even after the election Mayor Gillmor, and her hand-chosen candidates, continued to feed the media and the public with what we now know were erroneous charges.
The final audit is complete and it doesn’t bode well for the Mayor.
There is no surprise here.
The revealing details of the final audit were released publicly on the City’s website this week.
It is a little embarrassing for the Mayor and her Council. This Council spent over $200,000 of taxpayer’s money to find out that the 49ers “may” owe the City $114,000. However, even that amount isn’t really assured.
One thing is for sure, the 49ers are saying the City overbilled them a million dollars for parking. So, if that’s the case, Santa Clara will still owe the 49ers for the overpayment.
For those of you who have been around Santa Clara for a few decades, you may remember when Lisa Gillmor was a Council Member in the 1990s. She was pounding on the Chamber of Commerce and their management of the Convention Center. She used the same argument then that she used this past election. The Chamber was mismanaging the Convention Center, siphoning off funds, stealing from the City and convinced the City Council at that time to spend $100,000 of taxpayer money for an audit.
Guess what? That audit also turned out to be a dud!
The auditors could find nothing missing, no embezzlement, no hidden money. The Convention Center Manager at the time was Lisa Moreno, and she continues to manage the Center today. How’s the Convention Center doing? Well, they made a profit for the City of over a million dollars last year.
Now, let’s turn back to the 49ers. They have been pumping millions into our general fund since the day they opened the stadium. They simply did what they said they would do, and what 60 percent of our residents voted for; make money for our City.
However, you are aware that 40 percent of our voters did not favor the stadium. So, it was easy for the Mayor to find sympathetic ears to buy into the conspiracy scheme she invented about the 49ers mismanagement. But that’s what it was, an invention of her own mind, and her constituents were duped.
The money she and her Council have spent on audits and lawsuits could take your breath away.
What it is taking away is our bread and butter.
For decades Santa Clara has provided incredible services for our residents. We have been frugal with our funds and used them to benefit our City.
Now for the first time since the Great Recession, we are facing deficits…and these are “good” times.
Maybe we should be a bit kinder to the 49ers and let them make money for us as intended.
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