The police union representing rank-and-file police officers in the city of Oakland, Calif., is demanding proof of a down payment related to the sale of the former home of the Oakland Athletics baseball team, saying it would reduce public safety at a time when the city is in a state of emergency. It is argued that there is a possibility that It is already struggling to fight crime and faces a potential financial crisis.
The new deal, reported by the Mercury News, will see African American Sports Entertainment Group (AASEG) pay the city a one-time payment of $105 million for a 50% stake in the Oakland Coliseum.
Under the previous agreement, the buyer would add $10 million by Oct. 7 and another $95 million by May 30, 2025 over several months, on top of the $5 million the city had already received. The newspaper reported that the payment was to be made at .
AASEG is separately acquiring ownership of the remaining half of the venue from the A's for $125 million.
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The Oakland Coliseum during the Oakland Athletics' final game last month. (Ekin Howard/Getty Images)
“We demand an actual examination of what is going on with this sale,” Huy Nguyen, president of the Oakland Police Officers Association, said in a statement. “It's weird and bizarre that the mayor says one thing and the city council member says another. Why doesn't everyone know if the payment was made?”
This week, some city council members and police unions expressed concern that the first $15 million in promised payments had not been received. Over the summer, lawmakers approved an emergency budget that would go into effect if the payments were not received.
Proceeds from the transaction will be used to pay city employees and cover operating costs.
Under this budget, there will be cuts to police and fire departments. Lawmakers said the preliminary budget would reduce the number of Oakland police officers to 600, temporarily close five fire stations and suspend all city contracts. fox san francisco.
Auckland Mayor Shen Tao (Getty Images)
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“CHP (California Highway Patrol) is here almost every night helping us…hitting our high-crime areas and major thoroughfares,” said OPOA Vice President John Rodger. said the sergeant. Tim Dolan said. “If there's one thing that's minimizing crime right now, it's the Highway Patrol in Oakland.”
Oakland Mayor Shen Tao, who faces a recall election in November, said the preliminary budget had not been activated and the agreement was on track.
“The AASEG agreement is on track. No contingencies have been triggered that are not already in place,” the Mayor's Office told FOX News Digital. “All relevant information will be submitted to the City Council during closed sessions and at the Financial Management Committee meeting, subject to appropriate and legal notification requirements.”
AASEG's Ray Bobbitt told the news station his group has made all required payments to date.
Auckland Police have hit back at claims they were under-reporting crime data showing a dramatic drop in crime this year compared to 2023. (Gabriel Lurie/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
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Fox News Digital reached out to AASEG. The city attorney's office declined to comment on the case.
The Athletics played their last game at the stadium last week. The team has called the stadium its home since 1968, but owner John Fisher decided to move the franchise to Las Vegas after a long battle with the city to keep the team in the Bay Area.
