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The Zulewski report
By Tom Zulewski April 27, 2010 |
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52% of the likely voters in Santa Clara are likely to vote in favor of measure J a stadium initiative that helps the City and the 49ers go forward to build a new stadium worth close to a billion dollars at Great America Park. The election in Santa Clara is slated for June 8th on the 68,500 seat stadium. 36% of likely voters were against the stadium measure while 11% were undecided. The poll was conducted by San Jose State University and Policy Research Institute. The Research Institute pointed out that scientifically the accuracy of the poll shows that reliable voters polled in the survey that turn out to vote supported the measure by 49% and those who are the casual not voting in every election type still supported the measure by 59%. Those who are in favor of the stadium project Santa Clara City Manager Jennifer Sparacino and all but two city council members say this is a benefit to Santa Clara in bringing the team to Santa Clara in terms of revenue, income, jobs, construction benefits, television revenue and city recognition. Some voters just liked the idea of the 49ers coming to the South Bay regardless of the cost and felt that Santa Clara will recover the costs when the games begin at the Great America Stadium site. 49ers officials love the site because not only they would get a new stadium but the location will bring in more restaurants, hotels, retail, and Great America. Plus the 49ers offices are located in Santa Clara and there would be no more commuting to Candlestick Park in the City for game day events, the Niners love the idea of having the team in their own backyard in Santa Clara. Stadium opponents: Opponents of the measure say the City would be hit hard financially in order to support the measure the poll showed also that opponents concerns were the cost that would impact Santa Clara residents. Noise and parking were the other concern not to mention traffic and congestion on highway 101 on game days. Also it was brought up that if the measure passes it would free up $20 million for schools in Santa Clara. Money the school system badly needs in Santa Clara. This part of the campaign could be the lynchpin in getting the measure passed with very little opposition. 63% in the poll said they are worried about the cost of the stadium and 33% said they are not worried. In other polls which measured young people between the ages of 18-34 back the measure 56% to 30% who opposed, also Democrats and Republicans alike voted for the measure, and more men than women were in favor of the measure. The key selling points of this measure by the 49ers were getting out of Candlestick Park and moving to Santa Clara and having Great America as part of the package. The positives on the entertainment scale far outweigh the negatives. Although the tax issues the opponents raised make a lot of sense in the long run the 49ers could be saddled with paying for the stadium for a long time and taxes out of city residents could make the local tax payers bitter over getting stuck with paying a large or small part of the stadium bill. Stay tuned the Stadium plot is thickening. Tom Zulewski does commentary reports each week for Sportstalk Radio |
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