The billion-dollar question in Oakland – whether the A’s are actually moving into a new ballpark and building thousands of homes near the harbor – remains unanswered.
In the meantime, the city wants to start spending $259 million in state grant money intended to support the roughly $12 billion proposed development at Howard Terminal, even as its future remains in limbo.
And while city officials insist the money would be spent wisely on long-needed projects – benefiting West Oakland even if negotiations with the A’s fall apart – the timing has struck some in the community as odd.
“It is disingenuous to say this project is what’s most needed in District 3,” said City Councilwoman Carroll Fife, who represents West Oakland and suggested the projects would prioritize certain infrastructure to sweeten a deal with private enterprise. “No one is over there at Howard Terminal right now.”