Oakland — The Golden State Warriors have filed for a hearing with the California Supreme Court to overturn the California District Court’s April 2020 decision in favor of the Oakland – Alameda County Coliseum Authority, ruling the Warriors’ responsible for the over $40 million of outstanding debt.
This puts the people of Oakland and Alameda County at risk of having to cover these debts, and threatens cuts of millions of dollars in public services, as these communities already face COVID-19 financial hardships.
Oakland Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan, who had previously urged fighting the attempt to stick tax-payers with the bill, issued this response to the Warriors Appeal: “This is despicable behavior by billionaires, trying to harm struggling Oakland tax- payers. The arbitrator and the court ruled that they were wrong and we were right— but they still seek to refuse to pay their obligations.”
Rebecca Kaplan, Oakland’s Council President and Council member At Large, has advocated for the Warriors to pay their bill since 2018. In a letter to the Warrior’s dated February 2018, Kaplan stated: “I am asking you to still believe in Strength in Numbers, and in your reputation of community service, by promising to fully pay the debt on the Arena. Let us, instead of having this strife, unite together, as we are all warriors, and must work to protect all of our community.”