Guy T. Saperstein, a co-owner of the Oakland A’s, went after Oakland City Attorney John Russo today in an op-ed published in the Tribune. Saperstein accuses Russo of “empty rhetoric” for his op-ed published last week and of being a “grandstanding” politician who simply wants “to be the next mayor.” Sharp words – and not at all warranted. First, let’s acknowledge that Saperstein, who we have to admit we’ve never heard of, is right that the A’s should be commended for their efforts to build a stadium without taxpayer dollars. But Russo was dead on last week when he pointed out that A’s co-owner Lew Wolff has never seriously looked at building a ballpark in Oakland. Still, having said that, Saperstein deserves credit for noting that Oakland city officials ruined the best spot for a stadium when they decided to back an ill-advised apartment complex and give the developer a $60-plus million public subsidy. That complex sits mostly empty now as the city is trying to keep the A’s from leaving town for good.
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