Rob Stutzman is in final push to delay Kings' move

[Gary]

Posted by Dan Morain

http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/04/rob-stutzman-is-in-final-push.html
April 18, 2011

Rob Stutzman is in final push to delay Kings' move

Sacramento political consultant Rob Stutzman is on the verge of tossing a wrench into Joe and Gavin Maloof's efforts to move the Sacramento Kings to Anaheim. By early this week, Stutzman expects to have collected roughly 11,000 signatures needed to challenge by referendum Anaheim City Council's $75 million deal to upgrade that arena where the Kings would play, and help the Maloofs with the cost of relocating.

"What we're doing is very real and matters legally," Stutzman said, adding that he can gather the requisite number of signatures with "one arm tied behind my back."

He does, however, need a little more money. But assuming he gets it--and there are some wealthy people who have an interest in his success--the referendum would place the Anaheim financing deal on hold until the next election, likely in June 2012, long after the next basketball season is over. Stutzman's effort comes as lobbyist Darius Anderson and billionaire Ron Burkle press to try to keep the Kings in Sacramento.

Stutzman said he is not operating on their behalf. But he said he received a call a few hours before Anderson announced last week that he and Burkle were intervening, alerting him to the development. Because a referendum could delay a move, Stutzman's effort to help the Anderson-Burkle play. "The upshot is that it all kind of works hand in hand," Stutzman said.

 

[Gary]

Howcome this isn't getting much press? This could be huge if he succeeds. This would delay the move for at least another season, and all he needed was 11,000 sigs?

Can this actually block the move or just mess with the 75mil part?

 

[pupsingh]

ive wondered about this too, lack of attention about it, is it just something that the Maloofs and Samueli could just toss aside and work around, or is it serious?

 

[Big Cuz 15]

Howcome this isn't getting much press? This could be huge if he succeeds. This would delay the move for at least another season, and all he needed was 11,000 sigs?

Can this actually block the move or just mess with the 75mil part?

it can't block the move but mess with the 75 mil part. samueli could just give the maloofs a personal loan to move if he wanted.

 

[djsnaz]

they can also move the public vote up - but not without a rather large expense...

 

[Section 101]

it can't block the move but mess with the 75 mil part. samueli could just give the maloofs a personal loan to move if he wanted.

Well that part remains to be seen. This could be what the NBA has an issue about. Just what is the collateral for the loan.

 

[Gary]

So basically if this passes then Samueli would just offer another under the table loan which included the other one he already gave them?

 

[Big Cuz 15]

So basically if this passes then Samueli would just offer another under the table loan which included the other one he already gave them?

it seems like ALOT of trouble for samueli unless he is being compensated in some way.

 

[Gary]

it seems like ALOT of trouble for samueli unless he is being compensated in some way.

And if that was the case why doesn't he just buy the Hornets? He would be in essence loaning the Maloofs 150mil to move the Kings there when he could just BUY the majority share of the Hornets and move them to OC..

 

[Glenn]

And if that was the case why doesn't he just buy the Hornets? He would be in essence loaning the Maloofs 150mil to move the Kings there when he could just BUY the majority share of the Hornets and move them to OC..

Probably because of the trouble he has been in in the past, he can't get approved as an owner.

 

[The Hammer]

And if that was the case why doesn't he just buy the Hornets? He would be in essence loaning the Maloofs 150mil to move the Kings there when he could just BUY the majority share of the Hornets and move them to OC..

And if Stern is leaning toward wanting the Kings to stay in Sac, but does want Sam in the club, and a third team in SoCal, this is what you do. There are several other markets that would kill to have an NBA team, however, that have a bit of a more clamoring fan base, and you'd gotta think would be successful right off the bat... San Jose, Louisville... To me, seems like San Jose is the next logical step rather than a third team in LA.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I don't love ballot measures so I prefer the Steinberg approach but the amusing thing about putting this to a public vote in Orange County is I think it could fail, especially if Stutzman went on a full on dirty campaign mode about this, which it appears is his goal.

 

[Bricklayer]

It certainly deserves more press if that is the way the law is written in CA/Anaheim. Not the big name/splashy thing, but the straightforward dirty pool politics that could save the day. Well, at least for a year.

 

[Gary]

It certainly deserves more press if that is the way the law is written in CA/Anaheim. Not the big name/splashy thing, but the straightforward dirty pool politics that could save the day. Well, at least for a year.

And if we were to break ground on an arena by then they COULDN'T move, correct? At least for another 25 years. At least that's how I see it.. I might be wrong though.

 

[funkykingston]

It certainly deserves more press if that is the way the law is written in CA/Anaheim. Not the big name/splashy thing, but the straightforward dirty pool politics that could save the day. Well, at least for a year.

If indeed this is the roadblock the article is making it out to be and there aren't simple measures to dismiss such a move then this is HUGE news. Once again, everything rests on the ability of KJ and company to deliver on the promise of a new arena to keep the Kings here longterm, but eliminating the possibility of Anaheim for a year would be incredible work.

 

[Glenn]

If indeed this is the roadblock the article is making it out to be and there aren't simple measures to dismiss such a move then this is HUGE news. Once again, everything rests on the ability of KJ and company to deliver on the promise of a new arena to keep the Kings here longterm, but eliminating the possibility of Anaheim for a year would be incredible work.

Well, thank God it doesn't depend on us. He needs to by-pass the people and everyone in Sacramento has a council person who can be called, emailed, and maybe even tweeted. The City Council has power it has chosen not to use. The people need to let them know what they want.

 

[hrdboild]

It certainly doesn't hurt our chances to have another complication delaying the Anaheim deal. When this was reported before though I thought there was going to be another election before June 2012. Also they could call a special election, and David Stern seemed to imply the other day that they can move the team to Anaheim in the blink of an eye if they want to. None of this matters unless the arena deal in Sacramento gets done. That's still the top priority. But I hope it happens anyway.

 

[funkykingston]

It certainly doesn't hurt our chances to have another complication delaying the Anaheim deal. When this was reported before though I thought there was going to be another election before June 2012. Also they could call a special election, and David Stern seemed to imply the other day that they can move the team to Anaheim in the blink of an eye if they want to. None of this matters unless the arena deal in Sacramento gets done. That's still the top priority. But I hope it happens anyway.

Sure, the actual moving of a team headquarters, new jerseys, scheduling etc can all be done relatively quickly. But it isn't the NBA that will be paying for the team to move. If the Maloofs don't have the money they can't move. Period. So the NBA can vote to allow them, but the Maloofs still have to be able to foot the bill. If the $75 million from Anaheim isn't there for them I don't think they'd be able to swing it. Especially since the $25 million of it was to get the Honda center up to NBA standards.

No, if this has legs then it is a VERY serious wrench in the relocation plans.

 

[Return To Glory]

The other important thing about "Stutzman's Final Push" is they are asking for donations (to
fund their efforts in getting signatures from Anaheim residents). The Sactownroyalty site has a link to the donation website. You can also go to the donation website directly at www.keepthekings.com


PLEASE DONATE IF YOU CAN! EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS!

 

[hrdboild]

Sure, the actual moving of a team headquarters, new jerseys, scheduling etc can all be done relatively quickly. But it isn't the NBA that will be paying for the team to move. If the Maloofs don't have the money they can't move. Period. So the NBA can vote to allow them, but the Maloofs still have to be able to foot the bill. If the $75 million from Anaheim isn't there for them I don't think they'd be able to swing it. Especially since the $25 million of it was to get the Honda center up to NBA standards.

No, if this has legs then it is a VERY serious wrench in the relocation plans.

Well I was thinking more that this might delay the bonds for a couple of months but not prevent them completely, and if that were the case they might still move anyway if everything else is in order. I guess if this forces them to put it to a vote, there's always a chance it gets voted down.

 

[Elektrik]

Posted by Dan Morain

http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/04/rob-stutzman-is-in-final-push.html
April 18, 2011

Rob Stutzman is in final push to delay Kings' move

Sacramento political consultant Rob Stutzman is on the verge of tossing a wrench into Joe and Gavin Maloof's efforts to move the Sacramento Kings to Anaheim. By early this week, Stutzman expects to have collected roughly 11,000 signatures needed to challenge by referendum Anaheim City Council's $75 million deal to upgrade that arena where the Kings would play, and help the Maloofs with the cost of relocating.

"What we're doing is very real and matters legally," Stutzman said, adding that he can gather the requisite number of signatures with "one arm tied behind my back."

He does, however, need a little more money. But assuming he gets it--and there are some wealthy people who have an interest in his success--the referendum would place the Anaheim financing deal on hold until the next election, likely in June 2012, long after the next basketball season is over. Stutzman's effort comes as lobbyist Darius Anderson and billionaire Ron Burkle press to try to keep the Kings in Sacramento.

Stutzman said he is not operating on their behalf. But he said he received a call a few hours before Anderson announced last week that he and Burkle were intervening, alerting him to the development. Because a referendum could delay a move, Stutzman's effort to help the Anderson-Burkle play. "The upshot is that it all kind of works hand in hand," Stutzman said.

How and where I can I sign the petition?

 

[Section 101]

How and where I can I sign the petition?

You have to be a registered voter in Anaheim.

 

[The Hammer]

Wait... sigs are being gathered in ANAHEIM???

 

[Löwenherz]

Wait... sigs are being gathered in ANAHEIM???

Yes, the petition is for a referendum to force a public vote in Anaheim regarding the $75 million in bonds their city council unanimously approved to upgrade the Honda Center for the Kings.

If they get enough signatures from Anaheim citizens, it would delay the bonds until the vote could occur.

Interestingly, if things were flipped and Anaheim pols were in Sacramento trying to delay the city government, I'd be irrate. But at this point, all's fair in love and war ... and this is both.

 

[IfAt1st]

shi&- it's comically easy to get tons of signatures for a referendum.
CA propositions have been doing this for YEARS - there is an entire cottage industry sprung up to support this, and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get support teams mobilized for signature-gathering.

It's well supported, and one of the problems with CA propositions.

But now I'm LOVING this fact, that the Kings might be staying one more year if this succeeds.

And all I want is one more year, to see if they can catch fire (because if they don't next year, they won't be).
But if they do, and it's an exciting, near-winning season next year, the fanbase may well come back and Sacto would be hard to leave then.

 

[Brac-o-matic]

But if they do, and it's an exciting, near-winning season next year, the fanbase may well come back and Sacto would be hard to leave then.

We just need to buy one more year to see if the arena deal really will finally get off the ground. If it does, and I have a feeling it will, then I don't think the NBA would let the team move. It's the only real stumbling block for Sac right now...

 

[jalfa]

So some guy can find 11,000 signatures against an NBA team in Anaheim from residents of Anaheim??? and that market is supposed to be more viable than Sacramento? Either there is something in the democratic process that completely passes me by, or the proposition in and on itself is simply insane.

 

[mr. moustache]

So some guy can find 11,000 signatures against an NBA team in Anaheim from residents of Anaheim??? and that market is supposed to be more viable than Sacramento? Either there is something in the democratic process that completely passes me by, or the proposition in and on itself is simply insane.

Ask some random lady walking out of a grocery store if she wants her tax money going to failed Las Vegas playboys. If she says no; you get a signature. It's pretty much that simple.

 

[NewKingsFan916]

ask some random lady walking out of a grocery store if she wants her tax money going to failed las vegas playboys. If she says no; you get a signature. It's pretty much that simple.

lol

 

[Warhawk]

Ask some random lady walking out of a grocery store if she wants her tax money going to failed Las Vegas playboys. If she says no; you get a signature. It's pretty much that simple.

Agreed. You could find 11,000 signatures for just about anything if you phrase the question correctly....