Oakland City Councilman District 5 Nick Gallo is pushing for a Oakland ballot measure that would ask voters should the A’s build at Howard Terminal in November (Mercury News file photo)

Howard Terminal A’s Win Big Vote. What’s Next?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO–The Oakland A’s are one step closer to staying in Oakland, and building their new Howard Terminal ballpark. By a 23-2 vote the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission voted in favor to remove Port of Oakland designation for Howard Terminal.

The A’s still need to go back to this BCDC to apply for a permit to build on the site. So we will hear about this Commission again.

The vote was one in a series of different legal hurdles the A’s will have to overcome, before they can get the green light to put the shovel on the ground.

The Team also needs approval from various other agencies, including California Department of Toxic Substances Control. “We are one big step away from having this project as a biding deal said team President Dave Kaval.

Noel Gallo, Oakland City Council member wants the issue to go on the November ballot and the council will consider the proposal next Tuesday. “Voters want a voice, they want to have an advisory say in their support or no support of Howard Terminal” said Gallo.

Another hurdle that has not gotten much publicity is the City of Oakland wants 450 new low cost apartments to be built there, but the A’s have not said if they will build them. Affordable housing, is one of the most important issue facing Oakland residents.”

Affordable housing is going to be what makes or breaks this project,” Dolores Tejada, lead organizer of East Bay Housing Organizations — a nonprofit advocacy coalition that’s been involved in community benefits discussions.

There are still three lawsuits and some more expected against the Howard Terminal project.

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