The Chargers questioned the independence of the city’s new stadium task force in a letter today to San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer from the team’s Special Counsel to the President Mark Fabiani. Fabiani questioned whether task force Chair Adam Day’s statement was independent of the mayor, given mayoral aides were present during task force meetings. He asked why the mayor’s chief political consultant, Jason Roe, who has been present at the meetings, was also advising Delaware North.
Fabiani asked, “What legal and ethical issues are raised by Mr. Roe’s dual role as an apparent de facto Task Force member as a registered lobbyist for the Delaware North Company, who is bidding to become the new concessionaire at Qualcomm tadium and, potentially at any new stadium in San Diego?” In the four-page letter, Fabiani also questioned the task force hiring as a spokesperson Tony Manolatos, given that Day had said he has no budget. Fabiani asked if donations then would become public. He also took Manolatos to task for tweeting on January 16, “If you believe a stadium won’t get built under your terms and you may skip town, do you keep working or launch a finger-pointing campaign?” Fabiani then questioned whether it makes good sense to retain such an individual.
In concluding, Fabiani wrote he hoped the mayor’s answers would shed light on the independence of the task force, placing quote marks around the word independence. The Chargers have for over a decade been talking with various city mayors about a new stadium. However, this year appears different, with the team worried about another team relocating to nearby L.A. That appears to be heightening the public heat and perhaps making ‘15 a make-or-break year.
