S.D. CITY COUNCIL TO GIVE $10M TO CONTINUE BALLPARK PROJECT

          The San Diego City Council, "undeterred by the threat"
     of another lawsuit, has "agreed to spend" $10M to "keep
     construction going on the planned" downtown ballpark for the
     Padres, according to Anthony Millican of the SAN DIEGO
     UNION-TRIBUNE, who writes that the interim funding means
     work on the $1B ballpark and redevelopment project "will
     continue at least into the fall."  Millican adds that the
     interim funds "are needed" because the city "has been forced
     to delay" issuing up to $299M in bonds.  The delay in the
     project "stems in large part from a flurry of legal
     challenges" to the project as well as a criminal
     investigation into council member Valerie Stallings' stock
     trading in TX-based Neon Systems, a software company chaired
     by Padres Owner John Moores.  As part of yesterday's deal,
     the Padres agreed to spend $20M over the interim period,
     which will be credited against the team's $132.5M ballpark
     "obligation" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/28).