In a three-page decision filed Friday, Alameda County
Superior Court Judge Ronald Sabraw ruled that the Oakland
Football Marketing Association (OFMA) does not fall under the CA
Public Records Act, according to the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. The
act requires most state and local governments to open records to
the public. While OFMA is composed of officials from Alameda
County, Oakland and the team, Sabraw said the act does not cover
the group -- "an organization controlled to a significant degree
by private individuals appointed by a private, for-profit entity,
the Oakland Raiders organization." The Mercury News had
submitted a petition to open the books on OFMA's revenues,
expenses and "troubled marketing initiatives." Sabraw noted that
ticket revenue numbers are private and that opening books could
damage the Raiders' marketing plans (Dan Reed, SAN JOSE MERCURY
NEWS, 1/23). Judy Alexander, an attorney for the Mercury News,
said the paper is considering taking the case to an appellate
court (Peter Fimrite, S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/23).
