CA's 4th District Court of Appeals has agreed to an
"expedited hearing" in a challenge by local tax activists to a
lower court decision endorsing the city of San Diego's right to
issue lease revenue bonds to fund a $66.6M expansion for Jack
Murphy Stadium. Barry Bloom of the San Diego UNION TRIBUNE
reports city officials requested the judicial acceleration for
fear of losing both the '98 Super Bowl and Chargers if the
improvements are not completed on schedule. City Attorney Les
Girard, who noted the city has renovation contracts with both the
team and NFL: "We have to start construction by mid-January at
the latest. If we can't start until February or thereafter,
we're in big trouble." City Manager Jack McGrory: "I think the
[appellate court] recognizes the urgency of this." The hearing
takes place July 10 and a decision must be rendered by within 90
days. A loss for the city could be "calamitous," because the
case would most likely return to the lower court for a full trial
-- which would delay expansion plans (San Diego UNION TRIBUNE,
5/8).