Seven of the Bay Area's major league sports franchises are "lining up to support Proposition 16, a state constitutional amendment that would return affirmative action as part of the criteria in state hiring, contracting and college admissions," according to Phil Matier of the S.F. CHRONICLE. The Warriors, 49ers, Giants, A's, Sharks, Earthquakes and National Independent Soccer Association club the Oakland Roots are "lined up to make a joint endorsement" today. If approved by voters in November, the measure "would overturn Proposition 209, a constitutional amendment voters passed in 1996 that banned consideration of race and gender in state hires, contracts and college admissions." Giants President & CEO Larry Baer said that the teams' move to "statewide electoral politics was a natural progression." Baer said, "We've worked with the 49ers on health issues like masks and with the Warriors on civic issues. This is a product of our individual conversations on racial equality." Matier notes the potent sports lineup is "aimed at drawing attention to a campaign that finds itself competing for attention with everything from the COVID-19 pandemic to the presidential election" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 8/19).
