Ethics experts are expressing concern about San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s announcement to bring a new minor league soccer team to the city, claiming that the deal raises questions about his wealthy friends and past relationships with donors.
Lurie recently announced on Instagram that Kezar Stadium would be the new home of the Golden City Football Club, which is co-owned by Geoff Oltmans.
San Francisco mayoral candidate Daniel Lurie gestures while meeting with people at a neighborhood event on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Oltmans is a longtime donor to Tipping Point, the nonprofit organization Lurie founded in 2005.
The deal has raised eyebrows as to who has access to Lurie and what that access means.
Despite Lurie claiming “this is good, good news for San Franciscans,” it didn’t feel that way to a local soccer club, whose members claimed they were brushed aside to make room for Lurie’s rich friend. Even though the deal to bring Oltmans’s team to Kezar started before Lurie was sworn in earlier this year, critics say it is not a good look and that the mayor should take a step back.
John Pelissero, director of government ethics at Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, told the San Francisco Standard that Lurie should withdraw himself from the proposal.
“To avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest, he really should be recusing himself from any direct involvement with the soccer club and the stadium,” Pelissero said. “When you have a conflict of interest, or even the appearance, it is reasonable to ask whether the public interest is being served.”
Sean McMorris, a good governance advocate with California Common Cause, told the outlet that it is important to consider Lurie’s background when viewing such deals.
“When you’re wealthy like Lurie, and you have powerful connections with people who want to do business with the city, you are going to be more scrutinized, so he has to be more careful,” he said.
The announcement, made on May 9, includes plans for significant stadium upgrades funded by the club. The inaugural season is expected to be in 2026 or 2027.
Lurie said the news “represents a new era for San Francisco sports.”
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“The new GCFC team will bring new life to Kezar Stadium and the neighborhoods around it, and investments in the stadium will benefit the whole community,” he added in a statement. “From business and retail to sports, it’s a good time to bet on San Francisco, and I’m thrilled to partner with MLS NEXT Pro to bring a new team to our city.”
Calls to Lurie’s office for further comment on whether he would withdraw from the deal were not returned.
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