49ers spend $2.4M on political attack ads to retain control of Santa Clara City Council

The San Francisco 49ers have spent $2.4 million on a barrage of negative political ads in recent weeks, raising their spending to nearly $10 million over the past four years as they seek to maintain a team-friendly majority on the Santa Clara City Council.

The 49ers’ investment in four council races, reported to the California secretary of state for the period from Sept. 10 through Oct. 27, amounts to $40 for each of Santa Clara’s 60,000 registered voters.

Meantime, Council Member Anthony Becker, whom the team backed for mayor two years ago with $2.5 million in campaign contributions, awaits trial on a felony perjury charge in connection with alleged political improprieties involving a 49ers lobbyist. Jury selection began Monday.

Two civil grand juries have rebuked the 49ers and their candidates, accusing the five-member bloc on the City Council of putting “the 49ers’ interests ahead of the city’s interests” on issues affecting the team’s bottom line, as one panel charged in 2022.


https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/49ers-spend-2-4m-new-political-ads-keep-control-19867114.php