San Francisco Chronicle: 49ers pump $900,000 into this year’s Santa Clara City Council Races
San Francisco Chronicle: 49ers pump $900,000 into this year’s Santa Clara City Council Races
September 12, 2024
Story Summary:
The 49ers are spending $900,000 supporting four Santa Clara City Council candidates and opposing four others through independent expenditure committees, drawing criticism from Mayor Lisa Gillmor, who accused the team of trying to control the city’s politics. The 49ers say they are supporting diverse candidates who have effectively managed the City’s finances. The story also notes that the Related Companies will support Gillmor’s candidates.
Story Grade:
This story by Lance Williams and Ron Kroichick on the 49ers’ financial involvement in Santa Clara City Council elections is accurate and well-researched. It gets an A – grade. It clearly cites figures, such as the $900,000 donated and the overall $8.3 million spent by the team since 2020, which are well-documented through official sources like the California Secretary of State. The clarity of the piece is also strong, describing the history of the 49ers’ political influence in Santa Clara and their current efforts to support specific candidates.
The article is clearly a news story, not the writers’ opinions. It moves from the details of the 49ers’ recent contributions to their broader political strategy. It provides a well-rounded view, covering both the 49ers’ perspective and criticisms from opponents like Mayor Lisa Gillmor.
The piece shows an objective tone overall, despite covering a contentious issue. It includes quotes from both the 49ers’ representatives and their critics, allowing readers to form their own opinions. In discussing the Related Companies, it leaves the impression that the Related Companies will spend big money for its candidates which may turn out to be true. But the story doesn’t give the reader enough context to understand the potential impact of the company’s spending by failing to point out that in the 2022 Santa Clara elections, the 49ers spent 20 times what Related spent. Readers may think the 49ers and Related are spending equally. Overall, this news story is a well-structured and accurate report on a significant local political issue.