Vote Would Kill Raiders’ Move, Prime Mover Fears

Don Perata, an Alameda County supervisor who worked hard on the proposed deal to bring the Raiders back to Oakland, said it would in effect be killed if opponents place the issue on the November ballot.

“If they are able to obtain the necessary signatures to put this on the ballot this fall, and if the city moves to delay action until after the November ballot, then I’m ready to get off the train,” Perata said Tuesday. “I’m not ready to prolong this for another six months.”

Perata, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said that if the initiative drive is successful, he will recommend that the county drop out of the deal rather than get involved in a legal fight over the Raiders.

Opponents of the $602-million Raiders deal, approved by county supervisors and the Oakland City Council two weeks ago, said they will collect 20,000 signatures, the minimum needed to qualify it for the ballot, as early as this Saturday.

Perata said Tuesday that Al Davis, the Raiders’ managing general partner, won’t be willing to wait for more talk.

“What you’re really talking about is killing the deal,” Perata said. “It’s not to modify it. It’s not to send negotiators back to the table.”

Citing recent efforts by Los Angeles to talk the Raiders into staying, Perata said, “Los Angeles is out doing what it has to do. Any pause here certainly gives Los Angeles hope.”

In a major push to save the deal, Oakland Coliseum officials are rushing to set up a ticket reservation hot line to prove that the area’s fans will snap up enough high-priced tickets to cover the $602-million worth of guarantees to the team.

Frank Russo, a leader of the initiative drive, said Tuesday that his forces will not drop their petition drive unless the city withdraws the Raiders offer while both sides talk.