Residents urge Alameda County to explore legal options to oppose Raiders relocation

Several Oakland residents urged the Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 23 to explore legal steps and public mobilization to keep the Raiders in Oakland and to oppose any county sale of Coliseum land to the city.

Riz Jones, introduced by the board, described a community initiative he said could tackle bond debt and keep Coliseum land devoted to sports, promising entry-level and union jobs for nearby Districts 6 and 7 and asking supervisors to 'join us in every, ever possible' way.

Ray Bobbitt of We Stand with Oakland said his group had secured a major PR contribution and said contingency legal and public-relations resources were available 'with no risk to taxpayers.' He asked the board to allow a law firm to present options and to consider becoming a client so the county could participate in legal exploration related to the NFL relocation process.

Chris Fry Lopez, a North Oakland resident, told the board she and other community members would 'adamantly oppose' any county sale of its Coliseum property to the city while libraries are closing and budgets are constrained. John Lupo, founder of Stayin' Oak, cited NFL bylaw 4.3 and ongoing litigation in St. Louis and said a court question about the NFL following its bylaws could not be resolved unless local governments take action.

Lauren Piper, a long-time season-ticket holder, urged the board to 'do everything possible' to keep the Raiders in Oakland, describing decades of ties between the team and the city.

The board accepted public comment and then proceeded to closed session. No formal board action on the Raiders or on joining as a client was taken during the meeting.