Nevada teachers to Fisher: "Not so fast."

Somewhere A’s owner John Fisher is wringing his hands like Montgomery Burns, thinking he’s free and clear to rip the A’s away from Oakland. He isn't, though. Not yet at least.

Yes, it’s true MLB’s owners already signed off on the move. It’s also true the State of Nevada approved a bill that will pay Fisher $380 million in public funds for the A’s new stadium. It’s not quite a done deal, however. 

A group called Schools Over Stadiums, led by Nevada’s teachers, is challenging the bill and claiming that $380 million would be better spent on education. And they’re absolutely right. The fate of the group’s referendum petition, which would put the question to voters in November, is set to be decided in court on April 9. If the petition is allowed to move forward, they’d only need about 100 thousand signatures to get on the ballot.

If for some reason that doesn’t work, the teachers have backup plans. The first is a lawsuit they filed against Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo and others which challenges the funding bill’s constitutionality. The second is a planned injunction they’ll file as soon as any progress is made on the stadium project. 

I’m rooting for the teachers. Fisher’s plan to move the A’s has stunk like a sweaty gym bag since the beginning. He’s deliberately and repeatedly underfunded the team, refused to take part in any serious negotiations with the city about a new stadium, and outright ignored a fanbase that’s loyally supported the A’s since 1968.

And since MLB, its owners, and Commissioner Rob Manfred won’t stand up to him, the people of Nevada are. And I hope they win. I hope they send Fisher’s shady plan careening off course. 

Because the A’s belong in Oakland. Period.