Some Crazy People Tried to Arrest Mayor Jerry Sanders for Snapdragon Stadium Renaming

I don't mind the Occupy Movement. As someone who would like to have a few more bucks in his pocket, the redistribution of wealth sounds like a good idea. However, sometimes the people associating themselves with the movement do something stupid and make everyone else look bad. This morning was one of those times.

As most of you are aware, Qualcomm Stadium was re-branded as Snapdragon Stadium before the San Diego Chargers' beatdown of the Baltimore Ravens on NBC's Sunday Night Football and remained as such through the Poinsettia Bowl and Holiday Bowl. To make this change, Qualcomm would have to pay cold, hard cash.

Sanders had charged Qualcomm $1,000 for city staff time, saying he wasn't about to "shake down" the company for what amounted to a greater public good.

Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs is a big contributor to the mayor's Central Library and Balboa Park renovation projects.

But a Dec. 7 memorandum of law from City Attorney Jan Goldsmith had warned Sanders that the move wasn't "legally permissible", suggesting the city was due "additional compensation".

An advertising expert consulted by Voice of San Diego, NBC San Diego's online media partner, estimates the deal gave Qualcomm upwards of $125,000 worth of TV exposure.

Source: Qualcomm's Snapdragon Issue Haunts Mayor in Legal Fallout | NBC San Diego

This morning, the Occupy San Diego people decided to take matters into their own hands.

Occupy San Diego activists marched into City Hall this morning, looking to make a "citizen's arrest" of Mayor Jerry Sanders.

About two dozen occupiers were met by police in the mayor's lobby. They chanted "Jail Jerry" as they stormed the building. He was said to be out of the office, on business.

The group then filed complaints with the city clerk, city attorney and district attorney.

They accused Sanders of "felony embezzlement" in connection with his agreement with Qualcomm to temporarily change the name of the stadium to Snapdragon, the company's new mobile processor.

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City Attorney Jan Goldsmith that ruled a Municipal Code violation because Sanders made the deal without approval from the City Council.

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City Attorney Goldsmith issued a memo announcing that the deal lacked legal authority because the Council didn't waive the relevant provisions of the city's sign ordinance by prior resolution.

But, he said, the Council could ratify it retroactively.

"If [the city council] chooses to not ratify the agreement, we would provide additional guidance as requested by the council," said a spokesperson for Sanders in a previous NBC San Diego article. "As for the date this will be discussed, the Council President controls the agenda."

Source: Occupiers Attempt Citizens Arrest of Mayor over Snapdragon Decision | NBC San Diego

Something tells me this issue isn't over quite yet, and that these types of movements against the Mayor and against the company with naming rights to the stadium are not going to make it any easier to get a vote for a new stadium for the Chargers come November.