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Thought this might be of interest to those following the potential development of a Los-Angeles-area NFL franchise:
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_4622242
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_4622242
Voters shut out NFL at Rose Bowl
By Kenneth Todd Ruiz Staff Writer
Article Launched:11/08/2006 12:56:09 AM PST
PASADENA - After five years of false starts and finishes, Pasadena's future with professional football ended at the ballot box Tuesday.
With nearly two-thirds of ballots counted at press time, voters had sacked a bid to jump-start negotiations to bring the NFL to the Rose Bowl, but endorsed changes to anti-corruption rules once fiercely opposed by the City Council.
Measure A, the NFL initiative, proved the mother-of-all NIMBY causes with voters. Many cited fears of increased congestion and big money interference should professional football come to the Upper Arroyo Seco.
"It's been shot down before, and I can't stand that people won't let it go," said resident Laura Gladden outside a Walnut Avenue polling station Tuesday.
Gladden added "opening the door" to the NFL more than a year after a council majority ended negotiations would be a spoiler for the city.
Councilman Chris Holden, the measure's chief sponsor and financial backer, said he was satisfied by the outcome and believed the NFL question is settled.
"I think we still win, because the people had a chance to exercise their right to vote," he said.
...
Had the NFL initiative gone through, there had been growing skepticism - fed by the NFL itself - whether any team will be coming to the Southland, which has been without a franchise since 1994.
In light of spiraling costs associated with candidate cities Los Angeles and Anaheim, team owners last month said it was no longer a priority.
Bringing money and influence to bear in their campaign to defeat the initiative was Pasadena First, organized by west Pasadena residents in the Arroyo. The group spent significantly more than Measure A supporters.
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