Safeco Field Funding Not a Guarantee—Citizen Referendum Approved

A development TOM-KICHI/GETTY

On Thursday afternoon at 12:01 p.m. the King County Council Clerk received a petition for referendum on the matter of funding Safeco Field.

A committee of citizens called Citizens Against Sports Stadium Subsidies ("CASSS") submitted the petition. The referendum concerns "an ordinance authorizing a new funding agreement and amendment to the existing financing agreement with the Washington State Major League Baseball Stadium Public Facilities District (PFD)."

On Sept. 17, the King County Council voted 5-4 to give $135 million to the Mariners and PFD for their lease renewal at Safeco Field. Councilmember Rod Dembowski called the vote "a heist" and "a fleecing" of taxpayer funds.

This petition was submitted to Melani Pedroza, Clerk of the Council. According to a letter from Pedroza, the petition was approved. It is officially Referendum 25.

Now, they must gather signatures.

Councilmembers and CASSS have not returned comment. Now that this is technically an electoral matter, KCC staff is unable to "be helpful" one communications person told The Stranger.

This post will be updated as more information becomes available.