In its quest to create an unforgettable race venue, San Francisco is forming a nonprofit San Francisco America’s Cup Organizing Committee, aimed at raising $32 million and staffed in part with city officials.
The race provides an opportunity for the city to put on a good show before an international audience. The committee’s fund-raising campaign provides an opportunity for contractors to improve relations with city officials by ponying up for the race.
But according to Larry Bush’s CitiReport newsletter, it’s also an opportunity for behind-the-scenes dealings and cozy arrangements between city officials on the committee and companies that seek city business. Little of the committee’s financial dealings, Bush says, will be subject to financial disclosure rules.
Clean government advocate Bob Stern of the Center for Governmental Studies suggests there should be laws to prevent officials from raising money from people affected by their decisions, but he considers the prospects slim. Instead, he says, nonprofits with strong city connections like the America’s Cup Organizing Committee should at least be required to disclose the names of anyone who comes before them.