Now we know what Leonard Padilla thinks of this arena deal. And so does the NBA.
Padilla, the famed bounty hunter who is running for mayor this spring for a fifth time, sent a note to NBA Commissioner David Stern saying that he "will make every effort as a candidate for mayor and as mayor to prevent any public funding for the arena."
"I sincerely believe that if the NBA, the Kings, AEG want an arena in Sacramento, be my guest and build it without any public funding," Padilla wrote.
Padilla is a long shot to unseat Mayor Kevin Johnson in the June primary. Still, Padilla wanted to give Stern a head's up "so that you know my position and will not be taken by surprise by my future statements regarding the arena situation."
Padilla insists he's not anti-Kings. He said his family bought 20 season tickets when the franchise moved to town - which he later gave up - and that he once took former Kings star Reggie Theus pheasant hunting.
He just thinks the latest plan to build a $391 million arena is a bad idea.
"When one studies the term sheet, there is little benefit if any for the City of Sacramento and its citizens," he wrote. "However, there is great financial benefit to the NBA, the Kings, AEG and a few other individuals that would definitely not want to see me as Mayor of Sacramento."








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