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Albany City Councilmember Robert Leiber said that Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, Dion Aroner’s predecessor in the state Assembly, told him that he wants a hotel built on part of the Golden Gate Fields property within Berkeley city limits, something the mayor denies. 

Most of the track site falls within Albany city limits. 

In a statement issued through chief of staff Cisco DeVries, Bates acknowledged that the two had talked about project planning and revenue-sharing in the event of a track closure, but DeVries said, “Tom said he did not make that suggestion and he’s not suggesting that a hotel be built there.” 

“That’s funny,” said Leiber. “He sure said it to me.” 

Bates said that if the track closes, he’d prefer to see the whole site turned into park land, but he’s seen nothing to indicate the track may be closing. 

Since both Berkeley and Albany land is in the area is zoned commercially, Bates said, in the event of closure he would like to the see the two cities plan any development and share the proceeds, minus the amount necessary to make good lost track revenues for Albany. 

“It’s a chance to do something no two cities have ever done before,” he said.?