About the Settlement

Soon after the filing, Dan Sicular and Chuck McKinley of the Tightwad Hill Central Committee, and our outstanding attorney, Susan Brandt-Hawley of the Brandt-Hawley Law Group, entered into negotiations with representatives of the Berkeley Campus.  Over the course of a year and a half, we negotiated in good faith with the University, finally reaching a settlement agreement in July, 2008. 

The agreement provides unprecedented recognition of Tightwad Hill by the University, and, most importantly, obligates UC to include representatives of Save Tightwad Hill! in the design of future improvements to the east side of the Stadium.  The agreement also reserves our right to revive the lawsuit, should the University attempt to go forward with any new structure that would block our view.

While the agreement does not give us a 100% guarantee that Tightwad Hill will be preserved in perpetuity for the enjoyment of tight-fisted Bears fans, we consider it a victory -- not only because it gives us a seat at the table for future design of Stadium improvements, but also because we have established a good working relationship with the University.  They recognize that we are Cal Football fans, and that Tightwad Hill is an important Cal Football tradition. 

In any event, the third phase of the Stadium project, which would include the east side changes, is still years away, and may well never happen: the state Alquist-Priolo act limits the amount the University can spend to improve the Stadium, because it sits astride the Hayward fault.  If earlier phases of the Stadium improvements exceed that dollar limit, the east side may remain just as we know it now -- at least until the Big One hits.

Meantime, see you on the Hill, and...

Go Bears!