The latest attack on Santa Clara, its budget and residents, is not a surprise.
In the real world, employees who have failed at the job and duties they were hired to perform move on.
Former city manager Deanna Santana will likely be remembered as the worst city manager in city history — right up there with Joe Base who tried to replace Santa Clara’s historic Christmas Bear with a newer model.
In pursuit of her political goals, she drove away longtime experienced employees, busted the city budget and packed city hall with cronies and consultants compliant with her political goals. After provoking a strike by a city union — the first in Santa Clara’s history — the city council dismissed her.
Normally, you would think that would be the end of it. But Santana was not a normal city manager and isn’t giving up on sucking the last dime out of Santa Clara’s treasury.
She was quite successful in padding her pockets while city manager. When you add up the cash, perks and benefits, her total compensation package was pushing a million dollars annually. This is higher than that of city managers anywhere else in California except Palmdale. Los Angeles has three city managers who collectively make little more than what Santana pocketed.
The Weekly did not approve of Santana’s salary and was critical of her management. That’s our First Amendment right. Santana didn’t agree, and wasted city time and resources penning “letters to residents” attacking The Weekly’s reporting.
The Weekly is still here, and Santana is not.
However, she is now suing the city for compensation she feels entitled to, plus an unspecified amount for her pain and suffering. It’s hard work wrecking a well-functioning city.
From my perspective, Santana should be paying Santa Clara for the damage she did to Santa Clara’s staff, council, businesses and residents.
Maybe City Attorney Glenn Googins will investigate the reprehensible activities of Santana and file a countersuit to reclaim the millions she was paid for her questionable non-performance.
Her lawsuit is an example of a taker and not a maker.
That was certainly her most successful performance in Santa Clara.
Previous Milestones:
Milestones – Santa Clara’s Slime Report – Opinion
Milestones – Your Next Mayor – Opinion
Milestones – Incompetence – Opinion
