The continuing growth of Silicon Valley Power (SVP) dominated the Santa Clara City Council meeting. At its first meeting in a month, the council considered three items, all relating to SVP. The first was a simple update. The second dealt with adding new positions to keep up with continued growth. The third involved securing energy … Read more
A grand jury report detailing the Santa Clara Stadium Authority’s relationship to the 49ers stirred well-trodden finger-pointing about who supported the stadium and who opposed it. At its Tuesday night meeting, the Santa Clara City Council discussed a civil grand jury report titled “Outplayed: Measure J, the City of Santa Clara, and the San Francisco … Read more
Santa Clara City Council members agree that the council needs to get along better, but many disputed civil grand jury findings that point fingers at specific council members. The council narrowly agreed to revisit whether to have the council attend ethics training. The most recent civil grand jury report, “Irreconcilable Differences,” made several recommendations. Among … Read more
After months of updates, several studies, a county inspection and much discussion among one another, the Santa Clara City Council has decided to funnel money into reopening the George Haines International Swim Center (ISC). The topic ate up a good chunk of the Council’s Tuesday night meeting. When the dust settled, the Council agreed to … Read more
Here we go again. A new grand jury report takes aim at Santa Clara City Council dysfunction. However, the tactics are strangely familiar to one released in 2022. That is to say, the conclusions have a political bend, one that stridently singles out the “49er Five,” a derisive label given to Council majority Raj Chahal, Suds … Read more
A new report released by the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury on June 12 once again calls out the Santa Clara City Council majority while laying no blame at the feet of the minority. The report, titled “Irreconcilable Differences: The Santa Clara City Council,” came after the Civil Grand Jury “received multiple complaints” about … Read more
A tax to pay for Santa Clara’s infrastructure is still seeing roughly the same public support. In a study session Tuesday, a public opinion research firm presented the findings of a second City-funded survey geared at gauging whether voters would support a $598 million bond measure to pay for capital projects. It revealed that public … Read more
Contract restructuring at Levi’s Stadium has brought closure to a long-standing dispute between the City and the 49ers, but it comes at a cost for stadium goers. After much negotiation, the Santa Clara Stadium Authority Board and the 49ers have finally settled their dispute over costs at Levi’s Stadium. However, part of that agreement saddles … Read more
A recent complaint to the Santa Clara District Attorney has gotten the attention of the former chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), who believes the filers are out of bounds in submitting the claim to the DA. Ann Ravel, former chair of the FPPC, has challenged a recent complaint that points fingers … Read more
Mayor Lisa Gillmor and her lone ranger council supporter Kathy Watanabe continue to defy logic. One thing that can be said for this pair: they’re consistent. Consistently opposed, that is, to nearly any proposal by any of the other five council members regardless of its benefit to the community. Consider that logic would, and should, … Read more