As a lobbyist for Related Companies’ City Place Santa Clara project, political consultant Jude Barry appears to be more active managing press relations to advance the political interests of the Santa Clara public officials he lobbies than he does those of his employer. Barry has long been acknowledged for his skill in setting up political … Read more
After more than a decade, additions to a Santa Clara home have finally gotten the green light. The Santa Clara City Council upheld an appeal to turn a basement into livable space and add an attached garage. Located at 1593 Lexington St., the one-story single-family home is zoned as multi-family. The renovation was originally sought … Read more
The arbitration decision ending the nearly three-years long Levi’s Stadium facility rent dispute took a middle road, giving neither the Santa Clara City Council/Stadium Authority (SA) nor the 49ers Stadium Company (StadCo) everything they asked for. In his decision, the arbitrator, Honorable Read Ambler — a retired judge — relied on one key principle: that “a … Read more
If you could have seen the faces of the candidates for City Council in June, you would understand why the Council had to admonish fellow Council Members Patricia Mahan and Pat Kolstad. Or so Mayor Lisa Gillmor, Vice Mayor Kathy Watanabe and Council Members Debi Davis and Teresa O’Neill think. All four referenced “the look … Read more
The July City Council calendars are out, and one thing is still clear: previous months have not been edited to reflect missed meetings. There continues to be no mention of Peter Hillan, Banner Public Affairs, and, given the City’s recent rent battle with the 49ers, no mention of Sam Singer, the City’s contracted public affairs … Read more
Maybe the question about this column is: “Will he return?” As you may have heard, at the beginning of July I contracted pneumonia. After nearly a week in intensive care, I was allowed to escape for home care. The past two months would have been a challenge for better equipped people like Batman. Thank you … Read more
To celebrate the recent unblocking of the Santa Clara Weekly by Mayor Lisa Gillmor on Twitter, the United States Senate has decided to remind the nation of the “vital and indispensable role the free press serves.” (Resolution MAZ18847 Aug. 16) “Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Senate affirms that the press is not the … Read more
On Wednesday, the City of Santa Clara filed an appeal of Judge Thomas Kuhnle’s ruling that Santa Clara’s at-large by-seat election system discriminates against minorities. Other California cities have appealed California Voting Rights Act judgments. None won their appeals. But all increased their legal bills substantially. In Palmdale, not only did the city incur an … Read more
After two years of closed-door hearings and discussion, a private arbitrator awarded the Santa Clara Stadium Authority a 1.07 percent increase in the Levi’s Stadium facilities rent — raising the annual amount to $24,762,000 from $24,500,000, a total of $10.5 million over the 40-year term of the stadium lease. The Stadium Authority will also receive … Read more
We’re down to the wire. The deadline for candidates for the November election is today at 5 p.m. — However, if District 3 incumbent Pat Kolstad doesn’t file, the deadline for that district is Aug. 15. Here’s the line-up as of press time: The contest for Mayor will be battled by appointed incumbent Lisa M. … Read more