By Robert Haugh
City Councilmember Suds Jain wants the City to study implementing paid parking in the Franklin Mall parking lot.
At last week’s City Council meeting, Jain was not happy about the fact that the City pays approximately $138,000 a year to maintain its own public property.
The parking lot is used by people who shop at the Franklin Mall and the popular weekend Farmer’s Market that’s held on the property.
The Franklin Mall stores pay approximately $14,000 a year based on an agreement with the City. But they are not actually obligated to pay anything since it’s City property and not private property.
However, Jain doesn’t like the arrangement for some reason.
He called the property owners “greedy” and said that they could just “raise their prices” to pay the City more.
“It’s come to the point where I believe the only way for us to change this, just like the 49er contract, is to change the contract,” said Jain. “And in this case, the only way to do that is to terminate the contract.”
Jain has frequently complained that he has to support the 49ers’ requests because the contracts between the team and the City are weak in his opinion.
But since he has been in office, Jain has never recommended changing, amending, or terminating the 49ers’ contract.
In 2020, the team spent approximately $1 million to help elect Jain to the City Council. Since then, he’s voted for all their requests even if it meant the loss of millions of dollars to the City.
Jain made a motion to terminate the Franklin Mall contract. But City staff said that would mean a loss of revenue to the City.
Jain could not get a second to his motion.
Jain then made a motion to approve the annual resolution with the Franklin Mall property owners as City staff recommended.
But Jain wants paid parking at Franklin Mall studied by City staff.
That would probably mean the loss of the Farmer’s Market on Saturday and more cars parking in the Old Quad neighborhood Monday through Friday.
That motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Lisa Gillmor abstained from the vote and did not participate in the discussion since she has her office at the Franklin Mall.
If it is true that the city pays for all of the cost of operating this parking lot then that is wrong.
The property owners of Franklin Square and the USPS should be paying for the parking lot costs or at least the vast majority of them.
Franklin Square is a shopping center that is owned privately and with privately owned businesses. It is not a park or a school or a library or community center. I do not know of any other shopping center that uses city land as a parking lot for free.
In downtown San Jose the city owned lots charge for parking. If Franklin Square landowners and business owners do not want patrons charged for parking then they should pay for them like other private property and business owners do.
[…] Santa Clara City Councilmember Suds Jain wants to charge for paid parking at Franklin Mall, he said at the April 30 City Council meeting. […]
All–taking a step back…
Why does an MIT graduate bag of manure engage in this forum? Methinks Suds is either a martyr or comfy in his seat for the next election.
Jed may have asked Suds to either fall on his sword or to engage this forum to DISTRACT us Citizens from the other criminals “Kevin Park,” “Raj Chahal,” and “Karen Hardy.” Notice that OUR attention is NOT on the other THREE 49er 5. Masked Bandit Park is silent. Raj and Hardy are keeping their heads down.
Could it be that Jed is worried that Park, Chahal, and Hardy are in a more ‘precarious’ position regarding electability???
Suds’ posting is not genuine. It advances nothing. Only a dummy would spew what was posted.
Let’s maintain focus on evil-doers Park, Chahal, and Hardy as well !!!
Suds like to use his elected office to settle his own personal vendettas. It’s bad enough he would sell someone else’s soul for his green agenda.
Suds is learning many tricks from his gangster mentor and financier, Jed York.
Suds has been a Milk Dud for Santa Clara and his own district.
I wonder if Lisa’s office wasn’t there if this would be an issue for him. I am amazed at the issues he feels are important. Hasn’t he figured out that they don’t work for the citizens of Santa Clara. How about working on the millions the niners owe us Jud. Do that and you could get your name on a parking space!!!
I would like to say that Mr. Jain is being intellectually dishonest. But there’s not intellectual about his stream of consciousness diatribe.
If you read carefully, Mr. Jain doesn’t contest any of Mr. Haugh’s reporting.
If the parking lot, is public property than the shop owners are making a voluntary contribution. The key word is voluntary. The City is actually lucky that they do. Now, they may decide not to do so because of Mr. Jain’s stupidity.
Wade Brummell spoke 6 times about the guarantee of free parking at Franklin Square during 1970s and 1989s
Scrubs,
I haven’t fully digested your screed.
But you say: “Owners property taxes have been kept extremely low per Prop13.”
EXTREMELY LOW? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!
By implication, your Mission is drive TAXES **UP** on the Mission City! Only ELITISTS aim to drive taxes up on citizens of our beloved Santa Clara. Do you not know that Santa Clarans are hurting financially?
Given your remarks, I challenge you to donate $100,000 to our Police Department.
You won’t. Guaranteed.
Wow, Robert Haugh continues to serve his benefactor, Lisa Gillmor, playing loose with the facts in his usual practice. I have complained many times about the deals with the 49ers, contracts that Gillmor moved and voted for in 2012. Contracts that clearly she didn’t understand like for example the demolition reserve and the funding waterfalls. I have complained about the fixed $4 surcharge on non-NFL tickets that are solely at the discretion of the 49ers and that they raise without consulting the City. I have asked to have the contracts changed but that’s something Haugh is happy to misinform his readers about. By the way, Gillmor has only spoken to Robert Haugh once ever on Aug 13, 2018 according to her public calendar which also doesn’t report many meetings with Kirk Vartan.
Now concerning the Franklin Mall, only the non-City owners can vote to decide how much they want to contribute to maintaining the Mall and electricity and water usage. The City has no power here. Owners used to provide 75% of the maintenance costs starting in 1995 (Resolution 6105) and owners actually paid more than 82% prior to that. But then they “got greedy” and decided that they had no legal obligation to contribute and so they voted to stop contributing. That’s over $100K per year that the City is missing out on that could go to support Youth Sports like PAL which needs only $17K to cover field costs. Staff has been recommending dissolution of the maintenance district since July 2002. Owners property taxes have been kept extremely low per Prop13. For example, APN 269-22-108 which is 8500 square feet in the Mall is assessed at only $882K and APN 269-22-098 which is 7446 square feet is assessed at only $301K (land and improvements).
Interestingly Kirk Vartan in a Sept 13, 2022 post on this blog:” I am actually a fan of paid parking, since free parking subsidies auto travel … but where commerce is done (Convention Center or downtown areas), I do think it should be in place”
Hey do gooder suds! Did you change the contracts in August 2022? Are you going to change the contracts today? Don’t you have a sleazy meeting today to settle another 49er created debacle?
BTW! Does DT Sunnyvale, Mountain View or Campbell charge to park? Look at all the great business they do.
There’s a post office in that area for crying out loud! Isn’t it illegal to charge for parking at the post office? I pay for my PO Box now I have to pay to check my mail? And what about the Street Dance? Once again destroying the good of our beloved city.
Whiskey Taylor Foxtrot snd more!
Suds,
You wrote: “I have asked to have the contracts changed but that’s something Haugh is happy to misinform his readers about.” Please tell me when and how you did this and I will write about it.
You wrote: “By the way, Gillmor has only spoken to Robert Haugh once ever on Aug 13, 2018.” The last time I interacted with Lisa Gillmor was when I went to a press conference at City Hall that year. That date sounds about right. She has responded to emails when I’ve asked the entire Council to respond to a question. But we haven’t spoken.
A review of Suds’ screed is as follows:
“I have complained many times…..”
“I have complained about the fixed $4 surcharge…”
“I have asked to have the contracts changed…..”
“Staff has been recommending dissolution……” (blame others).
Where does he assert his accomplishment for the betterment of Santa Clara?
Zip. Nada. Nothing. Big Zero.
Suds is an outlandish Karen. “Complain” and do not solve issues. Sad and unhinged. He is a distraction to shield others of the 49er 5.
This is all part of the 49ers Playbook on how to completely take over our City. The 49ers don’t care even a little bit about Franklin Mall.
Jain does not care about Franklin Mall. Our own residents have had mixed emotions about this area, ever since the early 1960’s. By all accounts, it either should have never been started, or it should have been allowed to be finished.
All I do know is….. the 49ers love Chaos.
Why? Real simple,
While we are discussing these parking fee’s we are not looking at or discussing how the 49ers are screwing our City at every possible opportunity. Not a smart business move for our City, brilliant on the 49ers part. Just keep starting small garbage can fires all over the city, just so everyone is running around busy putting out those fires. However in the mean time you are raking in millions and millions of dollars while no one is looking at you.
So if we just take a minute and break down what I believe Suds Jain is really trying to say.
1. He wants our City to make money.
2. He feels that this part of our City is a “Black Hole” for lost revenue.
3. He really wants our City to be prosperous.
So if all of that is true, why is he not focused on getting the millions currently owed to our City from the 49ers. Instead he thinks it’s a better use of time to just step over the millions currently owed to us to search for a few hidden pennies.
Brilliant
Suds Jain will tell you he is a really intelligent person. The scary part is, he might actually be the smartest one of the current “49er 5”.
The term, “A Low Bar” is in play here. And I know some of the 49er 5 actually might think that is a name for a new Bar in town. Sad, but you also know I am not that far off here.
My suggestion is focus on the solution, not the problem.
1. Get the 49ers to pay what they owe us.
2. Then Vote out anyone who is not for the betterment of our City.
In years past, I think even Suds Jain would agree with me on those two points.
Burt Field
Since 1974 Gillmor cannot vote on franklin square.
Al Ruffo who founded 49ers still has property there
Suds= ninny
Suds only cares if it benefits him or his benefactor the 49ers. Screw the stupid little people. Frick the downtown! Who’s gonna wanna build when no one will pay to park there? Have fun neighbors when you can’t park in front of your house ‘cause no one wants to pay for parking. Bye bye DT Precise Plan! Bye bye theatre! Bye bye destination and placemaking! The best thing folks can do is say bye bye to Suds the Destroyer!
Sud’s continues to show his true colors. He wants more city money to spend so tax the little people. He does that by taxing the businesses and is fine suggesting they could just “raise their prices” It seems likely he doesn’t do the shopping or he would not be so caviler about raising prices.
I agree the the deal with the Franklin Mall and the City is a sketchy at best, but Suds has such a hatred for Lisa he will do anything to get at her.
Clearly this is the wrong approach.
If this takes place, Suds will have to pay for parking to spy on Lisa.
Suds Jain has turned this blog into the most influential publication. Jain
Secret meetings with 49ers
Harassment of Lisa
Two idiotic charter changes which LOST by landslides
Sale of Loyalton
Inductment if public records act
Now Jain wants to destroy the only diwbtown economic area.
People drive FAMILIES TO FRANKLIN SQUARE
Does Jain walk to City Hall? Take the bus to Vta?