By Robert Haugh
Last night, the Council approved working with San Jose, Cupertino and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) on a Stevens Creek Corridor Study. The goal is to figure out new and better transit options for the busy corridor.
But the cities and the VTA don’t have the staff and resources for this. So they’ll need grants for a study. After that, they’ll need a plan to fund something. Maybe Elon Musk and the Boring Company want to help Silicon Valley commuters. (Hint, hint).
Councilwoman Teresa O’Neill promoted the move. She’s also the Chair of the VTA.
But O’Neill could not convince her colleagues to work with San Jose on an “Innovation Zone” near our border. This idea was promoted by San Jose Vice Mayor Chappie Jones. But Jones and his staff couldn’t say what would be tested in the zone or what ideas companies had proposed. It sounded like they were hiding something or they were a little clueless. So the Council punted the decision to January when they look at Council priorities. But they didn’t sound too interested in the idea. And they’ll want a lot more info from Jones and San Jose.
Charter Amendment
The Council approved the ballot language that was recommended by the Charter Review Committee to create 3 council districts with 2 councilmembers each. The vote was 4-2, with Vice Mayor Patty Mahan and Councilwoman Karen Hardy opposed. Councilman Raj Chahal was on vacation.
Some members of the public who opposed the Charter Review Committee’s recommendation suggested the Council and City staff were biased and racist. (We saw those charges, too, during the 2018 advisory vote campaign. Some racist comments were sent to this site).
But there were strong rebuttals from the Council majority. Councilwomen Kathy Watanabe and Debi Davis made excellent personal statements about the biracial families. So did City Attorney Brian Doyle who also talked about his biracial family.
City Clerk Hosam Haggag was criticized, too, by Santa Claran Wesley Mukoyama. Mukoyama is one of the plaintiffs who sued the City using the California Voting Rights Act.
But Haggag delivered a strong statement about the integrity of the charter review process. And he reminded everyone that he ran successfully city-wide as a member of a non-white “protected class.”
It’s a shame that some people, including elected officials, have made this an issue about racism. I’ve lived in Santa Clara for 35 years. The Mission City is diverse and welcomes everyone. In fact, it’s racially and economically integrated, not segregated. That’s why Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Thomas Kuhnle had to play with the numbers and the district lines so much to come up with his ruling. That’s why some political experts think Santa Clara will win a court appeal.
I’m glad the Council decided to appeal Kuhnle’s ruling. To accept it would be to accept the argument that we’re racist in our voting. We’re not. But that doesn’t mean the opponents won’t argue we are again during this coming election.
The good thing is that this ballot language is much simpler. 2018 was confusing. And the City’s communication effort was weak. Let’s hope it’ll be better this year. Then, we can create new districts that work well for Santa Clara.
Editor’s Note: At the end of the meeting, Doyle announced that the 49ers have sued the City again. This is their seventh lawsuit. They believe the City can’t take away their purchasing authority after they got caught for wage theft. We’ll write more about this issue soon.
[…] lawsuit, Santa Clarans have been accused of being racists in our voting. We’re not. Last Tuesday, it came up again. But Councilwomen Debi Davis and Kathy Watanabe, City Attorney Brian Doyle and City Clerk Hosam […]
Your opinion is no better or worse than anyone else.
Respect is earned!
The city clerk, the city attorney didn’t answer my question yet councilmember Hardy reiterated my question to the same deaf ears.
Why is it that smaller cities than ours have more districts with less population ? That is the pink elephant in the room no one will answer
And legally I thought a judges orders were to be followed …..which means in the charter language it will mention the overruling by the judge with date and the remedy
On the other hand councilmember Mahan asked a valid question why not give people a choice do you want 3 or 6 ? It’s like asking do you like chocolate or vanilla ice cream choose one and majority wins
Why can’t it be simpler ?
And the charter review I feel was rigged from beginning
When u have councilmembers select these members with their agendas in mind that committee will vote what that member wants them to support. Their were two independent thinkers there and It seemed that way from the beginning but that is my opinion that…. is something I am at least entitled to.
When councilmember Davis said we are “fighting for your rights“ (no offense councilmember Davis) I ask what voting rights ? when a select few can decide the fate of the city not the people on such a major issue like this and backtracking on number of districts? That draws raised eyebrows…I think council and many other elected leaders forget, You work for us we don’t work for you
What is sad is that certain members of the council shun people like me or other outsiders to discuss pros and cons …. for example you say something against their plan and you are enemy #1 , therefore they are not open to dialogue.
What is beautiful about america is we can agree and disagree in the same sentence and respect each other. I practice this and I love to have a better open dialogue because I often want to know reasons behind their decision process ? But I am usually met with a brick wall.
I’d say 4 members currently on council have open ears to me and many others just not who runs in their circles. You guess those 4
You forgot to mention that Patty Mahan and her sister worked with the plaintiffs to sue Santa Clara. They’re going to work against the City again. They are shameful!