By Robert Haugh
Tonight’s Council meeting includes many items. It’s likely going to be another very late night.
Here’s a short list of items:
- Closed session includes Public Employee Performance Evaluation of City Attorney Brian Doyle. The 49ers want Doyle gone. Will the pro-49er Council majority comply?
- Action on Silicon Valley Power Logo Temporary Redesign in Recognition of 125th Anniversary
- Recognize Local Youth Author Paarth Bansal
- Adopt a Resolution Establishing an Independent Redistricting Commission to Conduct Public Engagement and Adoption of City Council District Election Map as a Result of the 2020 U.S. Census
- Direction on the Next Steps for the El Camino Real Specific Plan
- Action on Amendment No. 4 to the Agreement for Professional Services with Perkins + Will for the Tasman East Specific Plan
- Consideration of Silicon Valley Power Quarterly Strategic Plan Update
- Action on a Written Petition submitted by Gabriela Landaveri Requesting the City of Santa Clara Adopt a “Vision Zero” Policy (Deferred from June 22, 2021)
- Action on a Written Petition Submitted by Councilmember Suds Jain Requesting to Place an Agenda Item at a Future Meeting to have a Policy Discussion on Data Centers (Deferred from June 22, 2021)
- Action on a Written Petition submitted by Ana Vargas-Smith to add an agenda item to consider financial and in-kind support for the Santa Clara Parade of Champions Plan A (Live Parade) or Plan B (Virtual Parade)
- Action on a Written Petition Submitted by Councilmember Kathy Watanabe Requesting to Place an Agenda Item at a Future Meeting to Discuss Preparation of a Letter from Mayor and Council to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission
I can understand your concern, and in a normal type situation, you may even get my attention.
This is not that time.
Currently in my opinion, the City of Santa Clara is under attack. I do not mean to be too dramatic, but using the analogy of comparing the City of Santa Clara to a sinking ship is not a huge stretch.
As I look around to see who is trying to bail us out, to keep us safe, Mr. Doyle is one of them. What’s great is he is not alone. Our Mayor, City Staff, City Manager and one City Council person are working so hard to keep our City from falling into that trap of us being a true company town.
So maybe our City Attorney made an error…. maybe.
By the way everyone makes mistakes….everyone.
My biggest mistake was helping to bring this “Carpet Bagging” group into our City.
So where should we be focused right now?
How about holding the 49ers accountable for what was agreed upon in Measure J just a few years ago.
Let’s ask the “Fab Five” what they think about that?
I’m also curious to hear what they must talk about in their private meetings with the 49ers. Are we not in current litigation with them?
Burt Field
Honestly if there’s a reason to remove Doyle it probably goes back to the stuff that went down with Rajeev Batra. Doyle’s (accurate) allegations that the agreement with Batra to be the acting city manager was a Brown Act violation are a pretty big deal, and there’s quite a bit of egg on his face for letting that happen. Same with the other related issues as far as Batra’s pension went.
City Attorneys exist to prevent lawsuits; Doyle seemed to be asleep at the wheel for that whole series of events.