By Robert Haugh
It looks like Anthony Becker really wanted the Santa Clara Police Officers Association (POA) endorsement before he didn’t want it.
Becker sent out a press release on Monday, September 19, 2022, declining the endorsement because he could not “pledge to protect the elected police chief.”
But that’s not the whole story or maybe even the real story.
On Friday, September 15, 2022, Becker texted POA President Jeremy Schmidt that he had no problem with the POA’s questionnaire and would try to send it to him during the weekend.
Becker didn’t make his deadline. But on Monday, September 19, he seemed really excited about an interview.
Instead of a “few mins,” Becker emailed Schmidt his POA questionnaire a couple of hours later at 11:03 am.
But 43 minutes later, Becker changed his mind.
A couple of hours later, Becker sent out his press release.
It’s not the first time, Santa Clara News Online has written about Becker suddenly and weirdly changing his mind.
Becker did a similar thing two years ago when he was Planning Commission Chair and running for City Council.
Becker testified on behalf of a developer getting an exclusive negotiating agreement for the CalTrain property.
Then less than an hour later, Becker posted his opposition to it on Facebook.
Maybe Becker is just being consistent about being inconsistent.
Let me get this article straight. SCNews is suggesting that Becker wanted POAs endorsement and then provides as evidence Becker giving have hearted answers showing little urgency to fill out a questionnaire, a remark about “penciling in an interview”, and overall lack of enthusiasm in doing anything for POA beyond lip service responses as “wanting an endorsement”. If anything your own article provides evidence that Becker appeared to have no real enthusiasm for endorsement beyond giving polite replies.
Shame on this new organization for such a terrible headline and motivated article writing.
Between a real estate mogul who has no interest in making real estate affordable for Santa Clarans and a candidate in the pocket of the 49ers the voters of Santa Clara have the fun of choosing between two weak candidates. Wonderful
Justin,
I agree that this article is not making the point it tries to make and even if it did it is not an important point to make.
I do not think that Gillmor has a mission to have much more affordable housing built in our city. And neither does Becker. Becker and Gillmor both voted to delay voting on the one hundred percent affordable housing project near city hall.
Becker is the one who is always talking about how he understands the pain of people struggling to make rent and the need for affordable housing but it is all talk.
He is all talk. Mostly negative campaigning against Gillmor with nothing to say about what he would have done differently. By he is the one with the council majority running the show for two years.
For the benefit of Jed York and the Forty Niners. So much for all his empty talk about sympathy for the common man.
I have some issues with Gillmor but she is needed as mayor to be a voice and an eye against Forty Niners control over our city council. She is also the one of the two who has a very deep history of professional and civic experience.
According to the “Santa Clara Police Association Political Action Committee” FPPC Form 460 electronic filing dated 7/28/2021, the PAC received a total of $285,000 from Related Santa Clara in the 2020 election year and spent a total of $325,496 on Santa Clara elections including $20,749 to oppose me. A union with a PAC that spends heavily to support some candidates and to oppose others.
Deny and deflect Suds. In MY opinion, you have changed. I personally think it is sad. If you really think the 49ers are not your master, you should be spending every penny you get from private contributions to put out that message.
That’s for the PAC. This was for the union endorsement. Nice try.
…words that you will soon be heaing again in a much more serious proceeding!
Suds, since you brought up PACS in the 2020 election, let’s look further into that. The same FPPC form 460 electronic filings for your district alone shows that the PAC funded by Jed York and the 49ers spent over $700,000 supprting you and over $150,000 against your opponent.
You have the audacity to to say “A union with a PAC that spends heavily to support some candidates and to oppose others.” While in fact you, Park, and Becker were financed by a private billionaire for millions more. Is this why you do the 49ers bidding? Have you sold your soul? The answer is most likely yes.
Well anyway it appears that the legal walls are closing in, remember Suds, it’s the first one that cooperates who gets the deal, which one of the “49er five” will be that rat.
Suds Jain the Prime Mover of the 2.9 million the 49ers dumped in 2020 is lecturing on Related money to the POA.
Akin to Putin talking about Ukranian ties to Russian History.
As someone who fought the POA in 2 major election and one Chief’s election, I have grown to respect them as a worthy opponent. The union seperate from the PAC does a remarkble job for its members.
I am the recepient of SC Police and Fire saving my life. I was in a brutal accident in 2011, the police and fire saved my life. The POA Pac people even sent me flowers to my hospital room despite our differences. Suds Jain gave Santa Clara Plays 300 bucks in 2010. The treasurer of Jain’s group used to see me and call out “hey broadside” (shows you how mature suds and his group are). The fact that Related gives money seems to fascinate Suds and Becker no end. Well, though i have written several opinion pieces opposing the project, I find it normal that any large project would give money. It is logical. Now with the 49ers giving 2.9 million in 2020, paying 800 a vote for Becker, the remarkable attitude of Jain is akin to the call girl seeking the end to the red light district.
How much did the 49ers pay in 2020 to get you elected?
Even with you lying to constituents about being able to vote on “downtown” and SCU related projects. Plus don’t forget your conflict of interest with cal train related matters as well.
Why Bong Becker and Suds corrupt and headed to court?
Because THEY KNEW CIVIL GRAND JURY HAD ISSUES WITH THE SECRET MEETINGS IN MAY 2021!!!!
They got emails regarding civil grand jury interest in May of last year!!
Suds the whiner again.
Look can Robert Haugh, or Kirk Vartan. Or Burt Field, or Howard Myers address this
The 2022 49er attack Committee on Lisa Gillmor is now close to 1.1million. I am terrible at math. Can someone else analyze the difference between 20K and ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!
Who cares what Related does Suds? You are corrupt politician backed by a corrupt San Francisco corporation. What’s the difference?
It looks like the 49er Five are going to get a little schooling on ethics. Hopefully behind bars for stealing from the residents and the city.
Oh what a tangled web we weave when we struggle to deveive!
Why do Park Jain Becker have to meet with 49ers all together once a week???
Gillmor has favored POA years. Well known
So???
If they meet with her, it is Gillmor only.
234 cpra requests have been om Gillmor from 1992 to 2000, 2011 to 2022.
She never whined about one.
Suds,
Santa Clara is the ONLY city in Santa Clara? You are correct.
Here is the pledge that the POA asked all candidates to sign. Remember the POA is a lobbying organization that endorses candidates and pays for flyers on behalf of those candidates, presumably to reap benefits from those candidates. It seems to me that the decision about an elected or appointed Chief of Police should offered to our residents — remember Santa Clara is the ONLY city in Santa Clara with an elected chief of police and neither of our assistant chiefs of police are eligible for the Chief of Police position unless they change residence:
============================================
Pledge to Protect the Elected Chief of Police
I support the right of Santa Clara voters to elect the Santa Clara Chief of Police.
It’s a unique and rare privilege that is part of Santa Clara’s distinctive social fabric. Our residents have a strong bond with our Police Department because Santa Clarans feel an elected Chief of Police is responsible directly to them. The connection between the Police Chief and the community has helped create our police department’s culture which is highly respected in California and the nation.
This pledge communicates to Santa Clarans that I believe strongly enough in their ability to elect a Police Chief, a right enshrined in our City’s Charter, that I publicly oppose efforts to eliminate it.
Candidate Questionnaire
1. The Santa Clara Police Officer’s Association firmly believes that Santa Clara voters have the right to elect the Police Chief as enshrined in the City’s Charter. Will you agree to sign the attached Pledge to Protect the Elected Chief of Police? Please offer your opinion on this topic.
Suds, the POA is the Police Officer’s Association, a union, not a lobbying organization. It is worrisome that you would refer to them as such.
And the people have spoken and voted on this issue several times. We like it this way. We are the only City doing it right.
It seems Suds is the councilmember who placed a request to discuss the elected police chief on an agenda. Why? What does Jed want now? Control of public safety? Even after getting slammed with some egregious articles about a civil grand jury investigation Suds still can’t let his allegiance to Jed York go. Sad. Very sad.
Is anyone reading the new grand jury report on the five. Check todays merc
Yeah, 49ers claim all the grand jury members go to St Justins. Wow Rahul and Suds hate Catholics.
An even better article is the Chronicle piece:
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/Grand-Jury-report-Santa-Clara-City-Council-17493830.php
Notice how Stalker Suds avoids the Grand Jury. POA is a union. They are quite good. I opposed them many times, but I still respect them as an excellent advocate for their members.
The Hon Theodore Zayner
Presiding Judge
Santa Clara County Superior Court
Your Honor
Be Advised
Suds Jain
Anthony Becker
Rahul Chandhok
Are Accusing You and Members of Civil Grand Jury of conspiring in church with Teresa ONeill to attack the 49ers.
You know well what to do
So read the SJNightlight…oh SJSpotlight. So as someone who has served on a GJ in the past and interviewed witnesses why is Karen Hardy talking to the Spotlight after interviewing with GJ? Big no no. Then again she’s being investigated by the FPPC. Explains a lot.
Dana, in my short interactions with this Confused, Angry, misguided “40 Whiner” stooge, I think you are giving him way too much credit.
When this “Wannabe” Mayor reads on the back of a laundry detergent bottle, and it tells him to “Rinse and Repeat”, I think his first reaction is to grab his “Bong” and do his best to clean out the old water to get ready for another big day at the office.
Then, go to “Work”.
Blame the Mayor for whatever is in the news that day. Global Warming, War in Ukraine, World Money Markets etc.
Read the daily mailers (internet, tv, radio adds as well) that come out telling us how great he is… and how stupid we would be if we actually voted for anyone else.
Remind everyone (Again) that he has ever taken a Dime from the “40 Whiners.
Burt Field
burt.field@gmail.com
Tory, fascinating question.
I will dare something outrageous
Santa Clara could go on with Kathy or Raj as Mayor if the fantastic Mayor it has,LIsa Gillmor, was not there. But the thought of Becker sitting in the Mayor’s Office smoking his bong , gorging on fruit pies while Suds was planning to make the Carmelite Monastery a five story housing project is too horrible.
He knew he would not receive the endorsement so attempted to spin it as if he turned it down. Clown….
Greetings District 6 Councilperson,
Did you leak that report to your PR Firm ? I have a strong inclination that you did.
Clearly his handlers told him how to think.
Elected vs appointed is not a hot topic anywhere but his meetings with the 49ers.
Interesting logic in his press release regarding the democratic process. So he’s going to protect the democratic process by eliminating it?!
Robert another interesting time stamp is when the SVV published their article on the matter. Just another example of them salivating to be Bicker’s PR firm.
Becker also turned down a chance to apply to be the Physics Chair of Cambridge as he opposes quantum mechanic theory.
HE WASNT GOING TO GET IT.
Most likely Jed and the Niners or Patty had a different idea. You can’t blame the big egg head, he’s just a pawn. Perhaps he’s always angry because he doesn’t agree with his bosses. Either way he’s completely incompetent.
Do you know Suds Jain wants to send people into the neighborhoods to advise people on their electrical use? Shades of Marxism. Suds wants city employees to warn people not to watch tv or wash clothes at noon. You want this? Soviet Suds and Mayor Becker the Bong Boy. Gillmor. I support about 57 percent of Lisa’s views, BUT SHE FUNDAMENTALLY IS A SANTA CLARAN!!! That is what you get with Lisa as Mayor, true Santa Clara governance. Becker the Bong Boy and Soviet Suds is alternative
To be honest I don’t know what is meant by ‘protect the police chief’ but don’t have the context. Are they talking about protecting the office to remain elected? Without knowing the context, hard to have an opinion. But what is becker so busy doing? And how long is the questionnaire?
The POA wanted a commitment to not change the City charter to make the police chief to an appointed position from an elected position. He wound not doing that. Jed said no