By Robert Haugh
At the request of Mayor Lisa Gillmor and Councilmember Kathy Watanabe, the Santa Clara City Council will hold a special meeting to review the safety of Levi’s Stadium.
On Sunday, July 2, there was a serious stabbing at a CONCACAF soccer match between Mexico and Qatar. The assailant allegedly brought a large knife into Levi’s Stadium raising questions about security.
Two days later, Gillmor and Watanabe authored a request for the Council to agendize a special meeting. In their request, they highlighted some serious problems. Here’s the list from their memo:
- Fan violence, both inside and outside the stadium.
- Lack of neighborhood protection, including parking, noise, another unsavory behavior, leftover garbage, and nonexistent security.
- Illegal vendors outside the stadium, on public streets, and in the residential neighborhoods.
- Illegal activities, such as alcohol and other sales, disposing of garbage many times in front of Stadium security.
- Inoperative magnetometers at entrance to Stadium that resulted in Stadium security using a hand, won the screen ticket holders or ticket purchasers going to the box office.
Wow. If the magnetometers weren’t working, that might explain how the alleged assailant got a knife into the stadium.
In response to Gillmor and Watanabe’s concerns, City Staff is recommending an independent review of stadium security.
Police Chief Pat Nikolai spoke in support of Gillmor and Watanabe’s proposal.
He also supported an independent review.
“It’s going to show that the police department has a robust presence at the stadium and that we adhere to best practices” said Nikolai.
“I was very excited to hear the 49er representative on the call earlier because I believe they will probably be some recommendations for improvements for our safety partners (the 49ers).
“And I hope that those improvements can be implemented quickly and regardless of cost. The bottom line is that safety is the priority, not profits.”
The 49ers appear concerned about Levi’s Stadium’s reputation for safety especially with their new stadium manager Francine Melendez Hughes who has a poor safety record.
Even the 49er Five seemed concerned. They voted for the Gillmor and Watanabe proposal and it passed unanimously.
The meeting and review will like happen in September after the Council returns from its summer recess.
Editor’s Note: More information from the Council meeting will be reported later this week.
Hey dictionary boy. Again, you hide your name. Why? Apparently you don’t want anyone to know who you are for what reason? There are 153 officers in the SCPD. Now all of them can’t possibly be at a Levi’s event. I’m guessing we can agree on that. So the term “robust” is subjective. Is it robust? I’m not sure, but if the Chief thinks it is based on his available officers who are we to disagree? If 75 officers are at an event (they won’t tell us the numbers, nor should they) is that a robust presence based on the total officers in the SCPD? Every stadium has supplemental security in addition to the City’s primary police force. No city can spare an adequate number of officers for an event.
Clearly we are not going to agree and that’s fine.
I expect you will go back and continue hiding for a couple days and then pop back up to criticize under some made up name you think is clever.
It’s easy to hide, but for what reason? What are you afraid of and what are you hiding? I’ve seen this many times and it’s usually someone who has an agenda. I’m guessing yours has something to do with our elected Police Chief and furthering the 49er 5 effort to make it an appointed position. So you’re either a council member, an associate of one of them or someone from the 49ers. Otherwise you have ZERO reason to hide behind fake names.
I’m still here, using my real name.
Why does “unsound” hide who he or she really is? Perhaps he or she is one of the 49er 5 lackeys or just another fake account set up by one of their associates.
If you are going to criticize, have the guts not to hide who you are.
I suspect most readers easily saw how contradictory your previous comment is…
“First, SCPD cannot possibly cover every person at an event. This is why there is supplemental security. The 49ers are responsible for insuring that security equipment is operational and that those entering the stadium are properly screened. SCPD responds when notified to issues that arise during events.” – Dana Caldwell
Needing “supplemental” security indicates you believe SCPD was the primary security but was deficient.
sup·ple·ment n.
1. Something added to complete a thing, make up for a deficiency, or extend or strengthen the whole.
So which is it, Dana? Was (s) SCPD the primary security “supplemented” by private security or (b) are 49ers contractors primary security and SCPD just supplements them? Either way, I think we all agree that SCPD alone cannot be called a robust presence.
“I was very excited to hear the 49er representative on the call earlier because I believe they will probably be some recommendations for improvements for our safety partners (the 49ers).“ – Chief Nikolai
Jihad Beauchamp spoke but during public presentation so no one could ask him any questions.
Coward.
Ralph, Jihad Beauchman is the corporate counsel for the 49ers and ManCo. He isn’t allowed to take questions from the peanut gallery which includes people like you. Santa Clara’s City Attorney knows this as does the City Manager, Mayor, and City Council. Education is a good thing, you might want to consider looking into it.
Levi’s stadium is an armpit. This s*** hole has nothing redeeming or iconic at all. It is not a destination, and will never be one. It is a huge pile of cement. Skin cancer doctors should be handing out business cards at stadium events and advertising on the huge scoreboard. Most events bring a large contingent of out of control and drink punks from out of town.
The 49er 5 alone have blindly followed, colluded, and condoned the 49er’s every wish.
It is so sickening and disgusting hearing the total lie from the 49er 5’s mouths each time they cry from the dais they never took a dime from the 49ers for political contributions. Such disingenuous bullshit they say with a straight face. I don’t know how.
Now, the 49er 5 are trying to eliminate the annual garbage pickup, our elected police chief and city clerk. There are so many other things that desperately need their attention. One would think they have a citizen mandate regarding doing away with elected police chief and the annual cleanup campaign, yet over and over again in different polls surveys and studies, these are extremely popular things with Santa Clara citizens. Why, why, why are they voting against the wishes of the majority of Santa Clara citizens they are supposed to represent???
It is unconscionable that the majority of our city council allows an indicted city council member to continue voting on incredibly important decisions that will affect our city for decades after a potential jail term is completed and the others are termed out. Exhibit A is the recent city council’s disgracing embarrassment, led by Anthony Becker, to humiliate and remove a wonderful long time Santa Clara citizen who served for years honorably as a parks and rec commissioner, out spite and political vindictiveness. What a mockery that was and there been so many more. We also don’t know if the DA is going to bring any more charges against Becker or anybody else, so today’s votes by the 49er 5 may have more impact than we realize.
How long before our new city attorney and new city manager realize the grass is really not greener on the other side??
And to the 49ers ownership and management who undoubtedly read this column, How about doing something in good faith for the city of Santa Clara, for once, such as contribute towards the rebuilding the International Swim Center??
Since “Unsound” hides behind a fake name with their accusations and simply quotes the dictionary. Let’s take a deeper look.
First, SCPD cannot possibly cover every person at an event. This is why there is supplemental security. The 49ers are responsible for insuring that security equipment is operational and that those entering the stadium are properly screened. SCPD responds when notified to issues that arise during events.
In addition, it is my understanding that SJPD is now also assisting with security at the stadium. This can only help.
I have full confidence in our Chief and the SCPD to address any deficiencies in cooperation with the 49ers.
There will always be issues at stadium events due to alcohol sales and those who are loaded up with liquid courage. It’s the preparation by law enforcement and supplemental security that ensures the safety of those in attendance.
Dana Caldwell
(Not a fake name)
“With dictionaries, unknown words become solvable mysteries. Why leave them up to guesswork?” Rachel del Valle, New York Times
Dana, first: your comment did not take a “deeper look” at anything. Second: I didn’t quote the dictionary, I leveraged it to baseline a conversation. The term in question is “robust” as proclaimed by Patrick Nikolai. Your contentions “SCPD cannot cover every…”, “SCPD responds when notified…”, and “SCPD to address any deficiencies…” indicates that you acknowledge Santa Clara Police Department did not have a robust presence at the stadium during the event in discussion.
SCPD might have had a reactive response but they did not have a robust presence and they certainly don’t have a proactive, capable, police chief.
Is there a chance more than 7 people watched the meeting?? Tell Park
…Hoping the Council can come together on this matter. The community needs consideration, needs help!
Nice thought. Wishful thinking.
The 49er 5 have plenty of time for
meetings until September. They
will have their own plan and
agenda in place come
September.
“It’s going to show that the police department has a robust presence at the stadium and that we adhere to best practices” said Nikolai.
ro·bust adj.
1. Powerfully built; sturdy: a robust body.
2. Requiring or characterized by much strength or energy.
3. Working in an effective way; effective or productive.
4. Substantial in amount.
un·sound adj.
1. Not dependably strong or solid.
2. Not physically or mentally healthy.
3. Not true or logically valid; fallacious:
If the police presence was so ‘robust’ I imagine Nikolai will have plenty of video showing officers actively engaged to break up the fighting. Multiple videos posted online reveal unsound security practices which is the basis for the external investigation. Regardless, Nikolai will clumsily walk into this meeting blaming everything on the 49ers.
Bad argument, Bub. This debacle is on manco, landmark security and the infamous Francine. Francine Hughes who has tons of experience in security in venues worldwide from 2019-2023! Yeah, is she a seasonal employee? One sport, one season, one venue = no frickin experience to manage security at Levi’s. And don’t forget Dodger Stadium and Brian Stowe. That’s on her too.
@ David N.: You just proved my comment is a good argument. You literally replied with the same type of response the SCPD PIO, Nikolai, and SCPOA will inevitably produce: “It was all ManCo’s, Landmark’s, and Francine’s fault…SCPD officers on site were in the backroom sleeping when the melee went down. For that, we’re entitled to and demand another 10% raise.”