By Robert Haugh
The 49ers have made a “best and final” offer to settle their lawsuit against the City of Santa Clara for public safety costs.
And they say the deal expires on Friday, April 19. That’s the last business day before Vice Mayor Anthony Becker’s trial starts on Monday, April 22.
The story was reported by San Jose Spotlight, a 49er-friendly publication.
Becker is part of the 49er Five. They’ve supported the team on every major request, even if it meant a loss for the City. Here’s a short list:
- changing the curfew,
- firing the City Manager,
- firing the City Attorney,
- paying for replacing Levi’s Stadium signage,
- settling a 2022 lawsuit that was considered a big giveaway to the team.
According to some Santa Clara political observers, the team can’t afford to lose Becker. He has been their strongest supporter and biggest cheerleader.
If Becker is found guilty, he will be immediately removed from the City Council. He could serve up to four years in prison.
Becker was charged with leaking a Grand Jury report to the 49ers and lying about it, a felony perjury.
Santa Clara may be watching a replay of the settlement of a previous lawsuit.
In the 2022 lawsuit, the 49ers also said it was their “best and final offer.”
And The 49er Five gave them what they wanted.
But the numbers didn’t add up to a win for Santa Clara.
It was “funny money,” according to Dr. Thomas Shanks, former executive director of Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. He was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle after reviewing the 2022 settlement details when they were made public.
Soon after the 2022 lawsuit was settled in the 49ers’ favor, the team set up independent expenditure committees to help elect Councilmembers Karen Hardy and Raj Chahal. The two were running for reelection. The 49ers spent a combined total of approximately $2 million to help them.
They also set up a committee to help Becker who was running for Mayor. The 49ers spent approximately $2.5 million to help him.
This November, Becker is not expected to be running for reelection. But Councilmembers Suds Jain and Kevin Park are. The team has spent millions of dollars to help Jain and Park in the past. It’ll be interesting to see if they do so again after this legal settlement.
This is a developing story. And it sounds like a familiar one.
[…] deadline is believed by many to make sure that indicted City Councilmember Anthony Becker can vote on the settlement before his […]
[…] team is looking for Becker to be a key vote to settle a lawsuit this month regarding public safety costs that the 49ers do not want to […]
“Best and Final Offer.” Ha! Another factual basis of “impropriety,” if so accepted.
All kidding aside from the April fools edition, it is reported that Tony has a co-counsel as reflected in a snapshot of the public judicial docket below.
Cynically, there are yet unexplained reasons for THIS co-counsel. Yet perhaps the following facts are merely a coincidence.
Contextually….
…..“For good generals do not attack in open battle where the danger is mutual, but do it always from a hidden position, so as to kill or at least terrorize the enemy while their own men are unharmed as far as possible.”— Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus (400-500 AD).
……One interpretation: “For good generals of corporate strength (49ers), public strength (judges and the judiciary), and legal strength (high profile law firms) do not attack in open battle (in public discourse) where any danger may afflict them individually, they must do so from a ‘hidden position…’ while their own men (Anthony Becker) are unharmed as far as possible.”
Observances….
Why does a legal expert in “digital currency and blockchain” step in—as “co-counsel”—to represent a city councilperson in a local governmental corruption matter?
And why does the Judge in Becker’s case have SIMILAR legal backgrounds and experiences as the “co-counsel?” Do they flow in similar social or professional circles? Coincidence? Perhaps.
Methinks there is a yet to be identified link between the two that “serendipitously” aligned against the legal matter between the State of California and Becker. Perhaps “one” hopes that co-counsel may ‘ingratiate’ oneself with the trier of fact and law.
…..First, co-counsel is identified (see below) as Grant P. Fondo, claims to have the following professional experience: “Grant served for nearly five years as an ASSISTANT US ATTORNEY in the Northern DISTRICT of California, where he focused on prosecuting WHITE COLLAR CRIME, including investment, BANK, financial, HEALTH CARE and SECURITIES FRAUD, DRUG TRAFFICKING and MONEY LAUNDERING.”
https://www.goodwinlaw.com/en/people/f/fondo-grant
…..Second, Judge Elizabeth C. Peterson has a STRIKINGLY similar legal background and experience. “Elizabeth Peterson . . . [had a] practice focused on WHITE COLLAR criminal defense, government and internal investigations, and SECURITIES litigation. . . . Elizabeth previously served as an ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY for the DISTRICT of Minnesota, where she . . . obtained experience in multiple areas of criminal law, including MONEY LAUNDERING; BANK, mail, and wire FRAUD; NARCOTICS and . . . ILLEGAL PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.”
See public information regarding Elizabeth Peterson.
…..A test for the appearance of impropriety that might arise in this matter is whether a person aware of the facts might reasonably entertain a doubt that the JUDGE would be able to act with integrity, impartiality, and competence. “Public confidence in the judiciary is eroded by irresponsible or improper conduct by judges. A judge must avoid all impropriety and appearance of impropriety.” Cal. R. Ct. Canon 2 (as amended through January 19, 2024).
See, e.g., https://www.judicialethicsopinions.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/CJEO-Annotated-California-Code-of-Judicial-Ethics.pdf
The POSTPONEMENT by Judge Elizabeth Peterson from March 4 to April 22 (after city elections of March 5) is possibly viewed as an impropriety. Santa Clarans cannot tolerate further improprieties or appearances thereof.
…..A POSSIBLE legal/professional/personal link between co-counsel and judge?
…..Not known. BUT>>>>>>
***** The 49ers legal team includes Sean Kunda.
See: https://apps.calbar.ca.gov/attorney/Licensee/Detail/252410
(Address of employment: San Francisco 49ers, 4949 Marie P Debartolo Way, Santa Clara, CA)
See also: https://gould.usc.edu/news/career-touchdown/
(“Kundu remains CLOSE to classmates who are also in the tech sector, [######], who’s product counsel at [#####], and [] An-Yen Hu ’07, a [former] partner at Goodwin Procter.”)
Might “close friends” between 49er and current (and former) Goodwin lawyers provide such a connection? If so, might Jed York be discreetly funding co-counsel in this matter?
All of this is mere speculation and coincidence–or is it?
But the above are provable facts!
There are more “dots” to be connected. And those dots will be connected in the future. Especially when viewed through the lens of corrupted city councilpersons—the 49er 5—paid-for by Jed York.
–Oh what a tangled web we weave–When first we practice to deceive–
C2304770
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA vs. BECKER, ANTHONY
Case Information
Case Type: Public Indictment
Case Number: C2304770
Filing Date: 4/13/2023
Case Status: Active
Court Location: Hall of Justice
Representing………………..….First Name……Middle Name……..….Last Name
ANTHONY BECKER…………………………………….……………………………..PUBLIC DEFENDER
ANTHONY BECKER…………..Grant…………….…Philip…………………….Fondo
See:….https://traffic.scscourt.org/search/party?firstName=Anthony&lastName=Becker
NOTE(!): NOT all listings relate to ‘Anthony Joseph Becker’ so PLEASE be mindful to limit the discussion to the current matter.
Mr. Haugh,
Thank you for providing this forum.
In the morass of commentary at Silicon Valley Der Stürmer, there is a language reciting “Mayor Lisa Gillmor is doing just that when she Tweets links to Santa Clara’s Safe Space for Bigots, fired Weekly employee and former 49ers leading cheerleader (along with Gillmor) Robert Haugh’s blog.”
If, as implied, that you were ‘fired’ from Silicon Valley Der Stürmer, you are better for it.
As Groucho Marx stated so elegantly… “I refuse to join any club that would have me…”
Keep up the good fight–for us Santa Clarans.
After many decades of watching people, I have learned that crooks become arrogant. They believe they are smarter than everyone else and each time they get away with something it reenforces their belief that they will never get caught. The more they are convinced of this the more likely they are due for a fall. The harder the niners push for this, the more obvious their corruption becomes.
Wow—responsive to SVV.
Flabbergasted in response to Jed’s propagandist machine.
I truly wish I could learn something by venturing into that wasteland of thought. The latest “Editorial Board” statement at Silicon Valley Voice—is infused by all persons who write for that rag. The “Editorial Board” statement peppers the piece with words like “shameful,”
“browbeating,” “bullying,” “insults,” “harassing,” and other disparaging words. It also links to another “Editorial Board” statement (and web page) stating this forum is a “Safe Space for Bigots.” That link suggest that who post to this forum are “too bigoted, boorish, vulgar or infantile.”
Again. Wow.
I engaged in this platform after that date of the first reference and was unaware the hatred from Jed’s crew at Silicon Valley Voice.
Each of the two “Editorial Board” statements are just verbal vomit—no cogent or articulate argument other than in favor of their dark Lord Jed York. All mud-slinging. (My Opinion). As they say “If you have the facts on your side, pound the facts; if you have the law on your side, pound the law; if you have neither the facts nor the law, pound the table.”
What disgusts me the most—and now has opened the door to ALL criticism as response in ANY manner—is the nefarious use of the term “Big Lie.”
The “Editorial Board” statements use the term “Big Lie” as if Joseph Goebbels was on staff of the Editorial Board. “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth,” is a law of propaganda often attributed to the Nazi Joseph Goebbels.
I do find it a little bit out of bounds to link Mayor Lisa Gillmor to the “Big Lie.” Only Joesph Goebbels would propagate such a thought. I am not a supporter of Gillmor—only a supporter for those who fight for Santa Clarans.
I retire references to Silicon Valley Voice as Pravda. They deservedly earn the moniker “Silicon Valley Der Stürmer.”
Pat Flot once said to me that Santa Clara was never the same after Levis. She said as a disappointment not a conclusion of satifaction. What do you think?
Robert – Any chance you will Livestream the trial? I expect it will be the most watched since Jonny Depp’s trial.
I’m not an attorney but if the 49er Five give away the store again and then Jain and Park get money through an independent expenditure isn’t that illegal? It certainly is a quid pro quo.
If the city staff can’t or won’t take responsibility for this, would the Grand Jury or DA’s office or FBI?
(Please don’t disclose my personal email address. Thank you.)
Unfortunately it is not. But a formal request was made to day to postpone the vote
MayorandCouncil@santaclaraca.gov
Certainly seems quid pro quo. Then look at Chahal and Hardy. And the IEs filed after they screwed the City on August 31. And Becker’s big IE after he helped the cause. Don’t forget who voted to change curfew and were at 49ers game being lobbied the day before that vote. Chahal and Hardy-har-har! Oh, an FPPC complaint was filed by the former City attorney (that they voted to fire for no cause) against Chahal and Hardy. FPPC ruled not enough evidence! But where’s the outcry? PAY ATTENTION! The crap going on underneath your noses would blow you away! Santa Clarans have a voice, a vote and COMMON SENSE! Use it!
Just when you think this can’t get any stranger you get this????
If anyone in our current City Government thinks this is a good option, let me tell you, you are making a huge mistake.
You should do exactly what Becker’s own employer has done, and that’s to turn your back on him.
Read the room….if not you will be making a career ending decision.
Let the legal system take over, and run its course.
By the way….
“Orange is the New Black”
Burt Field
408.687.2522