By Robert Haugh
Last night, the Santa Clara City Council and residents got a look at the City’s latest survey that’s testing a potential infrastructure bond measure for the November ballot.
There were some surprising numbers – and not in a good way.
Tulchin Research surveyed 400 registered Santa Clara voters from April 1-4. The margin of error for the survey is 4.9 percent.
Mission City residents see the City going in the wrong direction by a 42-40 margin. Wow.
And City Hall’s job approval rating is not good. A combined 48 percent think the City is doing an excellent to good job. 47 percent think the City Hall is doing a fair to poor job. Double wow.
Only 37 percent think tax dollars are being used responsibly. Triple wow.
Here’s the language for the measure that was tested:
There’s no specific mention of the International Swim Center (ISC) in the ballot language.
According to the pollsters, the ISC was tested separately with a list of other possible priorities.
The ISC was not considered a top priority item by City voters.
For the bond measure to pass, it will need a two-thirds vote. The best numbers in the poll have the yes vote at 59 percent – 7 percent less than what’s required.
Most pollsters believe that during campaigns, measures lose support from the initial poll as opposition grows. So these numbers don’t look encouraging for a successful campaign.
Some members of the City Council expressed skepticism about the measure.
Mayor Lisa Gillmor said she was concerned about the negative view of City Hall impacting the chance of winning the campaign.
Gillmor said that in 2018, 63 percent of Santa Clara voters thought the City was going in the right direction. That number has collapsed to 40 this year.
Councilmember Kathy Watanabe said she was concerned about the negative numbers, too.
The City Council did not make a decision last night. They plan to do additional polling and outreach.
For the November ballot, the City Council will decide on the potential bond measure in July according to City staff.
It is very difficult to vote for a bond issue when it will go to the unmanaged pension deficit or squandered by people not concerned with the residents is the city. Too much kingdom building by the city staff.
Sorry, as I read the first comment I thought we were replaying a bad April Fool’s Day Joke.
How in God’s name can you think of attacking someone who has been outvoted every single time on any vote that has been taken on any type of issue.
It’s simple so…..maybe that’s why you are struggling with this concept.
This is simple Math. 5 is always greater than 2.
NO WAY you can blame Kathy Watanabe or Lisa Gillmor on any of this BS.
Strange but kind of expected given you failed to mention our current Indicted on Felony Perjury charges Sock Puppet 49er Councilmember Tony Beaker.
Maybe that is the leadership you are looking for.
Well as long as you are over 18, and have no Felony Convictions you will be allowed to vote for whomever you want.
I want my City Back.
I’m not alone. Check out the results of the last election.
How did Prop A and B do?
Burt Field
Dear Community,
I have to agree that the NUMBERS TO NOT REGISTER A POSITIVE OUTCOME FOR THE FINANCIAL ISSUE.
The fact that City Hall is itself POLLING SO POORLY IS A FANTASTIC INDICATOR that in public, both uniformed and informed are not being fooled.
I mean, why take on more Community loss of income(Taxes),
If the Accountability to the Community has been so poor Historically – with this current set of Elected Representatives?
This is my opinion – ‘from the Outside looking in’.
Just so you know – I have not voted to support any Bonds in San Jose.
Our funds are not being used the way I expect to be a benefit to our Community.
I am just saying, that I put my money – where my mouth is.
In Community Spirit,
Danny Garza
Ironworkrdanny@yahoo.com
The Santa Clara City Council has bickered consistently for decades, Gillmor is an ineffective leader and needs to go.
Santa Clarans know this bond is not to improve infrastructure, it’s to inflate salaries and pad pensions. The City needs new, fiscally conservative Council Members who have the education, experience, and backbone to readjust city finances.
When you say ‘needs better leadership’ I don’t disagree. But starting with one of the two people that care more about our city than a football franchise seems odd. Almost like you have a separate agenda.
@Howie: after this weekend’s draft, extricate yourself from the 49ers for a bit. It’s almost like you can’t separate yourself from a singular false narrative.
You mean the fiscally conservative 49er 5 that wasted $500k of taxpayer money that the community didn’t support? Mr. Myers is right. Don’t point fingers away from the obvious. Deflection won’t work. November is around the corner. Time for a new majority. The current one is driving a sinking ship with an indicted fool.
Bonds are just borrowing money. I think of it as a second mortgage, there has to be a good reason and reason to think the money will be handled well. Apparently, most residents don’t think it is being handled well. And no surprise there, just looking at the water main project, our street was torn up for months, other cities outsource this and it is done quickly and efficiently. Instead, we pay for pensions instead of productivity.
Wrong track indeed!
Who hired anti-Santa Clara “Tulchin Research”???
A sample of 400 Santa Clarans is garbage. Tulchin Research are paid to determine “whatever who hired them to say.” Tulchin Research proudly represents “The Southern Poverty Law Center,” a hate group that regards the Gadsen Flag a symbol of hate. Oh my gosh. Our founding fathers that waved this flag during the American Revolution are now evil… as supported by the Tulchin Research thugs.
Let’s not stop there. Referring to Santa Clara as the “Mission City” ought to be racist and hateful to non-religious peoples who founded the mission. Better yet, when will the “Cross” in the city’s logo become offensive?
Will Tulchin Research be hired on the taxpayer dime to “poll” those issues?
Government waste at its finest.
https://tulchinresearch.com/clients/
https://www.splcenter.org/file/8209
OMG! They do have an odd list of customers to brag about. That doesn’t make me think that our residents want to borrow money, but it can make you question the process.