By Robert Haugh
Santa Clara City Councilmember Suds Jain wants to charge for paid parking at Franklin Mall, he said at the April 30 City Council meeting.
Two years ago, Jain said that the City should consider paid parking in numerous places.
Here’s a section of the Santa Clara News Online (SCNO) story from back then:
At the August 30 City Council meeting, Jain initially proposed a future agenda item to discuss charging for parking at the Convention Center.
But he read a statement that was unclear. So Mayor Lisa Gillmor asked him some questions.
“Parking at the Community Center? Parking at the Library? Parking at the Senior Center? What are you talking about?” said Gillmor. “Please just clarify.”
Jain answered, “It could be anywhere where we have a shortage of parking.”
Wow.
You can watch for the brief discussion here.
Jain didn’t provide many details. He mentioned Sunnyvale Baylands, the Santa Clara Marriot, and Westfield Valley Fair charging for parking, including for their employees.
Jain didn’t like this week’s story about him pushing paid parking at Franklin Mall and complained in the comments.
But his recent move is consistent with his past public statements at City Council meetings.
Yesterday, Jain replied to SCNO’s question about what other City facilities should have paid parking.
“I have not done a comprehensive analysis of which parking lots the City owns,” replied Jain via email.
[…] Suds Jain posted a comment on Santa Clara News Online on May 10, 2024, in response to a story on how he wants to consider paid parking at many city facilities in addition to the Franklin […]
Hi Suds,
Did you (and your close buddies comprising the 49er 5) not just spend over $500,000 of city money we do not have on a special election regarding the elected police chief position, an issue that polls show was doomed to be defeated? You then have the chutzpah to cry how short the city is of money?
Everyone
Until proven otherwise, all advice and direction from any member of the “49er 5 Council” needs to be viewed with a lens that will never shine kindly on any of us.
The book “Field of Schemes” is a look into how Pro Sport Franchises do whatever they can to take over a City.
Did we make mistakes? When a majority of your elected leaders are refereed too as “Sock Puppets”, that’s a clue.
Was it wrong for us to believe what Jed York was selling to us back then? Apparently so. We were ignorant.
Looking back, the 49er Leadership had to view us as residents of Mayberry North Carolina (The Small town depicted in the Andy Griffith Show in the 60’s).
Again, we were ignorant. And before you think that is a bad thing, it’s absolutely not. It’s just a part of life.
Remember, you don’t know what you don’t know.
The funny / ironic questions is….
Do you know the difference between Ignorance and Stupidity?
Well, the answer is so simple it actually made me laugh.
So, what’s the difference?
One of them is temporary.
Please register to vote.
It’s without a doubt the easiest, fastest and cheapest way out of our Cities current downward spiral.
Burt Field
The City of Santa Clara has over $600 million in deferred capital maintenance because previous City councils were busy giving away free benefits to businesses and not charging enough fees like our neighbors, e.g. park impact fees. That’s why we’re in the mess with the International Swim Center. Sure giving away benefits to businesses and residents gets votes but I wish previous Councils were more fiscally responsible. I pay for parking when I visit downtown San Jose, Redwood City, San Francisco and Berkeley. It costs over $20K to provide a surface parking spot and over $50K to provide a spot in a parking structure. Santa Clara has put no money aside to rebuild the almost 40 year old parking structure at the Convention Center. I’m just trying to stop the giveaways and to be fiscally responsible. Remember businesses in the Franklin Mall USED to pay over 75% of the operations and maintenance costs.
I’ve said many times that the contracts we have with the 49ers prevent money from coming to the general fund until certain reserve buckets are filled up. I urge people like Robert Haugh to actually read the contracts and then explain to me exactly how I can get more money from the 49ers.
I know how, and I better receive the support I deserve as an outstanding resident with brilliant ideas.
Suds,
You are lazy.
You say: “I’ve said many times that the contracts we have with the 49ers prevent money from coming to the general fund until certain reserve buckets are filled up. I urge people like Robert Haugh to actually read the contracts and then explain to me exactly how I can get more money from the 49ers”
Yet, your lazy buttocks do not provide a link to the “CONTRACTS” you claim us Santa Clarans ought to read.
Are you keeping us citizens of Santa Clara in the DARK? I am sure your evil overlord, Jed, appreciates it.
Provide a link to your “contracts” or shut the ‘ell up.
SHOW US THE CONTRACT you JED YORK lover.
Suds has a mansion a couple blocks away from the Franklin Mall. Free parkin in front of Suds’ house.
Don’t block the driveway. 😉
Suds really doesn’t care about the city or the people living in it. Suds want to appear that he is pro Santa Clara but Suds is out for himself.
It’s all about appearances for Suds. He hates when people catch him spying or just being the real creep that he is. I can’t name one thing Suds has lead to help the people or children of Santa Clara.
Suds does obey the 49ers where his bread is buttered. So sad…😢
Let’s just put parking costs back on the residents of Santa Clara. Tax the little people. That’s Suds motto. If you watched the council meeting on Tuesday, you would see he had nothing to say about the field seats the 49ers are charging up the wazoo for tickets. Not one of these 49er jokers called out how much the City was making off the seat licenses. Suds and his buddies are just stuffing $$$ in the 49ers pockets and taking it out of the residents pockets.
Adam,
The cost of parking at Franklin Mall is being paid by all the residents of Santa Clara. This is the point. The business owners and land owners supposedly are not paying which means that the full cost of parking is paid for by all of us taxpayers.
It should be paid by the land owners and business owners and patrons of Franklin Mall businesses.
Buchser – How much are the taxpayers paying for a paved surface parking lot annually?
Ted,
According to Robert’s piece the lot costs the city 138 thousand dollars per year to maintain and Franklin Mall stores pay around 14 thousand dollars.
I do not know why it would cost so much to maintain the parking lot but that was the figure in Robert’s story.
Hey BA, again let’s just tax the little guy. The businesses now have an increased business tax thanks to suds and raj. Small businesses already pay their fair share to the county that comes back to the city that then goes to General fund and helps pay for road maintenance. How many times are the small businesses expected to pay? Look at this morning’s SJMN and see how inflation is impacting small businesses!
Leave the small businesses alone!
Adam,
Your appeal to emotion makes no sense at all. These businesses and landlords are not paying their fair share. They are only paying ten percent of the cost of maintaining the parking lot.
Why do you think it is fair for all of Santa Clara to subsidize Frankling Mall landlords and businesses?
How stupid. Another reason we need to vote out city council members. They are ruining this city, will not stand up to the 49ers and most just plain dumb and not fit to run a city with some of the biggest companies. They make Santa Clara look like a joke.
I wish he was NOT on our City council. Things he suggest or rules on are shady. He got on the Vity council knowing he had to remove himself of voting for anything to do with Santa Clara University because his wife worked there. I worked with her so I know that got a fact. He did shady things with the 49ers too so let’s get him off our City Council.
“I have not done a comprehensive analysis of which parking lots the City owns,” replied Jain.
Well maybe you should look at the comprehensive effects of your new policies before you open you mouth Jud. Or ask staff to study the issue citywide, not just Franklin mall, which was such an obvious vendetta against Gilmore – even a 9 year old could see this.
Ridiculous!! Just first straighten out the financial mess with LEVI Stadium and the 49ers lack of payment! That will help the City Budget more and keep our parking lots free. Seniors cannot keep paying to park to mail letters, shop, etc.
estúpido idiota!
Attention working poor
Mansion owner Suds Jain wants you to spend that extra dollar for 7up and coffee for parking after you take your kids to school.
Ps a new story on Jain is being published tomorrow in another publication.