By Robert Haugh
Recent polling results shared with Santa Clara News Online (SCNO) show that Santa Clarans don’t like the direction of the City and won’t support a large infrastructure bond.
That’s not a big surprise since a 2022 Civil Grand Jury Report concluded that the City Council Majority is selling out Santa Clara to the 49ers.
A recently released Civil Grand Jury report details how the 49er Five behave badly.
The 49er Five’s negative reputation could sink an approximately $600 million infrastructure bond that the City is aggressively pushing for the November ballot.
Santa Clara News Online (SCNO) reviewed a recent poll conducted by the Santa Clara Peace Officers Association and Santa Clara Firefighters, Local 1171.
The POA/FF poll surveyed 470 likely Santa Clara voters in June and has a margin of error of approximately 4 percent. Here are some key numbers from the polling:
Santa Clarans don’t like the current direction of the City. These are historically negative numbers for City Hall management:
In the POA/FF poll, a $598 million infrastructure bond measure question is identical to the City’s proposed measure conducted in April.
It got a 46-41 support.
But the bad news is that the bond needs at least 55 percent to pass if ACA 1 is approved by California voters in November. If it loses, Santa Clara’s bond must get over 66 percent to pass.
Here’s the first test of the ballot measure:
The City’s April poll tested a $298 million bond measure. It was increased to $598 million and tested in a May survey.
The City’s polling has the bond measures at 54 percent support, but that may be an artificially high number.
The City’s polling was done before the latest Grand Jury report came out criticizing the 49er Five for “abusive and belittling behavior.”
Also, the City’s polling did not test negative arguments. That’s “political malpractice” according to a POA pollster because it doesn’t reflect the reality of a political campaign.
In contrast, the POA/FF survey tested the results of positive and negative questions. So it should more accurately reflect the results of an actual campaign.
The support for the bond really drops big with even some opposition, losing 34-45.
That’s a 12-point drop from the initial question test. Wow.
It’s also, 21 points lower than the hurdle of 55 percent for passage. Yikes.
Here are the results of the second test of the ballot measure question:
SCNO heard from some residents who were polled over the course of the last week.
Some expressed concerns about the City proposing a “blank check” that the 49er Five and City Manager could use for any purpose.
One person said City Hall leadership is untrustworthy and would pull a “bait and switch” with projects.
A few residents said they would oppose any bond money being used at the stadium for the 49ers and FIFA.
But there’s some positive info in the POA/FF polling.
Santa Clara voters are open to a smaller bond measure with specific projects that are legally guaranteed.
The most popular projects in the poll are those associated with public safety and parks, including swimming pools.
Almost exactly one year ago, the POA commissioned a survey about the 49er Five’s move to eliminate Santa Clara’s elected Police Chief.
That survey showed that 73 percent of Santa Clara voters wanted to keep the right to vote for a Police Chief.
But the 49er Five put a measure on the ballot costing taxpayers approximately $500,000.
That was Measure B. It was defeated in March 2024. The no vote: 72 percent, almost identical to the POA survey.
[…] according to polling last year, voters didn’t trust the City Council majority and City […]
[…] City Manager Jovan Grogan has said publicly for weeks that unanimous Council support would be critical to passing the bond because of the weak polling numbers. […]
[…] Santa Clara City Council meeting has a couple major items on the agenda: the City’s unfavorable $600 million bond measure for the November ballot and a public discussion of the Grand Jury report, […]
Bond measures, in general, are risky. It’s like getting a second mortgage. Not to be taken lightly and needs to be for directly identified projects. As suggested earlier, legally require the spending to be for specific projects. And not projects that would be done anyway so the money and be laundered and used to pay for other things.
I found the bonds discussed confusing, I guess I need to pay more attention. I thought there was just one being considered, and who proposed the bonds initially? The council or city staff?
It takes trust. The council has never addressed the pension drag which will eventually break us financially. Between City management and the 49ers 5, I can’t trust how the money will be spent.
A lot of big businesses get a free pass and then they allow the builders to come in and shoe horn in projects that don’t fit. All this in the name of balancing jobs to housing. Then stop building businesses. It’s hard to invest in these kinds of things..
Things are going to change this fall!
Wish we didn’t have to wait until Fall.
I wouldn’t trust the city right now with what little is in the “Take a Penny” tray at the local 7-11, let alone giving them $598 million to mis-appropriate and mis-manage. Not with the mess in City Hall and the 49ers claws in everything. Get some knowledgable, accountable, and ethical people on the council, get rid of the hired-gun overpaid city manager, get some concrete safeguards in place to limit Jed’s influence, and then we can talk. Until then: No. Absolutely not.
So pay attention 49er 5 and any one who thinks they going to fleece Santa Clarans. People are aware! It’s time to put the residents of this city first again!!
With the current bunch of fricking majority idiots and possible criminals on the city council I will NEVER vote for a bond measure with them in charge of how it is spent. Never.