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International Democracy Expert: Santa Clara Could be the “Rudest City Council Ever”

By Robert Haugh

The Santa Clara City Council majority has been called the “49er Five.”

Now they are also being called the “rudest city council ever.”

That’s the way Joe Mathews sees it. He’s a syndicated writer whose story about the bad behavior of the “49er Five” has made its way into a lot of publications in a couple of days. 

So far, the Mathews column has appeared in the:

The story also appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle. But the readers of that paper already know a lot about Jed York’s effort to buy a City Council.

Mathews considers the City Council majority “rude” because of the Civil Grand Jury’s recent report about their consistent displays of disrespectful and unprofessional behavior during public meetings. 

He highlights instances where council members have belittled and threatened members of the public, engaged in political grandstanding, and ignored basic parliamentary procedures. 

Mathews highlights Councilmember Kevin Park’s act of reading from a children’s book in a way that was clearly intended to mock and intimidate Santa Clara business owner, Kirk Vartan.

Mathews concludes that the council’s conduct is not just unprofessional but downright rude.

Mathews is the founder and publisher of Democracy Local, an international website “dedicated to stories, ideas, data, and questions about everyday people governing themselves.” 

Mathews is a Future of Democracy fellow at the Berggruen Institute based in Los Angeles. He is also the author of three books on California and democracy. For Democracy Local and other outlets, he writes the Democracy Column.  

8 comments

  1. Mr. Field,

    I agree with your suggestion regarding Mr. Kertes. Saw him in front of city council—a strong and competent person who deserves our vote. Teresa O’Neill is way better than Park the Masked Bandit. As far as Cory Morgan, we fought hard to defeat measure A. Why do you endorse him? I am still learning about the candidates for Chief of Police. Why not the other candidate for Chief of Police?

    But what is puzzling is why you endorse Kelly Cox who has limited ‘real world’ experience before becoming an “academician.” Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach. I am interested to know your view on Ms. Cox regarding so-called District 6.

    Further, did you not interact with Mr. Guerra in Parks & Rec? Surely, you got to know Mr. Guerra as he was in Parks & Rec and is a candidate for so-called District 6. Why not consider him as I believe he has substantial ‘real world’ experience? Why do believe Mr. Guerra is NOT a better candidate than Ms. Cox??

    While you have been integral with youth soccer, I presume you are/were not a unionized teacher/academician and you are an independent thinker. Please educate us on your reasoning.

    What say you?

    Thank you!

    Reply

    • Sorry Silence Dogood for not seeing this earlier.
      Little history.
      You are correct I did work side by side with George while we were on the Parks and Rec Commission. At one point he did mention that he might run for City Council. It was a different time, many of us still believed in Santa Claus so to speak. When the time came to announce he was going to run, all we got from George was silence.
      In my conversations with Kelly she had mentioned that she really wanted to help the City in any way she could. It was genuine and sincere.
      As time wore on, and she would speak in public many of the local leaders were very impressed with her speaking ability, wit and intelligence.
      So while we got to be friends on the Parks and Rec Commission, she also applied to volunteer her time with the SC Chief’s Advisory Committee.
      So now I had a few years of being next to her on the Parks and Rec Commission, then combined that now with the Chief’s Advisory Committee I just had to sit back and marvel. She really is that smart.
      Please don’t tell her, but I had to make it a point not to sit next to her at any future meetings. Why? Because as we would go around to discuss issues. Frankly I just gave up trying to follow her. At one point, I just said… (while pointing at Kelly) “What she said”.
      It was that impressive, that Mr. Field had nothing more to add or say….drop the mic and walk away.
      So after all of this, George finally decides he wants to run. In my world, it was just too late. None of us could wait any longer, and we had already promised Kelly our support.
      If George is truly a person who wants to help Santa Clara he will pull his application and look at other ways to help our City.
      Is this harsh, absolutely not, this is page 1 Politics 101.
      If George stays in at this point, I really need to question why?
      Hope that gives you some insight.
      I will be at the Art and Wine Festival. I will be wearing my Orange “22′ Giants Jersey.
      It’s my way of just telling Mr. Orange Jumpsuit I’m thinking of him.
      Again, this is my list of people I think will best represent us.

      Bob O’Keefe City Clerk
      Cory Morgan Chief of Police
      Satish Chandra Council District 1
      Teresa O’Neill Council District 4
      David Kertes Council District 5
      Kelly Cox Council District 6

      Burt Field
      408.687.2622
      burt.field@gmail.com

      Reply

  2. May this be the start of the unraveling of these do nothings but give Jed what he expects thanks to the money he stuffed into their campaigns. Great reporting. No one can accuse Robert Haugh for bias now!

    Reply

  3. Suds Jain website

    Chahal
    Hardy
    Park

    Why no Becker???

    Becker, Political Leper

    Mean man child.

    Look ,burt field was a parks and rec commissioner. Parks snd Rec=WORK

    Field gets thrown off.

    Why??

    Why??

    Reply

  4. Well, true there is all that.
    However,
    No way I am ever going to let them forget they actually removed a recognized Volunteer from our City for maybe one of the rarest, strangest reason’s ever, so rare and strange they are still haven’t found it.
    The 49er 5 are so under qualified to lead anything. Seriously, a Book Club for people who are illiterate would be a stretch.
    Not one of them took the time to see just how bad this was going to look.
    Many times optics are important. But only if you even care about that aspect.
    “Pumping the Brakes”, is a term I like to use, it gives you the time to think about the possible different outcomes of your decisions.
    As I have told everyone, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”.
    Misuse of power is just ugly and wrong. Always has been, and always will be.
    I just learned Oct 7th, you can start to drop off your votes.
    Let’s put this last chapter of our City in the “Rear View Mirror”.
    Better Days are ahead.
    Talk to your neighbors,
    Register to vote, then vote what is best for us, the residents.

    Bob O’Keefe City Clerk
    Cory Morgan Chief of Police
    Satish Chandra Council District 1
    Teresa O’Neill Council District 4
    David Kertes Council District 5
    Kelly Cox Council District 6

    When we get this ballot through, we will get our City Back. Don’t just think of the money we will save. Think more of the time we can now focus on what is important. Our family, friends, our interest and hobbies. Basically living the best life we can.
    I’m tired of wasting my time trying to undo a wrong we made over 10 years ago. What did we do wrong? We put our trust in what one man was selling and we believed him. We didn’t deserve to be treated like this, in truth, no one deserves to be treated like this. It’s time to fix a wrong.

    Vote
    Vote
    Vote
    Just to be clear, Vote.

    I forever still a 49er fan, I just don’t want them running my City any longer.

    Burt Field
    burt.field@gmail.com

    Let me know if you need any lawn signs… we are about to be overrun with millions of dollars of negative ads. Brace yourself.

    Reply

    • Burt all due respect and I understand alliances you may have but hasn’t both sides of the council just been doing optics and gaming the system this whole time. Then of course it ramps up during election time, wouldn’t all parties be better off leaving the “stuff” behind and getting back focused on the city business at hand?

      Reply

  5. Well, we have two emails from Suds Jain to a disabled man calling the man pathetic, claiming the man never worked though the man was a substitute school teacher 13 years.

    Kevin Park refusing to accept Vartan as an advisor.

    Becker yelling at senior citizens.

    Reply

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