By Robert Haugh
In a special City Council session last night, the Santa Clara City Council reviewed the City staff’s recommendation for a response to the Civil Grand Jury’s report “Irreconcilable Differences.”
That report released in June 2024 slammed the 49er Five for “abusive and belittling behavior.”
The Grand Jury conducted over 40 interviews as part of their investigation. They also reviewed over 400 hours of Council, committee, and commission meetings from January 2020 to May 2024. Certain grand jurors also attended Council meetings in person during this period.
Since the report’s release, City Councilmembers Anthony Becker, Raj Chahal, Suds Jain, Karen Hardy and Kevin Park have criticized the Grand Jury rather than admit any wrongdoing.
Last night, Jain suggested that the Grand Jury might have been involved in a major conspiracy.
“I personally think the Grand Jury was extremely biased,” Jain said. “I don’t know how the Grand Jury members were recruited.”
Jain said that one Grand Jury member ran against him for City Council in 2020. Jain didn’t name the juror. It was Bob O’Keefe who is now a candidate for City Clerk.
But Jain questioned whether O’Keefe recused himself even though the report says that two members of the group did so.
Jain frequently makes claims without evidence to support his beliefs. He recently told Santa Clara News Online that he doesn’t consider it wrong and doesn’t consider himself a conspiracy theorist.
Park doubled down on Jain’s theory.
“I’m a little confused why the Civil Grand Jury wouldn’t go for a larger recommendation, a larger report instead of focusing all their efforts on Santa Clara, especially when – I’ll not go into the reasons why I think so,” said Park.
At the meeting, the City Council had to decide on the official City responses to the Grand Jury’s findings and recommendations.
City staff watered down all the findings that singled out individual Councilmembers for bad behavior by leaving them unnamed in the City response.
It was the same approach that the 49er Five expressed in an earlier Council meeting when they didn’t like being singled out for their actions.
Mayor Lisa Gillmor and Councilmember Kathy Watanabe objected to that watered-down language.
City staff was hoping for unanimity on their approach. Instead, about half of the findings and recommendations will be forwarded to the Grand Jury with a 5-2 vote.
Gillmor and Watanabe will write a dissenting report, they said.
However, the Council did decide unanimously to adopt some findings from the Grand Jury report.
The City Council majority reluctantly agreed to parliamentary training, ethics training, and the creation of an Ethics Commission. The creation of a Commission is a major flip flop for the 49er Five.
Two years ago, Gillmor proposed an Ethics Commission in response to another Civil Grand Jury report that criticized the 49er Five for putting the team’s interests ahead of the City.
But that proposal was killed by the Council majority. Now, it will be implemented sometime in 2025.
Tonight, the City Council will review and determine the official City response to another 2024 Civil Grand Jury report, “Outplayed.” That report evaluated the 10-year-old stadium deal and concluded that the team “outplayed” the City.
Where do I get a Bob O’Keefe sign for my front yard? It can join my David Kertes sign.
Yard signs are available through my web site, http://www.okeefeforcityclerk.com
Facebook page, O’Keefe for City Clerk
E-mail: okeefeforcityclerk@gmail.com
Thanks for asking
Good choice!
For the record Steve Kelly is hawking his City Clerk candidacy.
Word is the 49ers are backing him thanks to his support to
settle the 49er lawsuit in May.
49ers are afraid Bob will actually do his job as City Clerk and
uncover their dirty deeds!
BOB O’KEEFE for CITY CLERK!
Has Robert Haugh or Kirk Vartan ever swatted an opponent.
No
No
MICHELE RYAN HAS
https://www.svvoice.com/criminal-complaint-highlights-conflict-fractured-scusd/
Remember this
https://chng.it/JTVBCzMjg5
We were wondering who was the public speaker who spoke with such vitriol and anger towards the mayor. Did not know she is currently on the school board. Strange she did not identify herself as a public official either times when she spoke to the council. Will definitely not be voting for her for the Santa Clara Unified School Board.
Michele RyAn
Used the Jdl.to attack a young man and threaten his scholarships, worked to attack school administrators who questioned he, worked to fire school coubselors, and swstted a political opponent. Ryam who oversaw the use of dead people aa endorsees in campaignss.
SCUSD board member Ryan should read up on what the purpose of the civil grand jury is before she starts questioning their actions to protect her friends. Ryan was part of the dysfunctional years of the SCUSD trustee board which cost the district to lose many good administrators and teachers. She and other dysfunctional board members helped Karen Hardy get a robotics club at Wilcox despite opposition by other board members. Sound familiar? How many 4-3 votes were recorded in Ryan’s favor? Too bad Ryan is unopposed for re-election. She is another one that needs to go.
Oh, here is the purpose of the GJ – they are doing exactly what they were selected to do and thank god they have gone above and beyond. Hopefully, the next CGJ will continue exposing the dysfunction on the Santa Clara City Council.
The responsibilities and authority of the Civil Grand Jury are specified in the California Constitution, the Penal Code, the Government Code, case law, and Attorney General opinions. The Civil Grand Jury is an investigatory body created for the protection of society and the enforcement of the law. Although the responsibilities of a grand juror are many and diverse, the predominant functions include:
Civil Watchdog Responsibilities
This is the major function of present-day civil grand jurors, and considerable effort is devoted to these responsibilities. The Civil Grand Jury may examine all aspects of county and city government and special districts to ensure that the best interests of Santa Clara County residents are being served. The Civil Grand Jury reviews and evaluates procedures, methods and systems utilized by local government to determine whether more efficient and economical programs may be employed. The Civil Grand Jury is also authorized to:
Inspect and audit books, records, and financial expenditures to ensure that public funds are properly accounted for and legally spent
Inspect financial records of 27 special districts in Santa Clara County
Inquire into the conditions of jails and detention centers
**Inquire into charges of willful misconduct in office by public officials or employees**
**Most Civil Grand Jury “watchdog” findings are contained in reports describing problems encountered and making recommendations for solutions. During its term, the Civil Grand Jury may issue final reports on the operations of Santa Clara County government entities and officials. Every entity/official that is the subject of a final report must comment upon the Civil Grand Jury’s recommendations.**
Public Complaints
The Civil Grand Jury may receive complaints from members of the public raising concerns about local government or its officials. These complaints are acknowledged and may be the basis of a Grand Jury investigation and report. All complaints are kept confidential.
Peter Skinner has done the best today.
Ryan
Kolterman
Bendis
Stampolis
Remember when they attacked Plough and Stavis.
Michele Ryan. Merciry News referred to her aw q silly, stupid person. Why. Ryan tried to use the Jewish Defense League to expel a Palestenian student. I am a pro Israel zealot, and I defended the Palestenian kid for months because Ryan kept hatrassing him. Hr was just a kid.
Ryan worked for a charter school linked to a Turkish crook, see 60 minutes.
Ryan was recruited to run for school board by Stampolis and cost a woman a pyschologist job for being an activist. Ryan claimed stadouk was going to flooded by global warming.
Brandon Sanderson should a series of fantasy books about Suds, the Duke of Polka Dots. Now lisa is directing speeches??? Jain is so much a political loser it is not funny. Park accuses Nikolai and his wife of bribery, yet has take a half dozen free trips to Korea paid for by a foreign givernment. Look at 700s. Jain, Bhatia, and Patk do not list Becker as endorsenent? Why not? Note to Bhatia, Becker is at least alive. I can list a half dozen decisions Mayor Gillmor has that I regard as wrong. But Lisa has foresight, judgement and GUTS. An ethics commission would completely check her influence. But she wants one. FORESIGHT AND GUTS. Jain attacks a grand jury that was critical of Park insulting Vartan. DUMB. if Vartan had been allowed to make his presentation while Park ran the meeting, it would have been made, adressed, and forgotten.
A dozen other ciry councils would have alliwed just that. Vartan is an activist. With activists, the more you insult then, you embolden them!
Yew, civil grand juries investigate, write reports, pester. THAT IS THEIR FUNCTION.
Once again, adult children lije Jain, Park, and Becker invite disdain. The more they attack the grand jury, the more they give it power.
I have attended school board meetings and was very surprised to see Michelle Ryan speak at the council meeting. It was actually embarrassing to hear her attack the mayor and Brian Doyle. She didn’t identify herself but I know it was her from the school board meetings. This is not professional behavior that I would expect from a school board member.
I strongly suggest the readers of this opinion blog watch the video of the actual meeting rather than rely on the extremely biased comments of Robert Haugh who once again is defending his benefactor Lisa Gillmor. The 2022 Grand Jury report was full of errors. The most obvious was that it claimed that the vote to fire the former City Manager was 5:2. I was out of town so did not vote on the matter. It is very unclear to me how Bob O’Keefe came to serve on the Grand Jury and whether he recused himself or whether he had any influence on the other jurors regarding the 49ers.
The most bizzare comment is “Jain frequently makes claims without evidence to support his beliefs.” That is certainly the pot calling the kettle black. In almost every blog post, so-called journalist, Robert Haugh, refers to unnamed “reliable sources” in his posts. That is hardly evidence for his claims. It is bizarre the grand jury reports have often quoted Haugh’s blog posts.
Finally, why did the Grand Jury think it was important to spend so much time and money to issue the report “Outplayed” to say that the contracts that Lisa Gillmor approved in 2012 favored the 49er interests? That was 12 years ago. She is the only member of the current council that was on the Council then. In fact, she even made the motion to approve the Management Agreement to allow the 49ers to manage the stadium which she now claims is a conflict of interest. I hope the readers will watch the discussion of Outplayed tonight.
Hi Suds,
You just wrote “The most bizzare (sp) comment is “Jain frequently makes claims without evidence to support his beliefs.” That is certainly the pot calling the kettle black. In almost every blog post, so-called journalist, Robert Haugh, refers to unnamed “reliable sources” in his posts. That is hardly evidence for his claims. It is bizarre the grand jury reports have often quoted Haugh’s blog posts.”
Suds, please go back and watch last nights meeting, specifically the false accusations you made last night, in a public council meeting, against the mayor for sending texts from her phone to those she wanted to make public comment. You then stated, after your accusation against the mayor, that you had “no evidence” of your accusation. Go watch it, Suds. I watched it again this morning. If you need a reference as to the time of your spurious and false accustion, it can be provided here.
As the true gaslighter you are, you then have the chutzpah to publicly state here that Mr Haugh’s accurate reporting was “bizzare (sp)”. Suds, the only thing bizarre is that you, Jumpsuit Becker, and Park got elected in the first place.
“Accuse others of the crimes you are committing” Josef G., 1936 is a tactic that Suds has learned and is taking to heart.
“The grand jury is conspiring against the five of us (who are funded by the 49rs) on the city council”
“Robert is making false accusations”
And on and on and on.
While you aspire to power over others, you are simply another example of those in the Political Class who daily demonstrate their disdain for the “little people”.
Mr Jain,
If you had determined how bad the Management Agreement that was approved in 2012 was so bad, why did you vote to undo the termination of that very bad agreement by approving the 2022 settlement restoring the Management Agreement to the 49ers without fixing the problems. It sure looks like it has something to do with them spending all that money to get you elected and then you meeting with them dozens of times.
Beautiful Suds, you are following the playbook perfectly:
“Accuse your opponents of the crimes you are committing,” Josef G, 1936
“There is a Grand Jury conspiracy against the five of us.”
What a sad joke
Park is too busy seeking the endorsement of Austen Warburton and Happy Soared. Jain is certain thst he and Habir have locked down Gor Francke and Wade Brummal
The Jain conspiracy on Lisa Gillmor continues. Suds, Lisa is a Bulgarian!! Reliable sources such as Aurslee Street and Sue Lasher who have backed Hanir have said so.
Jain, 100 dollars to Santa Clara Plays Fair, who claimed 49ers met with Council in secret in 2010.
Nope
Jain kettle is polka dot
Suds Jain just keeps doubling down on his unethical and troubling behavior. I watched the meeting online with a couple neighbors and really could not believe what we heard from him and 4 of the other councilmembers. They truly do not get the gravity and seriosness of their current situation and are treating the Civil Grand Jury like a Kangaroo Court. Please, Jeff Rosen, this situation has gone beyond bad behavior. This is contempt of court and should be at least investigated by your DA Investigators and possibly charged as a crime. During last nights presentations it was revealed that Karen Hardy had yet to file a response to the Grand Jury that was due August 1st!! That is a penal code violation yet there is no ramification for her giving the grand jury a middle finger.
Just last night when you would think this city council would ostensibly be on their best behavior, the usual suspects of Jain, Jumpsuit Becker, and Park, displayed their worst behavior.
Jain, as he usually does, made an accusation towards our mayor. He then stated that his accusation is not based on evidence but what he thinks. That accusation he made towards our mayor is that during city council meetings she texts people to tell them to come speak during public comment. Jain accused her of this and admitted he had zero evidence of this, yet he made the accustion anyways. This sort of petulant and childish behavior is why there was a civil grand jury investigation and yet Jain had no trouble making a public and baseless accusation. Just another piece of evidence to back the civil grand jury.
Jain, Becker and Park are the very definition of ‘gaslighting’. These three individuals are at the very least clowns when it comes to how they have served on the city council, if not criminals.
Becker can’t go on trial fast enough.
We will be watching tonight’s council meeting which is part 2 of yesterday’s meeting. I believe it starts at 5pm and you can watch it live streaming on Youtube or on the city tv channel.
Thank you Kirk Vartan for not only what you have done for Santa Clara, but calling out the bad behavior and vitriol from the 49er 5 that you have been the victim of. I am not a lawyer but perhaps you have the makings of a lawsuit for your public treatment from the elected clowns.
Just another reason to get rid of the 3 running for reelection. We need to get rid of this constant 5-2 divisiveness. This has been their game plan all along, take ZERO responsibility and point fingers at others. Now it’s a conspiracy? Give me a break! I’m guessing the only reason they accepted an ethics commission is that it’s election season. Kick these 3 to the curb now!
It is the Bulgarians, Suds. The Bulgarians control the. Grand Jury. Why do people put up with this,?
You have a council member who uses children’s books to insult people. Three council members who conduct 67 secret meetings with the 49ers, and a guy who sponsors two charter anendments that used dead people for endorsers, and Suds who is lobbying with Caserta.
This is right?
Now Bhatia is employing dead people as endorsers.
Park/Jain need to form their own P.I. firm when they get booted out in November.
Maybe they’ll discover the Loch Ness Monster.