By Robert Haugh
The Santa Clara City Council decided to give $10,000 to a Diwali Festival even though the application for a Community Grant missed the deadline and the organizers haven’t given City staff all the required information for large City events.
The event is in 3 days in Live Oak Park.
The 49er Five voted for the expenditure. Mayor Lisa Gillmor and Councilmember Kathy Watanabe voted against the expenditure.
The action was controversial for a lot of reasons, including evidence that the festival is being used by a political candidate to illegally promote herself.
Councilmember Suds Jain pushed this onto the agenda at the last minute. When Jain pushed for the Council to take action two weeks ago, the festival organizers hadn’t even submitted a grant application.
Jain’s funding request is a violation of the Community Grant Process.
The City’s grant program funds groups like the Parade of Champions, Santa Clara Lions Football, and the Santa Clara Women’s League.
Santa Clara News Online received some texts during the meeting for community group leaders who were not happy. They requested anonymity so that their group’s funds would not be threatened by Jain or City staff.
“The staff makes us follow the rules but because Jain is pushing for this event, they get the rules waived and special treatment,” wrote one leader.
“If any other event were this late or this screwed up, it would be rejected by City staff,” said another group’s leader.
City Staff asked for standard information about the event logistics but the group failed to provide it by a September 20 deadline.
Key questions like event security, insurance, and county permits are still unknown.
According to Councilmember Kathy Watanabe who reviewed the budget, the event will lose $27,000 without the City’s $10,000 grant.
Political Activity
The event’s major promoter is the Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce and their CEO Harbir Bhatia. She is also a District 1 City Council candidate.
During public testimony, another District 1 candidate Satish “Sunny” Chandra testified that flyers for the event were distributed with her campaign brochures inserted inside.
He held up a folded festival brochure and then unfolded it to show Bhatia’s political brochure.
Watanabe said that she talked to one of the canvassers and he told her that they were being paid by the Santa Clara Weekly. Wow.
She also demonstrated that Bhatia’s political brochure was folded inside the festival’s flyer.
“I just can’t support a political event or anything that has the perception of a political event,” said Gillmor.
“I want to support the Diwali event because I think they’re wonderful, wonderful events. But this has been turned into something different and I’m sorry to say that.”
Dear Community,
How about a Citizen filing –
Writ of Mandamus
I sued the City of San Jose and got them to tell the Truth out of Court.
Try it.
The City must answer, or in Court you go to get your answers.
It seems the attempt at getting the City to move are running into tough walls to brake down.
What do you in Santa Clara have to lose.
First, I wholeheartedly support my neighbors in honoring Diwali. Festival of Lights is beautiful.
Second, Suds Jain and the other 49er 5 are tampering with the election, and interfering with an ELECTION by using CITY FUNDS.
Third, this MUST be either immoral or criminal, or both.
Fourth, the way the 49ers are playing is an omen for the 49er 5.
Good Riddance. Viva Santa Clara!!!
WHY? Why is this being allowed to happen?? WHY does one group get to change rules, that have been around A LOT longer than they have.
Santa Clara the time for action is now. These individuals are playing the city like a fiddle!
Speaking of expenditures, if we ever get rid of the jed york scum, who pays to have city hall disinfected???
The 49ers will continue to have their way installing their handpicked candidates for city council. In all reality, the media sways votes, and the 49ers have all the money to buy elections. They have done so in the past, and they will continue to do so in this coming election. Those who know the inside story of the 49er5 and their incestuous relationship with the 49ers will vote otherwise, but that number is in the minority. The majority of voters will get their glossy flyers for Suds, et al, and the slick TV and Facebook ads, and that is what most voters will remember when they go to the ballot box. I am pessimistic, or a realist, about this coming election. I do not know how we get the best candidates elected when the 49ers are running tons of negative ads against challengers with their deep pockets. They bought our last elections doing the same thing. Suds, Park, and Becker especially would never have won without the 49ers. It is disgusting that all the 49ers 5 have turned a blind eye and claim they have no control and no input over the money the 49ers have spent to get them elected.
If I had one hope for how this might change it would be through the legal system. Common sense shows Becker is taking all the blame and falling on the sword to protect Suds, and very likely others. Becker, no doubt you have considered the years you may spend in prison for your alleged crimes. Do you really think it is worth it to protect all the others who will soon forget you? To Jeff Rosen and the DA’s office – you are really the only agency who has any teeth in the matter of the 49ers continued election interference in the City of Santa Clara. I hope you have a game plan or a rabbit in the hat when the trial against Becker starts. Please, DA’s office, you have an ethics unit and the 49er 5 and the 49er influence is screaming for your attention.
I watched last night’s meeting, and our former City Attorney, Brian Doyle, addressed the city council and clearly pointed out extreme illegalities with Al Guido from the 49ers and signing of FIFA and Superbowl contracts he legally could not sign. Mr. Doyle asked the city council to agendize this matter for public discussion and when it was brought to a vote the 49er 5 voted this down, again squashing our right to know where our money is being spent. The 49er 5 are the LEAST TRANSPARENT when it comes to their puppet master’s over at the 49ers.
I hope either some lawyer, company, entity, or individual who has the power and deep pockets comes along to go up against the 49ers and the 49er 5 and exposes the rot which has seemingly been normalized and accepted.
We also desperately need a new City Attorney with the balls to call the 49er 5 on their bullshit.
And Suds and Raj appeared remotely at beginning of meeting only to support their friend Harbir’s request and pass the grant request. Then they left. Job well done, Boys. Maybe you’ll get a free Chamber membership as thanks.
How much is enough? How much more do we have to take?
How do we change our immediate Future for the Better?
How do we protect our City from being used and abused by not just the 40Whiners, but now FIFA and the NFL.
I can’t tell anyone else what to do, but I’m now out walking the neighborhoods, knocking on doors.
If you are wondering what you can do,
First three are easy and obvious. The fourth is not for everyone, and I totally understand if you are not wanting to get active.
1. Vote what is best for you and your family
1(b). If not registered… get that done right now.
2. Understand that the 49ers / DeBartolo are far from done with using us.
3. Learn to filter the negative that the 49ers will be dumping on us.
4. If you need a sign
If you want to volunteer
I am easily reached. Just text me first so I can add you to my contact list.
If we fail, we then earn another 4 years of abuse.
Do you know the difference between ignorance and stupidity?
One is temporary.
Let’s fix this issue now.
Burt Field
burt.field@gmail.com
408.687.2622
Feeling disappointed and dejected with the recent developments regarding the Diwali event at Mission College. Our team has worked tirelessly for the past two years, securing support from the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Committee to celebrate this vibrant festival.
However, it’s disheartening to see our efforts overshadowed by a pseudo-political event backed by my opponent, the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce. This event has received disproportionate support from city council members, using city resources and even the Santa Clara Weekly for promotion. It’s troubling to see the 49ers Council members of City of Santa Clara voting on September 24th 2024, Item number Eight) in favor of their close friend, the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, who is using the Santa Clara Weekly to promote this event alongside her political flyer—an action that raises serious ethical concerns.
We must advocate for transparency and fairness in our community events. Let’s come together to ensure that our voices are heard and that all cultural celebrations receive the respect they deserve. Together, we can foster a truly inclusive Santa Clara! #SantaClara #Diwali #CommunityUnity
News flash
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE FOR KEVIN PARK
Websitr for Indelendent Commitee lauds Park for 4 years of effort for Mental Health.
The truth
1 email in 2024 to 1 program
But how would an Independent commitee know this???
Rules don’t matter to the 49er 5. Why would they start following them now? And where is the City Attorney on this? Isn’t he supposed to enforce rules?
And we all know Harbir Bhatia can’t be trusted. Look at her record. A simple google search is very telling on her past.
Great, we can’t even call Christmas, Christmas. Suds is just trying to gather votes from his ethnic group. I guess the millions of dollars from the 49ers is not enough. Now the taxpayers get to subsidize his campaign.
More identity politics from Santa Clara’s biggest baby, Suds Jain.
JAin gave bhatia 600 bucks in 2020.
Grand jury time