By Robert Haugh
Indicted Santa Clara Councilmember Anthony Becker will be on the November ballot. Election Day is November 5.
The very next day, Becker will need to be in court to start his trial for felony perjury.
Becker leaked a Grand Jury report to the 49ers and lied about it under oath. If convicted, he could serve up to a four-year prison term.
In a hearing last Friday, Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Javier Alcala set the start of jury selection for next Monday, October 28.
The trial is scheduled from November 6 to December 6. But the prosecution said they could present their case in a shorter period of time. They seem to be signaling that they have a strong and uncomplicated case.
Becker is also running for re-election to his District 6 City Council seat. But he may be a factor in the other three City Council elections, too.
Here’s a copy of the front of a nicely produced mailer by the Santa Clara Police Officers Association that landed in voters’ mailboxes in all districts on Saturday.
The back of the mailer ties Becker to the various candidates in each district who are either members of the 49er Five or getting hundreds of thousands of dollars from Jed York’s independent expenditures:
- District One: Albert Gonzalez and Harbir Bhatia (team support in 2020, $1 million)
- District Four: Kevin Park
- District Five: Suds Jain
- District Six: George Guerra
The mailer also touts the POA endorsement of candidates who represent “Change for the Better” – a catchy slogan:
- District One: Satish “Sunny” Chandra
- District Four: Teresa O’Neill
- District Five: David Kertes
- District Six: Kelly Cox
Becker is not really campaigning for re-election. He’s not raising much money. He has a few people willing to put up a lawn sign. And the 49ers who have supported him with millions of dollars in the past, have abandoned him.
But he may be the biggest factor in this year’s Santa Clara elections, especially if he drags down other candidates.
My post has to do with the redevolopment of Moonlite Plaza.
For many years, we expected the redevlopment of Moonlite with talk of a much needed grocery store and other businesses to increase our tax base. This was part of the Grand Plan for El Camino Real which apparently has fallen by the wayside.
I saw this article in “YIMBY”. It has to do with the now current plans for Moonlite Shopping Center. It includes NO retail and ONLY high density housing of 601 apartment units.
This is a horrible travesty.
The connection to Anthony Becker and this development applies to all of the 49er 5. Between Grand Jury investigations into Becker, Jain, Jahal, Kevin Park, and Karen, along with their hundreds of meeting with the 49ers, they had no time left over to take up actual issues that were non 49er related, including Moonlight Plaza. If they had acted in time, then the “Builders’s Remedy” that is now being imposed by the developer onto the city would not have happened.
The 49er 5 are also despicable for allowing the 49ers to finance their campaigns without saying a word and claiming they have no say over their campaigns. They all get the Alfred E Neuman award for “What, me worry?” The 49er 5 are by far the worst members I have seen on this city council after seeing 55 years of different council members, and that is saying something.
https://sfyimby.com/2024/10/updated-plans-filed-for-moonlite-center-redevelopment-santa-clara.html
Long time city resident,
There used to be a Save Mart there but it has been gone for years. It would still be there or there would be another grocery store there if there was a need for one there.
Sprouts and Target are less than a mile away on El Camino. The Homestead Safeway is about the same distance away. And the Lucky at El Camino and Lawrence is also close.
And as much as I dislike Anthony Becker and his council allies actions surrounding the Forty Niners and the stadium I do not think any of that has anything to do with this development.
Buchser Alum,
The Safeway you speak of on Homestead is very out of date and small. It is not a modern sized supermarket in todays world. The parking lot is insufficient to handle additional traffic. The Lucky you speak of on El Camino Real will eventually be torn down for more redevelopment that that is in the works. Hopefully it will be rebuilt but
there are nothing guarantees. Same for the shopping center Smart and Final is located. Moonlite has been a dying shopping center for a couple decades. Another center that was also dying was the Mervyn’s Plaza on Scott and El Camino. Perhaps you do not remember when most of the stores in that center were closed and the center was dilapidated. When that center was rebuilt and stores were again leased it became what is now a thriving and revitalized shopping center bringing in millions dollars in taxes for the city. Why turn Moonlite into a strictly high density housing with no retail? You realize that high density development is a net negative for the city due to city services required and bring in no taxes?? This area of Moonlite needs more retail and to not to take it all away. And yes, this is directly related to the 49er 5 despite what you think Their attention is always on the 49ers and they have hugely and disproportionately wasted their time. Why do you think a Builders Remedy slipped in and is now dictating to our city what this invaluable property will be used for? Moonlite was supposed to have been one of the crown jewels in the Grand Boulevard plan through El Camino in Santa Clara Now it will be another eyesore high density housing built by a developer who does not live here and only cares about money and zero for the residents. Again, what is going to happen to Moonlite Plaza is a travesty. And you suggest there is so much retail within a relatively short distance? Well, with 600 new apartment rental units there will be much more traffic generated when these residents have to drive and park, generating more traffic and pollution Look at all the other thousands of units built and being
built along El Camino in Santa Clara they will be driving to take care of their shopping etc and generating thousands of additional trips daily. This area is in great need of MORE retail, not less, unless you are advocating for more cars and congestion and accidents on the road and greatly increasing neighborhood traffic as drivers look for shortcuts. Thousands of new residents and no retail where moonlight plaza is located will be terrible for our city.
According to posts found on this SCNO blog and these candidates own statements, Satish “Sunny” Chandra, Teresa O’Neill, David Kertes, and Kelly Cox have signed an “An Ethics Pledge Can Help Restore Public Trust in Santa Clara” pledging to uphold nine tenets created by Tom Shanks, a former ethics consultant to the City of Santa Clara. https://santaclaranews.org/2024/07/31/an-ethics-pledge-can-help-restore-public-trust-in-santa-clara/comment-page-1/
Tenet #5 reads…
“5. DISCOURAGING NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING: If an independent expenditure attacks my opponent, I will immediately condemn such behavior with a public statement. If elected, I will recuse myself from votes related to the funders of the negative attack. Even though the law allows money to have an outsized influence on politics and local elections, the law is the minimal standard, not the higher ethical standard which strengthens, rather than weakens, public trust. Negative campaigns by independent expenditures are particularly harmful to public trust and, therefore, should be strongly discouraged by candidates with the leverage that they have during the campaign and, if elected, while in office.”
With two weeks left before voting deadline, there is plenty of time for Chandra, O’Neill, Kertes, and Cox to issue a statement of condemnation to multiple channels including, but not limited to, SCNO, SVV, SJ Spotlight, and the Mercury News.
“Here’s a copy of the front of a nicely produced mailer by the Santa Clara Police Officers Association that landed in voters’ mailboxes in all districts on Saturday.”
…and since the mailer already landed in resident’s mailboxes this past Saturday, October 19th, Satish Chandra, Teresa O’Neill, David Kertes, and Kelly Cox should not wait for external media publications. They can personally (1) expedite their message of condemnation through digital channels such as their campaign websites, Nextdoor, Facebook, and/or Instagram and (2) reach out to SCPOA to ask for a cease in mailers or unapproved candidate marketing.
There’s a big difference –
When you see name at bottom of flyers/ads/txts/mailers –
you know who’s using fact and who’s using fiction. 🙂
Vote Satish – Teresa – Kelly – David –
Any falsehood on the narrative put out by the POA??
Mailer likely cost 9009
Any disclainers from Jain on the 2 million.
Park, Mental Health Advocate?
CSC (Adam??) – Too bad the mailers are based in fact. If they seem negative – well too bad – the truth hurts when your a criminal.
Suds being outed by Becker is next-up.
CSC,
You willingly expose your views as “bat-shyte” crazy.
You cite an ethics pledge point (in your words… tenet #5). But without any logic or reason you seem to encourage pro-Santa Claran candidates to issue some sort of statement.
BUT YOU FAILED to connect the dots. Nowhere does a recitation of a ‘quote’ of ethics connect anyone who is running, other than the pro-Santa Claran candidates. Suds, Park, Guerra, and Jed York are your sick boyz.
If I was you, I’d vote your home boy Becker, who has sought out professional help for mental health, too.
CSC,
“Discouraging Negative Campaigning” is about discouraging mudslinging.
Publicizing that a candidate for city council is being tried on a charge of felony perjury stemming from lying about using his position to help a corporate special interest conduct PR spin against a critical civil grand jury report is not mudslinging.
It is not campaigning that needs to be discouraged by anyone.
Coming up in just a few days, we have a excellent chance to get our City back.
When we do, we must never ever forget just how bad all of this has been for the last couple of years.
Lesson 1. (Tip there is no Lesson 2)
Never believe anything that anyone related to the NFL is saying as being truthful, honest, or in your best interest.
If you see a Carpet Bagger, Clown, or Criminal, talking, Just nod your head and do the exact opposite of what they are asking you to do.
In the early 80’s Nancy Reagan started a funny little slogan…. “Just say No”. It’s time to bring that iconic statement back to our City. Whenever the local NFL franchise ask anything of us , we just say No.
Of course you are free to say whatever you think is appropriate, I just can’t type those comments here.
Just Remember Lesson 1.
November 5th, I want my City back.
Burt Field
Come with me and you will see 4 campaigns of pure imagination.
Becker, Jain, Guerra, and Park, who oppose campaign ethics , are asking for campaign ethics for themselves. Trump needs some help at the deep fryer.
Carpenter and the Walrus are to speak of many things.
Of cabbages and kings
1) Becker attorneys based their brief on research done by Suds Jain. The Mayor’s stalker.
2) POA and I have been on opposite sides for decades.
3) We agree on one thing.
Chief should be elected. Actually supported each other in 1994 on that issue.
4) 2016
Jain attacked by Blupac
Who did a mailer defending him and Becker?
POA!!!
POA will fight for ethics on several occasions
I think they are too political at times, but the POA has taken the high road on many occasions.
It is a fact.