By Kathy Watanabe
I write this letter with both gratitude and sadness. It’s been my pleasure to serve you. But because of term limits, I’m stepping down in a few weeks.
I walked into City Hall eight years ago and swore to be honest, ethical, and put the interests of our community first. I worked hard to fulfill that pledge to you. I won’t forget you. And I won’t forget the needs of Santa Clara and our district.
That’s why I’m working hard to support Satish “Sunny” Chandra. I want us to be represented by someone who has the right values and who can’t be bought.
Sunny is the only candidate for (Santa Clara’s Northside) District One City Council who can say these things:
- He has the support of both Santa Clara Firefighters and Police Officers – the men and women who protect our neighborhoods.
- He has taken the Santa Clara Ethics Pledge to discourage negative campaigning. You may have noticed that Sunny is the only candidate running both a positive and optimistic campaign.
- He was the only person in this race to lead the fight against the effort to take away our rights to vote for a police chief – and he won, thank goodness!
The stadium creates major challenges for our neighborhoods. Chandra is the only candidate who has not received a dime from the 49ers – and the person you can trust.
His opponents have received campaign help that totals an astonishing $1.6 million over two elections. With that type of money behind them, are they trustworthy?
I respectfully ask that you vote for Sunny to make sure District One has good, strong leadership.
We so love Kathy Watanabe, also, and are sad to see her go, but she will have a presence elsewhere (School Board). Kathy ALWAYS responded to our emails regarding Santa Clara affairs, and, yes, did walk the neighborhoods, so has been inspiring in our hopes to get the newcomers elected, who are doing just that and not kicking back with Debartolo funding. Please, please contribute to this reset of Santa Clara governance (and honor Kathy’s legacy) by voting for Satish Chandra, Teresa O’Neill, David Kertes, Kelly Cox and a big YES on measure I.
Thank you, evets77, for your kind words. I appreciate them.
On June 16, 2015, Donald Trump descended his golden escalator and began spewing vitriol and bigotry. Claiming that Mexicans were bringing drugs and were criminals and rapists. This rhetoric of racism, xenophobia, anti-Muslim sentiment, and sexism continued throughout his presidency and persists to this day.
Now, nine years later, we have a candidate for Santa Clara City Council who supported Trump through a PAC he was involved with and which endorsed him. The reasons for his support fall flat, as he mentions Bernie Sanders, who was not the Democratic nominee—President Joe Biden was. He also references the US relationship with India. I care deeply about Santa Clara.
From the moment of Trump’s 2015 announcement, it was clear he would be a negative force in our democracy. As a school board member, I witnessed the impact he had on students, particularly our most vulnerable. This marked the beginning of the mental health crisis, which was later exacerbated by COVID
It took an entire Trump term, his election loss, and his attempts to undermine our democracy before your endorsed candidate finally condemned those actions in January 2021.
We need leaders who stand with the most vulnerable in our community, not those whose values aligned with Trump in 2020.
So, I ask you: Is this the person you are standing with and endorsing for the City of Santa Clara District 1?
Santa Clara deserves the best.
Satish’s words:
My involvement with a bipartisan PAC (way back in 2020) rooted in Indian values has always focused on supporting candidates based on their merits and positions on key issues. In 2020, our PAC chose to support Trump due to Bernie Sanders’ anti-India and Hinduphobic comments, which were well-documented across various news outlets. At that time, Trump was viewed as a strong ally for enhancing the India-U.S. relationship, which influenced my decision. As citizens, advocate for robust democracies like the U.S. and India, I believed it was essential for the betterment of both nations.
Albert Gonzalez go crawl back in your hole. We’ve seen your Jed backed campaign ads and flyer. That’s all we need to know about you.
Robert,
I would like to know what Satish Chandra’s explanation is of his historical support for Donald Trump and spreading of Trump’s lies to overturn a free and fair election in 2020. I have read that Chandra has made some kind of explanation or clarification about this but I do not know what he has specifically said.
It would be a service to your readers to ask Chandra about this. But not only this because it is only one factor in judging Chandra’s suitability to serve on our city council. I have not seen him provide detail on his positions on many specific issues concerning our city. He chose to not participate in the same question and answer opportunities offered to all candidates by the Silicon Valley Voice. I have not seen him provide detailed positions through your website or on his Facebook page or his campaign website. His campaign website only has very general statements. And I was not able to attend the candidate forum at the Portuguese hall.
I am concerned about the stadium being managed properly and making sure that we get our fair due in profits. I am concerned about the council majority not acting transparently in their communications with the Forty Niners and always voting in ways that the Forty Niners would want them to vote while also getting millions of dollars in political support from them. But there are many more issues that the city faces and I want to know what all candidates positions on these issues are.
I want to know what all candidates think about the recent controversies involving the stadium and the Forty Niners. I want to know what they all think about the infrastructure bond and how to deal with rising employee pension costs and specific ideas for saving the swim center and building more housing in the city and building emergency and supportive housing for the homeless and what we can do to make our streets safer and what we can do to get redevelopment of the old golf course actually underway. I am interested in their opinions on all these and many more issues.
Beyond all these general questions I have for all candidates when it comes to Chandra I would also like to know if he believes that the presidential election in 2020 was legitimate or not. I do not usually think that opinions on national political candidates are important for judging local political candidates. In years past I do not remember caring very much if a council candidate was a supporter of one of the Clintons or one of the Bushes or Jimmy Carter or Richard Nixon. However I do care about a local candidate’s opinions on Donald Trump. If a local candidate supports a man who has tried to illegally overturn a legitimate election I want to know this. If a local candidate supports a man who incited a mob of his followers who then violently forced their way past police to storm our capitol building to disrupt the certification of that legitimate election I want to know this.
Any local candidate who states that he supports Trump now is showing us all that he is either defective in his intelligence or in his morals. When we are talking about a candidate in any election for any public office their opinion on protecting the sanctity of democratic elections matters.
Hello Buscher,
Let me be clear. Back in 2020 and earlier, I was an Indian citizen volunteering for a PAC that endorsed Trump, primarily to foster better relations between India and the U.S. However, after the January 6th Capitol riot in 2021, I reassessed my position. Once I became a U.S. citizen, I registered as a Democrat.
Regarding my perception of the 2020 elections, I believe they were legitimate and demonstrate that our democracy functions as it should.
It’s deeply concerning and disheartening that DeBartolo and 49ers owner Jed York have framed me as an extremist or a radical. Such accusations are not only cheap but also dangerous, especially in light of recent attacks on the President. These claims have had a serious impact on my family, particularly my kids, who are exposed to these false narratives. For the record, I do not know what QAnon is, nor have I promoted any anti-vaccine information; in fact, I was among the first to receive the COVID vaccine back in March 2021.
As for policies, my three years of experience as a member of the Chief Advisory Committee for the Santa Clara Police Department and my role in the Charter Review Committee on the ballot measure to transition from an elected to an appointed police chief have provided me with valuable insights. I welcome your feedback to help me craft effective policies for the betterment of our community. I am committed to being a good listener, honest, ethical, accountable, and full of integrity.
It’s worth noting that even our beloved Congressman Ro Khanna was a Republican before transitioning to the Democratic Party. Additionally, Karen Hardy, our City Council member, holds a position within the GOP. Should we also label them as radicals or extremists for their political affiliations? This raises important questions about how we define and discuss political identities and the standards we apply to others.
Please check my interview with San Francisco Chronicle at this link also. https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/49ers-spend-2-4m-new-political-ads-keep-control-19867114.php.
Reach out to me
Satish4council@gmail.com
Satish,
Thank you for your lengthy reply to my comment. I am glad to read you affirming that the 2020 national election was legitimate and that you had a negative reaction to the January 6th Capitol riot and that this lead you to register as a Democrat. What I feel is missing is a denunciation of Donald Trump because he was the man who promoted the rally that came before the riot and used language and lies that directly lead to the riot and also sat back and did nothing but watch the riot for hours.
This is only one of many factors for us all to consider when choosing who to vote for in local elections. I do not live in your district but in the time remaining before the election it might be good for you to be clear that you do not support Donald Trump any more and are now against him if this is what you feel about him now. You were clearly a Trump supporter before and I have never seen you publicly reject him including in this reply that you have written. If I were able to vote for or against you I would be more interested in more than your party registration.
I have seen some of the ads that the Forty Niners groups have run and I think they are deceptive and go too far. I do not take them into account but I do care whether or not any public officials are Trump supporters.
As for your question about Karen Hardy I know that she is a member of the Republican central committee for the area and this decreases my respect for her amongst some other ways she has acted. But being a central committee member of the Republican party is not the same thing as being a vocal Trump supporter. It does not mean a person is a political extremist automatically.
Harbia Bhatia has robbed poor Senior Indian citizens of $119 millions of hard earned savings & scammed Non Profit Organizations being part of Silicon Sage Builders. Their own media loving SanJose Spotlight reported. If u r voting her then think about scams & filth she will bring into City Politics.
https://sanjosespotlight.com/nonprofits-say-they-were-victims-of-sunnyvale-firm-accused-of-fraud/
Dear Community,
In Short this is true.
Siliconsage was criminal and Members are in jail still.
She was terrible to the Community in District 5.
2 Locations were supposed to be developed and she was supposed to work with our East Valley Community.
Federal prison for her bosses.
At the time she was sucking up to Magdalena Carrasco and Omar Torres.
Our Community is far better off WITHOUT HER.
I am open for discussion.
In Community Spirit,
Danny Garza Ironworkrdanny@yahoo.com
President
Plata Arroyo Neighborhood Association and Gateway East N.A.C.
Why would anyone in right mind vote Harbir or Albert the Ghost?
Myself and Indian neighbors have been intimidated by Harbir and her squad to vote and put up her campaign sign even when told no. Is this how American politics work? I saw sign for her in neighbor’s recycling. Good for them. If you stand for office you cannot be causing intimidation or harassment. Me and my friends say no to Harbir and yes to Satish Chandra.
Come on CSC (Singer Asso) – this is your best negative post – “The 49ers aren’t a fiscal or policy threat to Santa Clara”. Thats a really weak shot.
$40,000/ month to interfere with the election with fake news? You need to do better!
CSC is a paid $hit disturber from Singer Associates, a PR firm hired by the the 49ers.
“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain”
Notice his pattern of ONLY negative comments every time.
I’m guessing his contract runs out at midnight on Nov 5th
And don’t forget we’re at the very start of flu season so remember to get that disinfectant injection, as Satish “Sunny” Chandra promoted, to ward off COVID.
“Chandra is the only candidate who has not received a dime from the 49ers – and the person you can trust.” The 49ers aren’t a fiscal or policy threat to Santa Clara residents and taxpayers, the SCPOA is and Chandra is taking a lot of money from them. In case readers don’t know, the Police Officers’ Association is a business entity just like any other business association and their meddling in local government and support of bad policies has cost taxpayers millions of dollars, here’s just one example: https://www.criminallegalnews.org/news/2017/nov/16/california-mom-paid-67-million-after-police-broke-her-ankle-during-warrantless-entry-her-home/
Chandra recently participated in a candidate forum where he underperformed against Harbir Bhatia and Albert González. It is clear he does’t have the professional experience or vision needed to adequately represent residents, the new schools, and small businesses in District 1. Residents should vote for Harbir Bhatia.
Who the hell wants to vote for someone who has fleeced the city out of $10k thanks to her 49er from the council who handed her city funds for her Hey! Look at me! fake Diwali event!
And how about all those non profits that got stiffed when Harbir Bhatia was community benefits director for the now bankrupt Silicon Sage that preyed on older South Asians stealing $119M of their hard earned money! Never to be seen again!
And in the same roll for Silicon Sage stiffed San Jose non profits out of promised sponsorship money!
And let’s not forget the Santa Clara non-profits that also got stiffed! A top $25k sponsorship was promised to Mission City Community Fund. Never saw a dime.
Santa Clara Police Activities League was promised $2500 for top sponsorship for annual golf tournament. Silicon Sage sent a foursome, played, ate and left the event. Next day shifty Harbir tells PAL that the foursome didn’t have a good time and PAL got nothing! PAL trusted her because she was known in community and got boldfaced fleeced.
So this is who is on ballot. A sheister who was backed by 49ers in 2020 and lost. The 49ers don’t forget or forgive a debt so Harbir is on their hook, line and sinker.
So CSC that’s the person you say to vote for? You need to do better research.
Vote Satish Chandra. He’s not on the hook with the 49ers. That says a lot in this town!
CSC
Yeah… not worth my time.
But wait… at the same time, we have one of our two Santa Clara City Council Member Kathy Watanabe making a very important point. How do I know it’s important? She is saying it!
She stands in support of Satish Chandra.
That tells me everything I need to know.
Also I did attended those ridiculous Charter Review Meetings, yes the ones that ended up costing us the residents over $600,000 of our Cities money. You know the Charter Review that the 49ers wanted us change to make our Chief of Police and City Clerk to be appointed instead of Elected.
By the way, who was that Chair…. Jeff Houston!!! Way to go Jeff….
If you see him around town give him a hug, or High 5, he is feeling a bit down because no one will let him forget just how bad he screwed our City out of so much money.
Satish “Sunny” Chandra was the loudest voice in the room telling everyone that we should not make that change. Had they listened… we would still have that $600K to use elsewhere around out town, instead it is gone.
Just imagine $600K being applied to helping the infrastructure of our Iconic Santa Clara Swim Center.
By the way, did we really need to spend that much money to find out just how much we as residents love the fact that we get to choose who represents us?
At the end of the day….
Elected Police Chief over 72% supported
Elected City Clerk over 64% supported
Vote… November 5th or before.
Listen to our proven leaders and who they support.
5+ days until we can start to get our City Back.
I can’t wait.
Finally when you see our Mayor…. she has earned a “High 5”.
She walked almost every day a different neighborhood.
I am so proud of her and her steadfast belief in our City.
Jed York made a HUGE mistake in lying to her.
Burt Field
408.687.2622
burt.field@gmail.com
It’s disappointing to see such derogatory and misleading statements being spread. I stand by my commitment to transparency and integrity in this campaign. While I appreciate the mention of the 49ers, it’s important to clarify that my support comes from a place of prioritizing our community’s needs, not from outside interests.
Regarding the Police Officers’ Association, I believe in working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents. My experience and vision for District 1 are rooted in listening to our community and advocating for their interests.
I encourage everyone to seek facts over fear-mongering and to engage in constructive dialogue about the future of our city. Let’s focus on what truly matters for our community—better schools, support for small businesses, and a safer Santa Clara for all.
Adam, that was not a fake Diwali event but a “campaign kickoff” for a scam artist who ripped the city community fund of $10,000. Disgusting and despicable behavior for someone who is CEO of chamber of commerce. No wonder many business representatives have left chamber. Karma is alive and well.