By Robert Haugh
A recent survey of Santa Clara residents reveals strong community sentiment about the sentencing of indicted former Vice Mayor Anthony Becker.
Stand Up for Santa Clara, a local watchdog group, found that 93 percent of the 176 people who responded to its online survey believe Becker should serve jail time for leaking a Grand Jury report to the 49ers and lying about it.
While the survey wasn’t scientific, it loudly and clearly reflects the community’s outrage over Becker’s actions.
According to some comments received from the survey which was done in January and early February 2025, Becker’s behavior has deeply shaken trust in Santa Clara’s local government. Many residents feel that his actions have done significant harm to the city’s reputation and the public’s faith in elected officials.
The survey results and residents’ comments mirror the opinions of some prominent individuals who have written to Judge Javier Alcala asking for him to sentence Becker to prison.
Becker is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday. But reliable sources say the date may be changed because of a potential conflict in Alcala’s schedule for another trial.
Becker could serve up to four years in prison for felony perjury.
[…] Over 90 percent of residents want Becker to serve some time behind bars. And numerous prominent people have written to suggest that Becker deserves prison time. It looks like York is writing to counter their opinions. Here’s York’s complete letter: […]
Dear CSC,
Does Carolyn Schuk help write your stuff too?
Some things are obvious like a trout in the milk.
Becker betrayed the public trust
CSC, Becker has shown a complete lack or remorse, continued to blame others and made no mention of his conviction in his resignation. he has continued to play the victim card. During his trial his attorneys carpet bombed Santa Clarans with unwarranted subpoenas and never called them to testify. This was an effort to keep them out of the courtroom.
In my opinion he owes Santa Clara residents an apology. He put the interests of one business that influenced him with their support over the interests of those who elected him into office.
Based on that, he can sit in a cell and have time to reflect on his poor decisions.
You won’t agree, as you never do. Don’t go away mad, just go away.
According to The Colleges of Law reporting, the California state prison system is at least 10% overcrowded and the average cost to house an inmate is more than $132,000 annually. https://www.collegesoflaw.edu/blog/2024/10/30/prisons-overcrowding-california-edvnts/
• Santa Clara Police Sergeant Thomas Leipelt received 45 days in jail after being convicted of indecent sexual exposure. He served 20 days of pretrial containment, received double credit for that time, and ended up serving just three days post-trial. (2018)
• Santa Clara Police Officer Tyson Green was arrested for multiple felonies regarding stolen car parts and running a ‘chop shop.’ He went from SCPD officer in 2016 to Santa Clara County Code Enforcement Officer in 2018 with little to no prison time.
• Santa Clara Police Sergeant Kiet Nguyen received no jail time after his burglary arrest.
• Santa Clara Police Officer Clay Rojas was sentenced to 3 years in state prison for selling confidential police information to Hells Angels. (2012)
Ex-Councilmember Becker did not benefit financially from his crimes and no one suffered physical or emotional injury. No organization directly or indirectly benefitted from the crimes of which Becker was convicted. Anthony Becker does not threaten the community and there is little benefit of him sitting in a cell on the taxpayer’s dime. With a felony conviction there are a lot of professional and personal things Becker will not be allowed to do, or at least will be heavily scrutinized upon attempting to do so – including employment opportunities.
I know many on this blog will parrot DA Rosen’s “deter other public officials from engaging in similar conduct” statement but many others agree with the Santa Clara County Probation Department’s recommendation of a probation sentencing.
Enjoy your fiber-rich picnic in Morgan Hill tomorrow, Burt. The rest of us who live a more gratifying life will be doing other things.
Your knickers must be in a twist. The walls are closing in. Justice. What a lovely word for so many impacted by this corrupt council especially Becker. Keep attacking. Your words mean nothing. Just leave.
Man, how in the world did I not see this Survey? I must have been doing something really, really important like making sure I had enough fiber in my diet.
Truthfully I’m sick to death of making jokes about how our City has been treated, and apparently, until we learn to vote people into office who will represent us…we should expect nothing to change.
The collateral damage that has been caused to our City is still a mystery to many of us. I bet even Jed has no idea just how far he wants to try and take this. But for sure finding more and more ways to monetize this once thought of collaboration with Santa Clara is #1 on his list of things to do.
Stay tuned… FIFA is coming.
Until I hear anything different, I will be heading South tomorrow morning, and I will be wearing my Orange Giants Sweat Shirt.
Really not sure how much his life will change for the better or worse?
Got a Bed
Got a Toilet
Got a dinning room, 3 times a day
And most importantly, he now has a new long list of people who want to get to know him better.
Wonder if he will put any of those “meetings” into his schedule, or maybe he will just delete that app as well.
If nothing changes, I will be in Morgan Hill tomorrow morning. Hope to see you there.
Burt Field
I had not heard about the survey. I just voted. I wonder how many more people vote after seeing your article. I hope you update us
Debbie
Thanks, for the nudge. Alright I have voted as well. My guess is that 93% might be actually going up this morning.
Just the facts Mam’am