By Robert Haugh
The Santa Clara City Council will meet today to come up with priorities for the year.
A year ago, they came up with 43 big priorities for 2024. By year’s end? Only three were completed.
That’s a seven percent completion rate.
Twelve items were labeled “baseline/ongoing.” That means they were already part of routine city work.
Another 18 were “underway,” many still in early planning stages. And 10 new priorities haven’t started at all.
One of the few “high priority” accomplishments was creating a system to allow Councilmembers to speak at public events. If that seems like a big deal, it wasn’t. At least it wasn’t to the Santa Clara residents.
A 2024 citywide survey presented at the March 2024 retreat showed people care about affordable housing, economic development, and road maintenance.
What else got accomplished? A bond measure was placed on the ballot. An Economic Development Director was hired. Police patrols returned to parks. That’s it, according to the City Staff report.
Meanwhile, efforts to fix the broken permitting system, expand housing, or provide off-street parking for people living in RVs remain stuck.
Many items are delayed or unfunded. Some are being shelved until further notice.
Even projects that are “underway” are inching along. The International Swim Center? Still closed. Downtown revitalization? Still in planning. Shuttle expansion? Still underfunded.
The City Staff says that some priorities may “need to be shifted” due to staffing or budget issues.
Translation: it probably won’t happen at all.
I can just see it now: ‘We are going to be laser focused on these 43 items.’
“A year ago, they came up with 43 big priorities for 2024. By year’s end? Only three were completed. That’s a seven percent completion rate.”
This is what happens when our city is run by a football team, and not an independent city council that actually cares about the city and its inhabitants.
DK, yes. You get more than 3 – 5 top priorities, you have none. The way you get so many is you have a committee come up with the list, not a team. You will have at least as many top priorities as there are committee members. I may be retired but I haven’t forgotten some of the basics.
CSC – that situation with Kevin Park and Watanabe was a set up, anyone that read past the headline knows that. In his usual fashion Kevin waited until well past the deadline and the speaker spots were filled before he insisted on speaking. Then scream racism when he is told there is no room at the inn. Grow up, Kevin. Read closer csc. Nice to see Gary knows who you are.
“One of the few high priority accomplishments was creating a system to allow Councilmembers to speak at public events. If that seems like a big deal, it wasn’t. At least it wasn’t to the Santa Clara residents.”
It was. According to City of Santa Clara demographics, 45.9% of residents are Asian, and most, if not all, were disturbed by ex-Councilmember Kathy Watanabe prohibiting Council Member Kevin Park from speaking at an event to “Stop Asian hate.” Kathy is Caucasian, assuming her Japanese surname through marriage. Kevin Park is Asian (Korean).
“A 2024 citywide survey presented at the March 2024 retreat showed people care about affordable housing, economic development, and road maintenance.”
Yeah, and they were duped by the ballot book language of Measure I which read, “To improve 911 emergency response; fix streets to reduce potholes and provide safer roads and routes for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists; upgrade storm drains/pipes to prevent flooding/sinkholes; and renovate/replace recreation, library and other community facilities; shall the City of Santa Clara’s measure authorizing $400,000,000 in bonds, funded by levying an estimated $19 per $100,000 of assessed value while bonds are outstanding, generating approximately $21,674,000 annually, with annual audits and citizen oversight of spending, be adopted?
The Argument in Favor of Measure I was signed by Lisa Gillmor, Kathy Watanabe, Pat Nikolai, Anthony Pascoal, and Judy Hubbard, who omitted the $186,222,950 intended for a tactical shoot-house and another fire station that will go underutilized.
“The City Staff says that some priorities may need to be shifted due to staffing or budget issues. Even projects that are underway are inching along.”
1. The International Swim Center? Still closed. A brand new ISC is estimated to cost between $80-million and $100-million. Santa Clara’s website lists firefighters receiving $142,235,450 Measure I funds for a 10th fire station residents don’t need. Notice how Gillmor dropped her support for a new Olympic swim pool after Measures A&B?
2. Downtown revitalization? Still in planning. If Santa Clara police officers need additional tactical training, they can train at the County Sheriff’s facility, like every otherice in the County does. SCPD doesn’t need their own $43,987,500 good ol’ boys indoor combat town shoot house. The $43M should be used for downtown revitalization instead since a tactical shoot-house wasn’t specifically submitted to voters.
3. Shuttle expansion? Still underfunded. $115,258,750 of the $400M Measure I bond is earmarked for Parks, Libraries, and Aquatic Center. Part of that budget should go to improving city shuttle services, as seniors and the physically/mentally challenged will likely benefit the most transporting them to parks, libraries, pools, and other city facilities.
CSC, are you still paying restitution to the City for your frivolous law suit against the police department?
CSC, that’s why I didn’t vote for the measure. It was not well defined.
CSC, Station 10 was demolished as part of the plans for the Related project. Related agreed to build a new station 10. It’s not on the city’s dime.
There’s no Asian hate in SC. Only what was self created by the 49ers and their 49er 5.
No city can get 40 done. They should have a maximum of 10 or less