By Robert Haugh
Santa Clara Councilmember Kevin Park has recently called into two City Council meetings from an undisclosed location.
According to the meeting agendas, Park is using a provision of AB 2449 – the state law that allows remote participation under “just cause.”
The law took effect in 2023 to let local elected officials attend up to two meetings per year remotely without disclosing their physical location. But they have to have a qualifying reason like:
- Childcare or caregiving duties involving close family members,
- A contagious illness preventing in-person attendance,
- Physical or mental disability requiring accommodation,
- Official agency travel.
Park has not publicly explained why he is using the exemption or what the just cause was in either case. The agendas just note the provision without further detail.
He used “just cause” for the June 27, 2025, and July 15, 2025, Council meetings.
Interestingly, these are the only times Park has used this provision.
Chief Bully is at it again, making accusations with innuendos to cause harm. For a fact the reasons do not need to be disclosed. You can only use it twice a year and each council member can use it.
Under AB 2449 (expanding on the Brown Act’s teleconferencing rules), legislators can attend remotely for “just cause” — definitions include things like caregiving, illness, disability, or official travel . The law does not mandate that officials publicly list the exact reason. Instead:
• It’s sufficient that the agenda states “participating remotely under just cause.”
• They are not required to list whether it was due to illness, caregiving, travel, etc.
So while both Park and Chahal triggered the legal exception, the details remain private—they only need to indicate eligibility under the law, not the personal circumstances. Each council member can call in remotely under this provision twice a year.
Good thing God doesn’t sleep.
Mary,
I did not make any accusations or innuendo.
Please tell me what is accusatory on innuendo.
You literally quoted AB2449 exactly as I did in the article. Transparency is pretty important.
Maybe it’s time to repeal AB2449. Park and others no doubt are abusing it. They have turned city hall into a playground that they control for their personal pleasure and hide their activities. Time to clean up city hall.
City attorney AND city manger need to do their jobs. The rules apply to everyone, not just your enemies. Textbook cronyism.
How do we compel him to disclose the reason?