By Robert Haugh
District 5 residents filed a recall notice against Councilmember Suds Jain, submitting 80 signatures. That’s 20 over what’s required to start the process. Wow.
Jain was served with the papers at the Council meeting on Tuesday.
“Councilmember Jain has consistently put special interests ahead of the people of District 5,” said Recall Campaign organizer David Kertes. “Our seniors, youth, small businesses, and neighborhoods have been ignored while millions in public funds have been wasted. We cannot afford another 3.5 years of this.”
Campaign leaders point to Jain approving compensation packages that produced the highest-paid administration in city history.
Jain’s also wasted millions by backing a downtown “revitalization” with no visible results, and pushing a ballot measure to end elections for Police Chief and City Clerk.
That Jain-led political effort tanked big time last year.
The campaign will also tie Jain to former Santa Clara City Councilmember Anthony Becker.
Here’s what Kertes said at the Council meeting about Jain’s personal integrity (or lack thereof):
“The pattern is undeniable: a Councilmember (Jain) who publicly advocated leniency for a convicted felon (Becker) rather than upholding the rule of law, who failed to report serious misconduct allegations in a timely manner, and who opposed the ethics commission recommended by our own Civil Grand Jury.”
(Note to residents: We thought we saw the last of Anthony Becker in our mailboxes. But maybe we haven’t.)
Jain’s poor representation of his district will also get a lot of play. Here’s what the group’s press release cites about Jain’s failures:
- no support for extended hours at the Senior Center,
- inaction on youth sports fields at Haman and Wilson,
- ignoring late-night disturbances near Santa Clara University,
- support for paid parking at Franklin Mall,
- a Benton Street bike lane plan that fizzled, and
- pushing the 22 Washington (Normandy House) project over neighborhood concerns.
To force a recall election, proponents must gather 2,055 valid signatures—20 percent of the district’s 10,271 registered voters—within 120 days.
If the signatures are verified, the city would order a special election to decide whether Jain should be removed from office. That election would be held 88 to 125 days after the order, or up to 180 days if consolidated with a regularly scheduled election.
The recall effort released a preliminary list of its supporters, some outside of District 5. A lot of prominent Mission City residents are on it:
Satish Chandra
Kathy Watanabe
Lee Hoang
Burt Field
Tony Santos
Debbie Tryforos
Patrick Coughlin
Dana Caldwell
Howard Myers
Brett Alexander
Matthew Bys
Dave Lewis
Debra Cordova
Loretta Gilmartin
Charles Cramer
Linda Zazzara
Here’s contact information for the campaign:
Email: Contact@SantaClaransForRecallofSudsJain.com
Phone: (669) 200-3354
Facebook: RecallSudsJain
[…] originally gathered 80 signatures from District Five residents to start the petitioning process. That’s 20 more than legally […]
Ed, your opinion of New York Pizza is just that, your opinion.
His pizza is very popular and quite good as a New York style pizza.
Kirk is an asset to our community.
The Mayor and Kathy Watanabe were not present at the meeting or they would have spoken out against Parks childish behavior.
I support Kirk 100% as a passionate business
Owner in Santa Clara.
Thank you, Dana. You are correct that the Mayor nor I were present at that council meeting. I had just broken my arm that morning and the Mayor was recovering from hip replacement surgery. However, at the next council meeting, I made a point to address the intentional attack on a member of the public after another member of the public expressed their concern during Public Comment. I pointed out the dias is for City business and igrievances should be taken outside.
Ms. Caldwell and Ms. Watanabe underscore a key point. JAIN HAD A PARLIAMENTARY
RESPONSIBLITY to lodge a point of order or an objection the minute Park abused his role as chairperson. The chair is obligated
to be neutral Vartan should have been given his time and then thanked. Check Roberts
What does Jain about business development in downtown areas?
Nothing.
Frequent political opponent of Kirk Vartsn, but to downgrade his pizza is tge mark of a silly person. It is very well made, very authentic and Kirk does deserve his awards. He also is an excellent host to the public. Vartan, worker comp plan is a excellent idea. So a critic and opponent rates Vartan as a A grade restaurenter. Now there have been political campaigns he has initiated that were of value, so as an activist he also gets an A.
In any case, to humiliate Vartan was WRONG!!
JAIN SAID NOTHING.
LOYALTON
It is a matter of fact that Loyalton has valued mineral deposits.
Jain opposed tge stadium and was a backer of Strphrn Hazel.
Time to take out the trash.
Time to put leadership in District 5.
Time to put leadership in District 4.
Time for leadership in District 2.
Time for leadership in District 3.
Time for leadership in District 1.
Time for change.
Dump Suds down the drain & off SCCouncil !!
There are some thing I do not support that Suds supports. WE do not have to agree on everything. Overall Suds Jain is an asset to this community.
I believe most of the Council stood(sat) by when Park dedicated the book to Kurt Vartain.
Kurt is a business man who lives in San Jose and sells mediocre pizza. He has offer his opinions to the council on numerous occasions, seldom in constructive manner.
67 secret meetings with the 49ersd??? secret from who?
Loyalton property was a bad move by previous council. it was decreasing in value…why hold on to it??
Was accomplice after the fact… Jain had no duty to report Becker for an off hand remark.
Has never developed a downtown business… what does this mean ???
The case against Suds Jain
Seeks to eliminate free parking in Santa Clara
Invests in companies he urges Silicon Valley Power to do business with.
Campaigned against releasing public records, wrote op ed pieces urging exemption of CPRA
Was accomplice after the fact in Becker perjury case.
Sat by while Kevin Park humiliated a council watcher recommending ethics commission
Claimed a retired substitute teacher for poor East Side schools *never worked a day in his life*
Led sale of valuable Loyalton property to a campaign ally.
Organized 67 secret meetings with 49ers
Launched a tirade against long time Santa Clara family at Farmers Market
Worked with Dominic Caserta on flavored tobacco.
Has never developed downtown businesses