By Robert Haugh
Last night, the Santa Clara City Council approved the creation of a Stadium Neighborhood Relations Ad Hoc Subcommittee to strengthen communication with residents and businesses affected by Levi’s Stadium events. This is happening just in time for Super Bowl LX and the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
On the Subcommittee will be Councilmembers Albert Gonzalez, Karen Hardy and Suds Jain, with Raj Chahal as the alternate. Meetings will be held quarterly at the Northside Branch Library, and residents in nearby neighborhoods will be notified in advance.
Councilmembers also voted to expand the committee’s boundaries to include the Rivermark and Montague neighborhoods, in addition to the area south from Gianera Street to Agnew Road and east from Moreland Way to Lick Mill Boulevard up to Calle De Mundo.
These communities are expected to experience the greatest impacts from stadium events, such as traffic, noise, parking overflow, and public safety concerns.
The subcommittee will function as a forum for discussion. They’re not a decision-making body. They’ll bring together city staff, police, stadium management, and neighborhood representatives.
The goal is to address issues like weekend curfews, rideshare zones, creek trail access, and quality-of-life impacts tied to major events.
According to city staff, there will be no new costs beyond existing staff time. Expenses such as public notices and meeting logistics will be covered by the Stadium Authority under current policies.
The first meeting is expected in December 2025.
Editor’s Note: Story was updated 10:30 p.m. on publication date to correct the appointed members of the committee.
Why are members of the 49er 5 part of this ad hoc committee? This defeats the entire purpose of having an entity that can hold Levi’s stadium and the 49ers accountable for the disruption their stadium causes in the community. All of our concerns and suggestions for improvement will only get disregarded in this case.
Also, no credit to the council members for the idea to create an oversight committee. According to old PRAs this was an idea created by the 49ers in their constant lobbying meetings with Suds Jain, Raj Chahal, and Karen Hardy. This is just another performative stunt from the 49ers to make their Councilmember puppets appear competent and community focused. Fascinating lengthens the 49ers public affairs team will go to in order to make their favorite puppets look good.
We just watched the video of last night’s Council discussion on the Stadium Neighborhood Relations committee. After much discussion, the Council selected Albert Gonzalez, Karen Hardy and Suds Jain to be the members of the committee. Raj Chahal was selected as the alternate member. This should be a correction to the story as published today.
Perhaps most interesting was the lengthy debate by the Council about the purpose of this committee, the structure as a Ad Hoc committee vs a standing committee, and the lack of representation for residents of the area as members of the committee. This only reinforces the idea that this committee is just for show and not for any action.
School board telling city council how to conduct business? Stay in your lane.
You got a $30m deficit and resizing
Issues. Take care of your own problems
before telling others how to solve theirs.
Chahal and Jain understand time is a factor here. Think of the residents for a change. Many tried to share that but your heads can’t get wrapped around that concept.
If Jain has 5 votes on council why didn’t he get this committee done years ago like he said.
Listening to how this item played out last night with time wasting alternate and alternate alternate motions, its clear this council doesn’t know what it wants and that doesn’t bode well for the residents.
Just shudda’ gone with the Vice Mayor’s motion the first time. Made a helluva’ much more sense.
The stooges are at it again. There haven’t been such complications made over such a simple issue since Becker was forced to resign. I am shocked he didn’t show up and make the motion to appoint himself and all his buddies.
My suggestion, whatever this group recommends, take a good second, third and maybe even a fourth look at it.
By the way, the old Agnew Site is surrounded by Park Land…. which is protected by Measure “R”.
By law, it will be up to us if we are willing to give that up at any cost.
Just The Facts Ma’am
.
It seems like this committee is based on the NURC, which stands for Neighborhood University Relations Committee. This was established to help with the neighborhood surrounding Santa Clara University issues. As far as we can tell, it is a wasted effort. People come to the meetings to explain their issues and problems. Suds is the chair of this committee. Nothing is ever done. Things go on as before. It seems to me that this is just to pacify the neighborhood, to let us think that the city is being pro-active, but yet zero results. As I said, a waste of time. It is a way for the councilmembers to look like they are doing something when in reality they are doing nothing.
Dear Community,
Without a public body that can actually have a Voice and a Vote, your waisting you time.
The money from the Team, is already put a muzzle on the Community.
This is my opinion with the History in Esst San Jose as a guide.
Look at High Speed Rail that promised not to take property or Parks in the Gardner Community.
Look at VTA and BART that now wants a 30 story building, when one NEVER EXISTED IN AND URBAN VILLAGE PLAN.
YES WE WERE INVOLVED FROM THE START BUT ARE NOW BEING RUN OVER BY GOVERNMENT.
Be careful who you Vote for.
In Community Spirit,
Danny Garza
Ironworkrdanny@yahoo.com
Morning Robert. Thank you again for keeping us all informed on council meeting news.