By Robert Haugh

The results are in for what residents think are the strongest reasons that Santa Clara City Councilmember Suds Jain should be recalled.  

According to respondents to a Santa Clara News Online survey, 50 percent say that the strongest argument to recall Jain is because he knew Anthony Becker committed a crime but did not disclose it until he was forced to by a Grand Jury, and that he has led the decline of ethics in city government.

25 percent of respondents say Jain has wasted tax dollars by supporting the highest-paid City Hall leadership in Santa Clara history, and led efforts that recall supporters say have “wasted millions” in taxpayer money.

14 percent believe a strong argument to recall Jain is that he has ignored District 5 neighborhoods on issues like noise, parking, safety, and downtown, while pushing policies that residents say make things worse, like paid parking at the Franklin Mall.

Only 11 percent believe that none of these reasons is recall-worthy.

Here a some comments from the survey respondents:

• A city official who hides a crime from the community is fundamentally lacking transparency and accountability to the public they serve. More specifically, they’re missing: Integrity – Acting in accordance with ethical principles even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. Trustworthiness – Being worthy of the public trust that comes with their position. Courage – The strength to face difficult truths and their consequences rather than taking the easier path of concealment. 

• As usual, Suds is mumbling his mantra “I didn’t know” as an excuse for his malfeasance. Whenever I see the bewildered and vacuous expression on his face, I think of Alfred E. Newman: “What, me worry”?
  
• You forgot to add (to the poll) the failed charter amendment to eliminate the elected Police Chief and City Clerk. To my understanding, he had communication with the Chair while the committee was working on the charter amendment. Not sure if it was illegal but it was certainly unethical.
   
• He knew better; he knew what he needed to do and chose instead to do nothing. He was an elected official. His job at that point was to represent and serve the people who elected him. He needed to report the crime to someone; keeping it a secret was not an option. Just The Facts, Ma’am.
  
• The actions of the 49er Five have hurt Santa Clara more than anything since I moved here in 1996.
  
• He has also put the 49er interest ahead of what should have been our city’s interests. He has been a terrible council person and would never have been elected if the 49ers hadn’t put up all the money to do so. This last opponent only lost by 300+ votes.
  
• Jain has been part of a coalition that hired expensive city staff and given raises after complaining about Deanna Santana’s salary. Jain is a hypocrite and complicit with corruption at city hall. He is a good example of what makes local government bad.
  
• When asked about loud SCU parties, Suds’ advice is to put in new windows. After all, he did that at his house, and it solved all of his problems. Maybe he can get residents interest-free loans so that we can do that too.