By David Kertes, Leela Coughlin, Howard Myers and Linda Zazzara
We don’t sign recall petitions lightly. Like many Santa Clara residents, we believe disagreement alone isn’t grounds to remove an elected official. But when a councilmember repeatedly votes against residents’ financial interests, sidelines community priorities, and concentrates power without accountability, that’s not a policy difference — it’s a failure of representation.
New City Hall Costs, Led by Jain: $20 Million
Suds Jain was the deciding vote to potentially move Santa Clara City Hall from its current location to Agnews. That single vote could cost residents roughly $20 million — money Jain described as “extra,” as if taxpayers wouldn’t feel it. There was no emergency and no voter mandate. Just a costly decision pushed through on a split council, with residents left holding the bill.
City Manager Pay, Led by Jain: $631,000 per year
Then there’s executive pay. Jain voted to increase the City Manager’s compensation package to $631,000 per year. That’s more than the President of the United States, more than the Vice President, and more than the Governor of California — and higher than roughly 70 percent of Silicon Valley CEOs. In a city where residents face rising fees and service pressures, that vote showed profoundly misplaced priorities.
Super Bowl and FIFA Costs, Supported by Jain: $46 million
Jain also voted to hand the City Manager full control over Super Bowl and FIFA negotiations, stripping away meaningful City Council oversight. The result: the Super Bowl is projected to cost Santa Clara residents more than $6 million, and FIFA could saddle the city with over $40 million in losses. These are not abstract numbers. They are real, long-term financial impacts that residents will pay for years.
But this recall isn’t only about big-dollar decisions. It’s about who shows up for the community.
Jain Ignores Playing Fields and Senior Center
When Wilson Adult Education fields were facing the loss of up to 50 percent of their space, Jain didn’t show up. Residents did. We fought — and saved 85 percent of those fields. The same lack of engagement happened with the T-Ball, Rookie, and Farm fields at Haman. These are not fringe issues. These are the places where kids play, and neighborhoods connect.
Our seniors have been ignored as well. Jain has not pushed to extend Senior Center hours or reduce program fees, even as older residents face rising costs and fewer options.
This isn’t one bad vote. It’s a pattern.
Santa Clara deserves leadership that protects public money, fights for neighborhoods, and shows up consistentlyfor residents. Signing the recall petition isn’t about politics. It’s about accountability.
We’ve signed the recall petition, and we’re standing behind it publicly. We will be at the Santa Clara Farmers’ Market every weekend, talking with residents, answering questions, and asking for your signature.
If you’re concerned about how your money is being spent — and whether your councilmember is truly representing you — we invite you to come talk to us or volunteer to walk and get signatures for the petition.
Santa Clara can’t afford more of the same.
Funny Suds has no problem giving the CM a raise (or the CM not having an issue with taking it!), but they take issue with fairly compensating FD staff for all the tireless work they are being forced to do for the Super Bowl. And why do they even care when the costs are not from City budget? These guys need to go.
Sudx lives in a mansion in downtown and has done Nothing for it. Lisa Gillmor as a realtor has brought a half dozen businesses and dozens of new homeowners. Jain is a phony and a liar. Public record requests about his councilman actions have been delayed for Five months.
Jain invests in the very industries he decries.
Jain is a moral coward
Suds has severe hatred for residents.
I’ll be voting to recall suds for many reasons off the top of my head. Costing us almost $1,000,000 (one million! dollars} for a failed special election politically motivated by the 49ers his puppet masters. A dumb idea for paid parking and paid parking garage for franklin mall that is already desperate for business. Constantly meeting with 49ers and giving them preferential treatment over those citizens he represents, not doing at all what is in best interest of the city. Suds protected a felon on our city council by not being forthcoming with what should have been mandatory for him to report to the police and not hidden by suds.
I applaud citizens like Mary and Dan who have fought for a downtown santa clara for many years. All of a sudden everybody was blindsided by our city manager and suds jain who unilaterally announced $20 million dollar down payment for a new downtown by the old Agnews. This is crazy!!!!! How can dan and mary keep supporting Suds when he has publicly stabbed them in the back? Only way a downtown by the old downtown will work is if the city hall is moved back to where it belongs in the old downtown area in the heart of our city and not somewhere in the very north part of santa clara….DOWNTOWN BELONGS DOWNTOWN AND NOT BY AGNEWS WHICH SUDS IS PUSHING FOR!!!!! Our city manager and suds both should be FIRED!
Why I don’t support Suds
Suds is not a leader for District 5. Suds does not engage on issues that District 5 residents bring to him such as street maintenance in District 5, concerns about SVP during the major storm blackout in 2024, off campus SCU student housing concerns, concerns about continued growth of SCU which will bring additional housing pressures, concerns about development projects that don’t fit with the neighborhood. He does not advocate visibly in active support for rebuilding Downtown. We expect and want someone to take a leadership role in advocating for our District.
Suds has minimal communication with District 5 residents. Suds had declined to publish a District 5 Newsletter although many other Councilmembers do so. Apparently District 5 residents don’t need information and communication. Only now, after the recall was started, has Suds published a District Newsletter.
Suds supported proposals that waste taxpayer funds. Suds promoted the special election to revise the City Charter to appoint rather than elect the City Clerk and the Police Chief. This special election wasted taxpayer funds at a time when it was clear that the majority of voters opposed the proposed change. Suds supported spending City funds on a consultant study of parking fees at Franklin again when it was clear that there was little support for this.
Suds is very influenced by 49ers. Suds claims not to be influenced by the support the 49ers have provided him in his campaigns. However, his voting record is consistently in favor of the 49ers. He defends his support as “making the best of it”. He has failed to hold the 49ers accountable for actions such as committing to the Super Bowl and the World Cup without the City’s consent. He has failed to hold the 49ers accountable for their lack of community engagement with Santa Clara and lack of support for local Santa Clara needs.
Here is why I don’t support Suds by Kathy Kelsey
There are many reasons that I do not support Suds.
1. We have open houses and invite the neighbors, and candidates. Several years ago, before there were districts in Santa Clara we had Suds, Kevin, Raj, Debi Davis. Drinks and merriment. Later Suds sent out a postcard (before the 49er support) listing people that were supporting him. He listed myself and my husband. He did not ask us if this was true, he just mailed it out. We had to send out emails to our neighbors explaining that we had not yet decided who to vote for. But this led me to not vote for Suds.
2. More recently my husband asked if Suds would help with the 6-story building that is being proposed where the Normandy House currently is. The traffic is already bad at that intersection. Suds replied that it wouldn’t be that bad, as it is only 4 stories, and we need the housing. We went around and around with him, explaining that it is 6 stories. We sent him the link on the city’s website showing 6 stories. I would hope that our district’s representative on city council would be more informed on what is happening in our district. He told us that he cannot direct staff, and that he is only one vote. This seems to be his normal response to any complaints. We only ask that he advocate for the residents. 6 stories is too high.
3. We have issues with SCU students in our neighborhood. When neighbors complain, Sud’s solution is that they should talk to the students. He also recommends they put in new dual pane windows. Well, the last time I got a quote on new windows, I almost fainted. This is not always a realistic solution. I’m glad he could do it on his house, but it won’t be happening at our house. Instead of us knocking on student’s doors, I’d like to see Suds knocking on the University’s door, and on the Police Chief’s door. And make the NURC committee be more than it currently is. He is the chair.
4. On one of Sud’s update calls, we talked about the proposed apartment complex that is currently being built in front of the Safeway parking lot on Park and the Alameda.
We were dismayed because the building was not allowing for enough parking spaces. Since we know that it is across the street from the University, it would be filled with students who have cars. When we expressed our displeasure at this, Suds actually said (not verbatim) I am happy to have the students on that side of campus, and not on my side of campus. I replied, don’t you represent us and our neighborhood? This is my neighborhood.
5. My husband applied to be on the NURC committee last year. He has been very active in the neighborhood, and has worked with the University and the students to calm the situation down. When the committee was opened up to one resident, Suds voted against him. We believe because we support the recall. Instead, he voted for a resident who has lived in Santa Clara for 3 years and never attended a NURC committee meeting before. Mark has been active working with the University since 2014. He is also on the University Task Force. This is another example of Suds doing what is best in his interest, and not what is best for the community.
However, this has not been a bad result—when it is time for the public to speak, Suds as Chair has to recognize Mark and hear what Mark has to say.
I apologize that this is so long. And congratulations if you finished reading it.
I am forcing myself to stop, time to fix dinner, but believe me, I could go on….the fountains, parking downtown, senior center, all of the homes on our street with basements that flooded (that is a long story). I want a representative who will listen to the residents.
https://www.dezeen.com/2026/02/04/superbowl-60-levis-stadium-hntb/
On the wrong site
There are other members of the council that do not vote in the best interest of SC. But I can’t sign a petition to recall them, I am not in their district. See you at the Farmer’s Market tomorrow.
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/bay-area-burned-restaurant-sign-levis-stadium-21331663.php
Thanks sudd
To be fair, Suds was elected to the council in Nov 2020. He’s done enough to tell me we don’t want him.
What about the paid parking in Downtown? That’s pushed by him too. My neighbors are furious that a fellow neighbor and council rep would push such an item that will also hurt small businesses!
Suds Jain has spent 4 months evading public record requests. He stalked Mayor Gillmor at events and has severe emotional issues about the Gillmor family to the point of concern. His green energy attitude is nothing but false worship.