#Council Member Anthony Becker

[santaclaralocalnews]

It would not be a Santa Clara City Council meeting without some drama and if you don’t have anything on the agenda to fight about, you create something. During public comment, Special Advisor to the Mayor on Small Businesses and Worker Co-Ops Kirk Vartan took the podium read more at svvoice.com

[gadgetsforusesblog]

San Francisco 49ers political influence in leaked report

The former chief lobbyist for the San Francisco 49ers has testified that a Silicon Valley city councilman illegally leaked a confidential report criticizing the team’s political clout, it was reported Friday. Rahul Chandhok told a criminal grand jury on March 21 that Santa Clara City Council member Anthony Becker digitally sent him the report last October — which was prepared by a civilian grand…

[mmckenzieport]

By Melissa McKenzie

The April Santa Clara City Council calendars are out, again, later than the 10th of the month Ordinance 1950 requires. Past calendars continue to remain unchanged, with no mention of last year’s meetings with Banner Public Affairs and Peter Hillan—another requirement of the ordinance. This, again, shows Santa Clara City Council claiming transparency, but refusing to follow its own rules, and no one, including City Attorney Brian Doyle, policing Santa Clara politicians.

Although May has proved to be a particularly damaging month for now-former Council Member Dominic Caserta, his April calendar was fairly light. He did, however, manage to pack in three meetings regarding the BAREC site on Apr. 2 and 3. His first meeting was with David Neale, President & CEO of The CORE Companies, immediately followed by a meeting with San Jose resident Kirk Vartan on Apr. 2. Less than 24 hours later, Caserta had a meeting with CORE’s Vice President of Development Paul Ring about the site.

On Apr. 2, prior to his meetings with CORE, Caserta met with Jon Moss, Executive Vice President and Partner at Prometheus regarding the 5.7 acre, 355-apartment, mixed-use Viso Project at 575 Benton St. and had an introductory phone call with Peter Tsai, Vice President of Real Estate Development of The Sobrato Organization.

On Apr. 10, Caserta had a meeting with Laborers’ Local 270’s Olivia Navarror about labor issues and a phone call with Dennis Martin of Sausedo Consulting and South Bay Governmental Affairs on Apr. 23. A meeting with the WEEKLY’s David Alexander rounded out any non-public meetings or events for the former Council Member.

Council Member Pat Kolsatd recorded only four events on his calendar in April, all public meetings, with one attended remotely, and Council Member Patricia Mahan also maintained a light calendar, recording five public meetings and the Relay for Life event for the American Cancer Society on Apr. 28.

Mayor Lisa Gillmor, Vice Mayor Kathy Watanabe and Council Members Debi Davis and Teresa O’Neill continued their trend of full calendars containing a mix of public meetings and events as well as private meetings with developers and residents.

Gillmor began her month with an interview with Maze & Associates’ auditors Cody Smith and Amy Meyer. She then had a series of events regarding City Place or with The Related Companies—the first of which was on Apr. 4 and attended by Davis and City Manager Deanna Santana. The trio met with Rudolph and Sletten’s Vice President John Elwood and ELS Architects’ Clarence Mamuyac regarding the not-yet-funded Santa Clara International Swim Center, as well as the Kylli Group—a subsidiary of Genzon Investment Group—and City Place.

A day later the Mayor and Vice Mayor met with Related’s lobbyist, Jude Barry, regarding City Place and transportation and four days later Gillmor, Santana, Assistant City Managers Manuel Pineda and Ruth Shikada met with Related Companies Chairman Stephen Ross to view Related’s Hudson Yard project, an 18 million square foot project in New York City that will include approximately 4,000 residences, an art center, 14 acres of open space, a 200-plus room hotel, office tours, restaurants, 100 retail shops and a 750-seat public school. Hudson Yard will cost NYC almost $1 billion in public funding foregone tax revenue.

Gillmor recorded a meeting with the South Bay Labor Council’s Executive Officer Ben Field regarding unions and living wage on Apr. 18, meeting with the Director of Real Estate Development of Adobe Services Jon White and Adobe’s Executive Director Louis Chicoine regarding the Corvin Housing Project on Apr. 19 and meeting with Unite Here, Local 19’s Sarah McDermott about labor unions and the Hyatt Hotel later that day.

Later in the month, on Apr. 23, Gillmor met with Attorney Rob Mezzetti of Mezzetti Law Firm and Consultant Bob Mendelsohn of Republic Metropolitan regarding affordable housing. A meeting with Old Quad Association President Adam Thompson about Republic’s proposed train station project immediately followed Gillmor’s meeting with Mezzetti and Mendelsohn.

Gillmor notched another meeting with unions on Apr. 26 when she met with Santa Clara County Residents for Responsible Development’s Director Josue Garcia and union representatives from three unions about labor and Santa Clara projects. Also on Apr. 26, Gillmor and Davis met with the American Cancer Society and Santa Clara County’s Tobacco Free Coalition to discuss tobacco use in Santa Clara. Gillmor met with the Santa Clara Lawn Bowls Club following her meeting with Davis and the anti-smoking groups.

Gillmor also attended the Relay for Life event and ended the month by filming the Wrestlemania Welcome Video and meeting with Santa Clara Police Activities League (PAL) Director Gordon Pound about PAL.

Like Caserta, Watanabe met with Tsai regarding Sobrato on Apr. 3. The Vice Mayor met with candidate for Cupertino City Council Tara Sreekrishnan about endorsement on Apr. 4 and candidate for State of California Insurance Commissioner Dr. Asif Mahmood, also about endorsement, on Apr. 10.

On Apr. 18, Watanabe met with candidate for Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Susan Ellenberg, who is running for the same seat Caserta was vying for before sexual harassment and bullying accusations derailed his campaign. Watanabe also hosted an event for Ellenberg on Apr. 30.

Watanabe’s April calendar included two meetings with residents. The Vice Mayor, who resides in Santa Clara’s Northside, met with resident Nicole Wynn regarding Lick Mill Park issues on Apr. 9 and Maria Barbieri regarding the catchall “community issues” on Apr. 30.

She took a break from “business” meetings by continuing her attendance at the Santa Clara Police Department’s Citizens’ Police Academy and making an appearance at Relay for Life, but ended the month with Bothman Construction’s Bob Bothman about the 1411 Lewis Street demolition project.

The majority of Davis’ meetings not previously mentioned, were public meetings and events, although she did take time out to judge Santa Clara’s Sculpture Exhibition; meet with Dan Ondrasek and Rodney Dunham of Reclaiming our Downtown and Freeman, Tung & Sasaki’s Greg Tung about the Reclaiming Our Downtown group; and attend the Relay for Life Event.

O’Neill began April by meeting with Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees Board Member Pearl Chang, Santa Cruz City Schools Board of Education Member Rose Filizetti and Sunnyvale resident Jo Lucey about education issues on Apr. 3. Later that evening, at 9:30 p.m., O’Neill met with Maryland-based Fair Vote’s Margaret Okuzumi about Measure A—the June ballot measure redrawing Santa Clara’s voting districts to allow for three Council seats in two districts instead of the current “at-large voting” procedure.

O’Neill met with resident Jonathan Marinaro regarding the Planning Commission opening on Apr. 6, continued her monthly, Q&A with residents on Apr.8, had a phone call with Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)’s General Manager and CEO Nuria Fernandez regarding labor on Apr. 12 and met with resident Anthony Becker about planning and development issues on Apr.21, before notching a meeting with developer ROEM Corporation’s Executive Vice President Alex Sanchez and Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Stephen Emami about Santa Clara projects on Apr. 23 and Winter Consulting Principal Corrinne Winter regarding transportation issues on Apr. 25.

O’Neill filled up much of the remainder April with more Measure A events, including a public information night on the campaign on Apr. 26 and meeting with Okuzumi and former Santa Clara Council Member Will Kennedy on Apr. 30. She also had a meeting regarding “Santa Clara issues” with Parks and Recreation Commissioner Tino Silva on Apr. 27.

Finally, in yet another case of “too many Council Members attending an event,” O’Neill also attended Relay for Life, making five Council Members—O’Neill, Watanabe, Davis, Gillmor and Mahan—at an event at the same time. Council continues to straddle the line of ethics, and, again, disregards the general rule of avoiding a quorum outside of council chambers.

To view a complete list of published Council Member meetings, visit http://santaclaraca.gov/government/public-calendars-of-certain-city-officials.

[feministmajority]

On Sunday, January 15, Democratic members of Congress, health care activists, unions, and other advocates are joining together in dozens of communities across the nation for a day of action to save health care.

Join feminists and progressive activists at an “Our First Stand: Save Health Care” rally in your community! Find the rally closest to you.

Location Address Time Headliners Sacramento, CA California State Capitol 5 pm PST California Nurses Association Hollywood, CA Grauman's Chinese Theater 6925 Hollywood Blvd 5 pm PST California Nurses Association San Francisco, CA San Francisco City Hall Steps 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl 1 p.m. PST Rep. Nancy Pelosi Hartford, CT Connecticut State Capitol (Bushnell Park side) 210 Capitol Ave 1 p.m. EST Sen. Chris Murphy Sen. Richard Blumenthal Rep. Rosa DeLauro Rep. Elizabeth Etsy Seaford, DE Nanticoke Hospital 801 Rd 535 9 - 9:45 am Sen. Carper Wilmington, DE St. Francis Hospital 701 N Clayton St 4:00 - 4:45 pm Sen. Carper Honolulu, HI Hawai'i State Capitol 415 S. Beretania Street 11 a.m. Cedar Rapids, IA 310 3rd St SE 1 p.m. Council Bluffs, IA 501 5th Ave. 1 p.m. Des Moines, IA Neal Smith Federal Building 210 Walnut Street 1 p.m. Fort Dodge, IA City Square Park 2 p.m. Manchester, IA 100 E. Main St., Manchester IA Noon - 2 p.m. Sioux City, IA 526 Nebraska Street 1 p.m. Chicago, IL SEIU Healthcare HQ 2229 S. Halsted St 1 p.m. CST doors at noon Sen. Dick Durbin Rep. Jan Schakowsky Connersville, IN 401 N Central Ave 12 p.m. EST Indianapolis, IN Indiana Statehouse 200 Washington St. 2 p.m. EST Boston, MA Faneuil Hall 1:00 PM Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Ed Markey, Mayor Marty Walsh, and members of the MA Congressional Delegation Bowie, MD Bowie State University Bowie Student Center Ballroom 14000 Jericho Park Road 2 p.m. EST doors at 1:30 Sen. Chris Van Hollen Rep. Steny Hoyer Rep. Anthony Brown Rep. John Sarbanes Rep. Jamie Raskin Rep. John Delaney Portland, ME Steps of Portland City Hall 1 p.m. EST Rep Chellie Pingree State Rep. Ben Collings and State Senate Minority Leader Troy Jackson Warren, MI UAW Region 1 Pavillion 27800 George Merrelli Dr. 1 p.m. Sen. Bernie Sanders Sen. Chuck Schumer Sen. Debbie Stabenow Sen. Gary Peters Concord, NH YWCA NH 72 Concord Street 1:00 PM Representatives from New Hampshire's Congressional Delegation and Rights & Democracy Newark, NJ Robert Treat Center 50 Park Pl 11:30 a.m. EST Sen. Cory Booker Sen. Bob Menendez Rep. Donald Payne Rep. Albio Sires Rep. Bonne Watson Coleman Albuquerque, NM The University of New Mexico 1 University of New Mexico 1 p.m. MST Belen, NM DPVC Belen Headquarters 231 N Main Street 11 a.m. MST Valencia County Federation of Women Valencia County New Progressives Santa Fe, NM Unitarian Universalist Santa Fe 107 W Barcelona Rd 2 p.m. MST New York, NY TBD TBD Rep. Adriano Espaillat Wesbury, NY Yes We Can Community Center 141 Garden Street 12:30 p.m. EST Rep. Kathleen Rice Rep. Thomas Suozzi Cincinnati, OH Piatt Park, 100 Garfield Pl. 3 p.m. Bentley Davis Cincinnati, OH Columbus, OH Plumber and Pipefitters Union Hall 1250 Kinnear Ave 4:30 p.m. Fmr. White House Community Solutions Teammate Morgan Johnson Sierra Club's Cathy Cowan Becker SPAN Ohio's Bob Krasen ARA-OH President Norm Wernet Former Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy State Rep. Adam Miller State Rep. Dan Ramos AFL-CIO President Tim Burga Portland, OR Self Enhancement, Inc. Gymnasium 3920 N. Kirby Ave. Gym entrance at the intersection of N Shaver St and N Commercial Ave 12 p.m. PST Sen. Jeff Merkley Sen. Ron Wyden Rep. Earl Blumenauer Rep. Suzanne Bonamici Philadelphia, PA Temple University Hospital 3401 N. Broad Street 1 p.m. EST Rep. Dwight Evans Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Professionals AFSCME Burlington, VT Edmunds Middle School 275 Main Street 1 p.m. EST Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman Richmond, VA Richmond State Capitol The Bell Tower on Capitol Square (intersection of North 9th St and Franklin St) 1:30 p.m. EST Gov. Terry McAuliffe Sen. Tim Kaine Rep. Bobby Scott Rep. Donald McEachin Seattle, WA Westlake Park 401 Pine Street 12 p.m. PST Rep. Pramila Jayapal West Allis, WI Candela Banquet Hall 2537 W National Ave 11:30 a.m. Doors at 11 Sen. Tammy Baldwin

[santaclaralocalnews]

A stabbing at a soccer game has left the Santa Clara City Council scrambling to examine operations at Levi’s Stadium. At its Tuesday night meeting, the Council unanimously approved scheduling a special meeting to discuss security at the stadium. With Levi’s Stadium slated to host several big-ticket events in the future, the meeting would aim to curb many of the ongoing issues both inside and outside the venue. Read more at svvoice.com

[santaclaralocalnews]

A stabbing at a soccer game has left the Santa Clara City Council scrambling to examine operations at Levi’s Stadium. At its Tuesday night meeting, the Council unanimously approved scheduling a special meeting to discuss security at the stadium. With Levi’s Stadium slated to host several big-ticket events in the future, the meeting would aim to curb many of the ongoing issues both inside and outside the venue. Read more at svvoice.com

[santaclaralocalnews]

The public comment period during Tuesday night’s Santa Clara City Council meeting was emotionally charged. Many of the commenters were brief, but their core message was the same. They called for Council Member Anthony Becker’s resignation. Read more news at svvoice.

[santaclaralocalnews]

Council Member Anthony Becker did not enter a plea in his first court appearance since he was indicted for felony perjury and “violation of duty” – a misdemeanor.Becker appeared in court on the morning of Monday, April 17. During the appearance, Becker’s representative requested a future hearing for setting of counsel and possibly entering a plea.

[santaclaralocalnews]

A public petition calling for Council Member Anthony Becker’s resignation failed to gain traction. At its Tuesday night meeting, the Santa Clara City Council considered whether to implore Becker to step down from his position in light of the legal charges against him. Read more at svvoice.com

[santaclaralocalnews]

With the Santa Clara Superior Courthouse in San Jose backed up with court cases, the perjury trial of Santa Clara City Council Member Anthony Becker had taken a back seat to other trials more than once. That’s not the case now. On Sept. 16, Judge Elizabeth C. Peterson assigned the trial to Judge Javier Alcala at the South County Superior Courthouse in Morgan Hill. Judge Alcala heard arguments from Deputy District Attorney Jason Malinsky and Deputy Public Defender Chris Montoya on Sept. 17. The meeting happened in chambers. Read complete news at svvoice.com.

[santaclaralocalnews]

Despite pressure from the court, there appears to be no settlement in the perjury trial of Santa Clara City Council Member Anthony Becker. On Aug. 30, Judge Benjamin Williams asked both sides if they had come to a settlement. Deputy District Attorney Jason Malinsky was quick to say there was no settlement and this case was going to trial. Becker’s lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Chris Montoya, told the judge that the defense had offered two misdemeanors instead of the felony perjury charge but then trailed off. Read complete news at svvoice.com.

[santaclaralocalnews]

As preparations for the Monday start of the perjury trial against Santa Clara Vice Mayor Anthony Becker continue, the defense once again asked a judge for access to parts of the civil grand jury investigation that have, to date, not been provided Becker’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Chris Montoya, filed a motion on Wednesday asking for “inappropriate” communications between Mayor Lisa Gillmor, Council Member Kathy Watanabe and members of the civil grand jury any time after Oct. 5, 2022. Read complete news at svvoice.com.

[santaclaralocalnews]

One Friday afternoon in March 1904, a group of Santa Clara women met to create the Santa Clara Woman’s Club as a civic improvement club. On April 4, 2024 another group of women met to celebrate the founders and reflect on 120 years of community service. Mayor Lisa Gillmor presented the club with a City proclamation honoring its 120-year history. Also on hand to celebrate with the club were City Council Members Anthony Becker, Raj Chahal, Karen Hardy, Suds Jain, Kevin Park and Kathy Watanabe; Janet Stevenson of the Historic Preservation Society of Santa Clara...Read complete news at svvoice.com.

[santaclaralocalnews]

A Pitchess request by both the prosecution and the defense in the trial of Santa Clara City Council Member Anthony Becker has resulted in a narrow ruling by Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Shella Deen. Both lawyers had asked for the release of the personnel records of one of the investigators in the case, stating that they might include a potential Brady violation. The argument was that past complaints filed against the investigator might undermine his credibility in the Becker case. Read complete news at svvoice.com.

[santaclaralocalnews]

The trial of Council Member Anthony Becker will now take place at the end of July. During a brief motions hearing in San Jose on March 29, the presiding judge agreed to push the start of the trial back to July 29. Judge Elizabeth C. Peterson met with Deputy District Attorney Jason Malinsky and Chris Montoya of the Public Defender’s Office in her chambers prior to starting her afternoon court session. Read complete news at svvoice.com.

[santaclaralocalnews]

A judge has agreed to delay the start of Santa Clara City Council Member Anthony Becker’s perjury trial, though not as much as Becker’s attorney had hoped. Judge Elizabeth Peterson agreed to vacate the March 4 trial date but said Public Defender Chris Montoya’s request that the trial be rescheduled for July was “excessive.” Instead, she chose an April 22 start date.