Here’s one way to judge a candidate for office. Watch what they actually do … not what they say.
Of course you have heard this during every election. However, sometimes the contradiction is so blatant I just have to highlight the irony.
As you are aware, Kathy Watanabe is a dedicated Gillmorite. She has dreamed of replacing Mayor Lisa Gillmor for years. Out of nearly 3,000 council votes, Watanabe has voted with Gillmor over EIGHTY percent of the time. She also voted with Gillmor to raise our electricity rates by over FIFTY percent. A vote for Watanabe is a vote for four more years of Gillmor.
Gillmor and Watanabe say they represent residents. My question is, “Why are you voting to consistently increase our electrical rates to fund those data centers around town?” Former city manager Don Von Raesfeld would have a heart attack at the electric bill increases if he were still with us.
Don Von, as we called him, was a brilliant visionary. His policy was: Do something for our residents that will be great for everyone. Provide our own electrical power. Silicon Valley Power was born and has been saving our residents and business members millions … until now.
Another issue for Watanabe in replacing Gillmor is her public show of hostility to the 49ers.
This is one problem. The Watanabe family are actually long-term fans of the 49ers. They own seat licenses and are 49er season ticket holders at Levi’s Stadium. Not just any seats … club seats! Uh, oh!
I guess she will just keep this quiet until the election is over.
And, speaking of the 49ers, how about this team? This Sunday they marched into Seattle to face last year’s Super Bowl Champion Seahawks. In an amazing grinding battle that continued into the last minute, the 49ers won. That victory places them in first place with a five-win, no-loss lead in the NFL.
Santa Clara deserves winners and great leaders. We need a visionary for mayor who publicly supports our residents, our great businesses, our super stadium and our very own electric company.
Previous Milestones:
Milestones – A Mayor for the Majority – Opinion
Milestones – Stalking Supplants Sign-Stealing – Opinion
Milestones – Be Careful … – Opinion
Very well said, Miles. I’m not a fan of corporations using financial contributions to curry favor with political candidates or councilmembers. That said, I have yet to see compelling evidence of an explicit quid pro quo demonstrating that any councilmember is acting at the direction of the 49ers or other companies operating in Santa Clara, including Related Santa Clara, affiliated with New York-based Related Companies.
What the Finance Department has helped illuminate is the progress being made in servicing Levi’s Stadium’s debt obligations, including bank loans and bonds. As principal and interest obligations are reduced, more stadium-generated rent and event-related revenue can potentially flow to the City’s General Fund, strengthening Santa Clara’s long-term fiscal outlook.
The financial and professional relationships between the City and the 49ers organization warrant continued scrutiny, but that scrutiny should be applied consistently to every entity with a financial interest in City decisions and public resources, whether Nvidia, AMD, or the employee union representing Santa Clara police officers.
Equally important, residents deserve to understand the economic benefits of attracting more than one million visitors annually to Santa Clara through Levi’s Stadium events, including the spending those visitors bring to local businesses. That perspective is often missing from Kathy Watanabe’s public commentary, despite her being among the very patrons who attend events at Levi’s Stadium.
Levi’s Stadium attracts more than 71,000 patrons per football game. That level of activity stands in stark contrast to the largely vacant, Related Companies-leased property across the street. Given Related Companies’ past political support for Lisa Gillmor and her allies, the contrast raises legitimate questions about economic performance, public benefit, and the priorities guiding the City’s development decisions.
Hypocrisy is Lisa Gillmor and Kathy Watanabe’s middle name. Both are hypocrites that bring the 49ers here and hype them up then tell everyone had bad they are. Both are hypocrites for waving the finger or shame at a convicted felon colleague all while they themselves committed the same deed. Both are hypocrites when they reference the respect of the law all while breaking it and manipulating it to their advantage. These are dangerous leaders that should be far away from elected office let alone running a hot dog stand. Their record is the definition of corruption and the root of all of Santa Clara’s turmoil. Send Gillmor and Watanabe packing for retirement come election day.