Soon, Santa Clara hosts the year’s biggest U.S. sporting event. Super Bowl 60 will be battled out at Levi’s Stadium.

Watching the news, you might think the big game was in San Francisco or San José. You wouldn’t guess it’s in Santa Clara.

This isn’t accidental. Mayor Lisa Gillmor’s war on the 49ers — now in its second decade — makes the media bypass Santa Clara.

If you’re a TV producer, who do you want to put in the world’s eye? Media-genic mayors like Daniel Lurie and Matt Mahan, promoting their cities’ attractions and raising millions for community events? Or a dismal, droning Debbie Downer predicting multi-million dollar losses and trash-talking the 49ers?

Gillmor hasn’t just failed to bring recognition to Santa Clara. She vaccinates Santa Clara against good press.

Mahan has had more exposure, press time, interviews and more Super Bowl events on tap than Santa Clara. Actually, that would not be too difficult since we have had, and will have, none.

Fifteen years ago, Gillmor would’ve moved heaven and earth to build Levi’s Stadium. It wasn’t about Santa Clara. It was about getting elected mayor. Gillmor has spent almost her entire adult life seeking election or re-election. She’s been on council for 22 of the last 34 years. In between council gigs she kept her hand in by lobbying to build the Youth Soccer Park and Levi’s Stadium.

While 55% of voters approved the stadium, 45% of voters objected to it. So Gillmor did a clever about face. Luring in defeated opponents nursing their resentment after the election. Her “conversion” brought her their support. It wasn’t so hot for the majority of residents, who looked forward to Santa Clara becoming a destination.

Beyond her own power, Gillmor’s guiding policy is protecting the soccer park — her husband is a soccer coach — as if it were a priceless cultural icon like the Taj Mahal. What about the importance of Levi’s Stadium? Unlike the soccer park, Levi’s Stadium brings cash to the city.

The city’s companies are legends: Intel, AMD, Oracle, and the world’s largest company, Nvidia. They’re superstars putting Santa Clara on Silicon Valley’s map. They deserve TV camera time during the Super Bowl. Gillmor likes to drop their names, while denying them benefit from being in the home of the 2026 games.

If only we had a mayor that represented our residents and businesses, and valued their success — like every other city from Milpitas to Mountain View. They’re burning the midnight oil for shares of the forecast $1.2 billion from the 2026 games.

Santa Clara is entitled to be noticed, talked about and promoted. Our residents deserve representation and the chance to salute and share Santa Clara’s fame. 

We deserve a mayor who promotes our community, our companies, our residents and their stunning success.

Previous Milestones:
Milestones – Gillmor vs. the Wrong Goliath – Opinion
Milestones – Gillmor’s Assured Loss – Opinion