With Santa Clara being host to a major part of the World Cup games, why hasn’t our city laid out a welcome mat? If residents choose to join the viewing crowds, they either buy a ticket or join the fun and festivities at the big screen viewing parties in San Jose.

This noticed absence is intentional.

Even during the Super Bowl, many of the news conferences, interviews, block and viewing parties took place in San Jose. The results are very simple to understand: Santa Clara businesses were the losers.

Santa Clara has dozens of quality hotels and restaurants that have earned many quality awards. However, when opportunities are provided months in advance to promote and prepare for events like the Super Bowl and the World Cup, city leadership goes on vacation.

It is not only wrong, but also distasteful, detrimental and drop the ball dumb.

Our residents, businesses, restaurants and hotel owners deserve Santa Clara’s support. That leadership starts with our mayor, city council and city manager.

Where is our leadership?

Everyone is totally capable of doing nothing. And we have elected the best to do just that. At the very top of the list is Mayor Lisa Gilmor, who has been very successful at making sure Santa Clara goes unnoticed.

The results are evident. No news conferences, no watch parties, no parades or celebrations and no mayor.

One of the best venues in America and certainly in Santa Clara is Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers. Levi’s is host to a number of World Cup games, and you would have to be an avid fan to know they are being played in this fabulous forum.

Mayor Gillmor appears to be the missing mayor who is more involved in making plans to remain on the City Council rather than promoting our city. The one thing she is doing is shamelessly self-promoting herself on social media as she attends the games and meets the players.

Maybe Santa Clara would become more involved, more recognized, have more positive press with a Mayor who is sensitive, productive, personal and promotes our city.

Previous Milestones:
Milestones – Welcome to Santa Clara – Opinion
Milestones – Wishful Thoughts – Opinion
Milestones – From Fairy Tale to Nightmare – Opinion