Walk with us.

Dear Santa Clarans,


I'd like to thank the many Santa Clarans who visited new candidates' tables at the Santa Clara Art and Wine Festival.   Meeting new people and connecting with old friends was a welcome delight for me, and I know that the candidates we support enjoyed the opportunity to meet with you all.

We think our platform is clear:

• Santa Clara Councilmembers responsive to Santa Clarans, not to developer dollars or Niner Bucks.

• Santa Clara Unified Trustees standing for academic excellence and resisting political pressures out of City Hall and monied interests.

We can make that case.   It sells itself, in fact.

But will you help us get the word out?

The most important way we can reach voters between now and Election Day is by walking the voting precincts of Santa Clara.   Volunteers are already out there, and they're not politicians or pretend-consultants - they're your neighbors and your friends.

If you'll provide your time, we'll provide the materials, the training and the partners.   Just contact us at:

info@santaclaraplayfair.org

...and let us know when you are available to walk for Chris Koltermann, Michael Helms,  Kevin Park, Karen Hardy and Deborah Bress.

I'm walking myself, and I'll look forward to joining you these next several weeks.


Thank you for volunteering - and as always, for all of your support,

William F. "Bill" Bailey, Treasurer,
http://www.SantaClaraPlaysFair.org

Please visit our blogs at:
http://www.SantaClaraPlaysFair.Blogspot.com
http://www.stadiumfacts.blogspot.com

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"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

                                            --- Mahatma Ghandhi

Why we need an independent City Council

Dear Santa Clarans,


Whether you’ve got “mini-dormitories” in your Old Quad neighborhoods, or abusive 49ers’ fans parking up and down your streets while dropping their litter behind them, or automobile speeders using your streets as expressways, we’re betting that you can feel it:

A city government far less accessible to city residents than it ever has  been, and much more beholden to special interests.

A quick look at the FPPC campaign finance reports on file with the City Clerk’s office – and only as of June 30^th! – tells just a part of the story.   Just halfway through the Form 460 of returning candidate Dominic Caserta, one finds the following totals of contributions:

~$18,000 from real estate, construction and developers,

  ~$5,000 from the San Francisco 49ers

And that’s only the first twenty some-odd pages.  For Patrick Kolstad,

  ~$3,750 from the San Francisco 49ers. 

You get the idea.  But what if there were an alternative?

What if, rather than “returning incumbents”  pretending to be challengers, we had real challengers who have accepted NO money from special interests?  Candidates who believe that Santa Clara is for Santa Clarans? 

It could be that the best way to welcome regular city residents into City Hall may be to elect more regular residents, with the energy and desire to serve, to our City Council.

And that is why Santa Clara Plays Fair strongly endorses:

√ Karen Hardy  for Santa Clara City Council, Seat 2:

  http://www.hardy4council.com/   Email:  hardy4council@gmail.com

√ Kevin Park  for Santa Clara City Council, Seat 5:

  http://www.kevinpark.org   Email:  santaclarakevin@yahoo.com

√ Deborah Bress  for Mayor,  City of Santa Clara:

  http://www.deborahformayor.com/   Email:  DeborahforMayor@gmail.com

On November 4^th, elect a truly independent City Council.

Thank you for all of your support,

William F. “Bill” Bailey, Treasurer

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Why an independent SCUSD?

Dear Santa Clarans,


Do you recall the 2010 Candidates’ Forums?

Candidates-for-mayor Jamie Matthews and Chris Stampolis squared off on the mayor’s role in the affairs of the Santa Clara Unified School District.   Mr. Matthews solemnly lectured Mr. Stampolis about the proper separation between the city as a political entity and the school district, which is charged with preparing young Americans.  Two necessarily separate things, said Matthews then.

But it’s 2014, and our Santa Clara Unified School District is apparently just a little too independent to suit this same Jamie Matthews, Lisa Gillmor and certain candidates for Council.  They’re singing a far different tune this year.  Would you believe that it’s all about soccer pitches?

Here’s why:   Throughout the summer of 2009, Santa Clarans were fed a load of nonsense about some “synergy” among the 49ers’ stadium, Great America, the Golf and Tennis club and the Youth Soccer Park.   Jed York and the 49ers’ front office were happy to exploit the appeal of a youth athletic facility such as the YSP in order to get up the steam for the stadium subsidy – the $42,000,000 that the 49ers sucked out of our former Redevelopment Agency.

But by last fall the 49ers knew that they didn’t have enough parking for their guests’ stretch limos.   They then decided that the Youth Soccer Park was just too close to their stadium – but that it would still make dandy parking spaces.  The Soccer Park would have to go.

Rather than engaging with soccer parents and young players fairly, the 49ers reneged on an agreement to fund the relocation of the Soccer Park.  They reneged yet again when they refused to fund the development of additional soccer pitches in our city.

The Council should be stepping up on the issue for us residents.  However, Councilmembers Mahan, Gillmor and Kolstad are instead running interference for the San Francisco 49ers.   Their ad hoc Council Committee claims to reach out to all the stakeholders – but its real aim is to force Santa Clarans give up even more to the 49ers than we already have.

This coercion started against youth soccer in our city, but it’s now a squeeze play intended to make the School District solve Jed York’s parking problems for him.  Why are they demanding that our childrens’ schools (!) surrender control of district athletic fields for soccer pitches which are unlikely ever to be enjoyed by those same students?

They’re not done:   This arm-twisting now continues with attempts to carve up city park lands.  In the City Council meeting of June 10^th, the neighbors of Jenny Strand and Montague Parks saw this firsthand.  In particular, friends of the Ulistac Natural Area, know all about it.

Santa Clarans, you can see how the dominoes are truly falling:  This City Council voted to build a 14-acre NFL stadium on a 17-acre plot.   They are now running a blame game against the SCUSD along with a possible grab of city park lands.    The City Council – not the Santa Clara Unified School District – have led us exactly to where we are today.  Clearly, this City Council no longer believes in an independent SCUSD. 

We’re Santa Clara Plays Fair, and we do believe.   For an independent SCUSD,  we urge your vote on November 4^th for Dr. Chris Koltermann and Dr. Michael Helms for Trustee Areas 2 and 3.  They will work for all of us – not for special, monied interests.

Say NO to the blame game – and NO to giveaways of park and school land.

Thanks for your support,

William F. “Bill” Bailey, Treasurer

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Santa Clara Voters, please vote for an independent Council and School Board!

Dear Santa Clarans,


Santa Clara Plays Fair is proud to announce our group's endorsements for the November 4th General Election.   We urge all city residents to cast their votes for an independent City Council and for independent Trustees of the Santa Clara Unified School District:

 √ Karen Hardy for Santa Clara City Council, Seat 2: 
        http://www.hardy4council.com/      Email: hardy4council@gmail.com
 
√ Kevin Park   for   Santa Clara City Council, Seat 5:
        www.kevinpark.org                        Email: santaclarakevin@yahoo.com

√ Deborah Bress for Mayor, City of Santa Clara:
        http://www.deborahformayor.com/   Email: DeborahforMayor@gmail.com


√ Dr. Christine Koltermann for SCUSD Trustee Area 2: 
        www.chriskoltermann.com            Email: chris@chriskoltermann.com

√ Dr. Michael Helms for SCUSD Trustee Area 3:
        www.michaelhelms.org                  Email: michael@michaelhelms.org


If one Santa Claran or School District resident will endorse these candidates to three or more neighbors, we have a real chance to build a Council and a School District which represent residents and taxpayers - not special interests. 
 
As always, we thank you for all of your support.


Best regards,

William F. "Bill" Bailey, Treasurer,
http://www.SantaClaraPlaysFair.org

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If you are a Santa Clara resident not registered to vote in the November 4th election, you must register on or before October 20th.   A paper registration is available at the Office of the Santa Clara City Clerk at 1500 Warburton Drive, Santa Clara.   Telephone the City Clerk at 1(408)615-2220 for more details.