Michelle Estabillo Public Presentations
From: Kirk Vartan <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2023 12:18 PM
To: Mayor and Council; Clerk; Manager; Attorney; Glen Googins; Jovan Grogan Cc: Hosam Haggag; Lisa Gillmor; Kathy Watanabe; Tom Shanks; [email protected]; [email protected]; Carolyn Tolliver; [email protected]; [email protected]; Ron Kroichick; Lance Williams; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Council member behavior - no accountability
Please include this as public comment for the council meeting on July 18, 2023. It would be nice to also ask for a response from the City Attorney and City Manager so it is not just me speaking to a council that doesn't respond to public comment. I am happy to get on the phone with the City Attorney or City Manager. Email is fine too. Thanks.
Dear Mayor, Council, City Attorney, and City Manager,
Can I ask a simple question: Why have you not censured or admonished Councilmember Becker or Vice Mayor Park for attacking members of the public?
Since the council majority is supportive of both Becker and Park, I see nothing happening, and that is a shame. Many of the antics Park made were before either the current City Manager or City Attorney were present (although the acting City Attorney was present and did nothing).
However, on June 6, 2023, after I made public comment, Councilmember Becker called me back up to the lectern to explain how I got my hands on his document. To remind everyone, this is the same 13-page document he waved to the council, the acting city attorney, and the public, during the first council meeting after the Grand Jury Report was released (and evidently after Councilmember Becker illegally sent it to the 49ers lobbyist and the Santa Clara Weekly) saying he wanted to rebut the Grand Jury report and that he "had plenty to say." But I digress.
If it helps, you can review the video of Councilmember Becker's comments after I made my public comment, but he basically said the only way I could have gotten the document was via a seized laptop (seriously implying I broke into something to get it) or from the San Francisco Chronicle (like they leaked it to me because they are helping me get at Becker). Those were the only two options in his criminally-tuned mind that could have existed since he stated it was given to very "limited" people. Rather than actually look at the submitted documents I provided before the council meeting, that were printed out in chambers, and were sitting in front of him, he disparaged me and implied unethical behavior on behalf of the San Francisco Chronicle "confirming" what he suspected all along about the papers behavior and intent. Why did this go unanswered? What am I supposed to do? Can't the adults in the room stand up and protect the integrity of the chambers and the decorum?
Why is Councilmember Becker so very upset with the San Francisco Chronicle? Is it because they cover the 49er issues with the Council and him accurately and objectively? Is it because the Chronicle does not write puffy, nonsense articles? Is it because they do real investigative reporting? Is it because the Chronicle is critical of Becker and others on the council?
It would be really refreshing if the City Attorney could educate the councilmembers about the Ethics and Behavioral Standards that every one of them signed, agreed to, and promised to uphold. It would be nice if the City Attorney could point out that attacking a member of the public is not allowed nor will it be tolerated. It sure would be nice if someone clearly stated that the way I was treated by Councilmember Becker is unacceptable and needs to stop. Stretch goal: a public apology would be nice.
POST MEETING MATERIAL
It is really disappointing that no one has the courage to speak truth to power here. How can you expect the public to feel comfortable expressing themselves when there is a constant fear of attack by councilmembers on the dais? There were so many attacks on me, we had to make like four episodes of Public Trust Review just to cover them all. You can find https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpublictrustreview.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Ccler k%40santaclaraca.gov%7Cdc9d47c1017944a10e8708db86faa016%7C28ea354810694e81aa0b6e4b3271a5cb%7C0%7C0 %7C638252184652968879%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWljoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQ|joiV2luMzliLCJBTil6ık1haWwi LCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Sq7XfP9puVqMCd2dh8Xlu7Dscz5BSx%2BSlipof4vNbe8%3D&reserved= Taking no action is an action. Making no comments condemning the behavior of Councilmembers that attack the community and the public is providing approval and support for this kind of unacceptable behavior. Who holds the Councilmembers accountable for their behavior? Do you feel this is fair to the public? Does your oath of office in any way compelled you to speak out on this?
Thank you for your time. If I have misspoke or misrepresented any facts or details, please let me know. But even if there are errors, don't them them detract from the overwhelming issues I have surfaced. I believe I have documented evidence of everything I stated, mostly because it was stated in council chambers during council meetings by the council members on camera.
Kind regards,
Kirk Vartan
Santa Clara Business Owner
Member of the Public
A Slice of New York, a Worker Cooperative A New York Experience in the Bay Area 3443 Stevens Creek Blvd. (San Jose/Santa Clara)
1253 W El Camino Real (Sunnyvale)
SJ: (408) 24-SLICE / SV: (650) 938-NYNY
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2 Marisa Welling Public Presentations
From: Grace Wong <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:02 AM
To: Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: For meeting agenda tonight
Hi-
I'm writing to follow up on the email and video that I request to be viewed by councilman before tonight town hall meeting. Here is a link to the video in regard to our swimmers concerns to the ISC shutdown. Can we ask the video to be played during the public comment tonight.
Thank you
Grace
New video by Captain K
app.goo.gl
Sent from my iPhone
POST MEETING MATERIAL
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