7. 22-858 Action on a Council Written Request (Council Policy 030) Submitted by Vice Mayor Jain Requesting to Place an Agenda Item at a Future Council Meeting to Discuss the Possibility of a Ballot Measure to Change the Chief of Police and City Clerk Position from Elected to Appointed
As President of the Santa Clara Police Officers' Association, I strongly oppose. The elected Chief is part of the unique fabric of the City of Santa Clara and we trust the people to elect the Chief. In a recent poll, 66% of respondents did not know that the Chief was elected. After being told that the Chief is elected, 73% of preferred to elect the Chief. This is an unpopular idea. Please get public input before spending public funds to overturn the voters. The council is aware of the poll.
I support keeping the City Clerk's position elected - and therefore oppose making it appointed. I have no opinion on Police leadership positions. Note that it should be easy fo find City residents who are willing to run for the Clerk position. And I definitely oppose personal agendas that are dressed up as a civic concern. One should not dislike a neighbor based on paint coloring schemes, for example, nor based on ethnicity.
As President of the Santa Clara Police Officers' Association, I strongly oppose. The elected Chief is part of the unique fabric of the City of Santa Clara and we trust the people to elect the Chief. In a recent poll, 66% of respondents did not know that the Chief was elected. After being told that the Chief is elected, 73% of preferred to elect the Chief. This is an unpopular idea. Please get public input before spending public funds to overturn the voters. The council is aware of the poll.
I support keeping the City Clerk's position elected - and therefore oppose making it appointed. I have no opinion on Police leadership positions. Note that it should be easy fo find City residents who are willing to run for the Clerk position. And I definitely oppose personal agendas that are dressed up as a civic concern. One should not dislike a neighbor based on paint coloring schemes, for example, nor based on ethnicity.