Why is Pat Meyering being Silenced?

Courtesy BeFair.INFO – The current and ex-council members who want Pat Meyering silenced have accepted money from special interests and do not want to hear publicly that there could be a CONFLICT OF INTEREST for them to vote on certain issues that come before the council. For example, when a developer proposes to build an apartment complex that squeezes too many units into a small space, he naturally hopes to find friends on the council that will vote to accept his plans.

When situations like this come up, Pat asks those council members who accepted money from the developer to abstain from the vote. A council member who has accepted money from the developer is probably uncomfortable voting, but usually does so anyway. 

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Sunnyvale Mayor Spitaleri disrupts Council Member Pat Meyering during Public Hearing

If you only have time to watch one video, click on this one titled “Crazy Sunnyvale Meeting” – the dysfunction begins at minute 1:10:

Mayor Spitaleri continuously shouts at Council Member Council Member Pat Meyering in a combative, rapid-fire manner, shutting Meyering down from further comments and questions, on behalf of Sunnyvale residents, during the May 22, 2012 Sunnyvale Council Meeting.

Spitaleri’s uncivil manner was apparently found to be out-of-compliance, because, after he demanded a 10-minute recess and conferred with City Manager Gary Luebbers, Spitaleri returned to state that Meyering was, indeed, entitled to a 3-minute speech.

CLICK HERE for the article titled Sunnyvale Mayor Spitaleri Opposes Free Speech and Disrupts Council Meeting.

 

Commentary: Questions loom over sale of Raynor Activity Center

By Preeti Sharma for Silicon Valley Community Newspapers

In the past year the Raynor Activity Center has moved from being “a liability to own” to “futile to lease,” and now swiftly to “profitable to sell.” As it stands now, the sale of the Raynor Activity Center seems to be motivated by the zeal to fund a branch library in the Lakewood Village neighborhood.

Raynor has been sold (as opposed to the originally council-approved lease) to the bidder that best meets these goals, with no regard to its impact on the neighborhood. The city has made the conscious choice to rob Peter to pay Paul.

CLICK HERE for the full Mercury News Sunnyvale Sun Article

Pensions: San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s state ballot measure opposed by 19 mayors including Mayor Tony Spitaleri

By Mike Rosenberg

mrosenberg@mercurynews.com

After announcing a 2014 statewide pension ballot initiative with fellow mayors from around California, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed has run into some opposition — from other mayors.

Nineteen mayors — along with two vice mayors, two county board of supervisors presidents and five additional council members — signed a letter to Reed on Tuesday urging him to abandon his effort that would see public employees pay more for their retirement.

CLICK HERE for the San Jose Mercury News article.

 

Sunnyvale Vice Mayor Jim Griffith accused of identify theft

After learning that Sunnyvale Councilmember and Vice Mayor Jim Griffith may be formally charged with committing a crime of identify theft, outraged Sunnyvale residents are calling Griffith a disgraceful politician and have recommended voting him out of office.

Candidate Tap Merrick approached the Sunnyvale City Council on Aug 13, protesting the unethical identity theft of his name and campaign administered and paid for by Councilmember and Vice Mayor Jim Griffith.

Sunnyvale Councilmember MOYLAN’S VOTES BENEFIT HIS POLITICAL DONORS

CHRIS MOYLAN’S VOTES BENEFIT HIS POLITICAL DONORS.

When the majority on Sunnyvale’s City Council voted to make an added $1,517,500.00 payment to the city’s garbage company, Councilmember Chris Moylan was an enthusiastic supporter. It turns out, Moylan took money from the garbage company.

Before Moylan cast his vote supporting the additional payment of city money to his garbage company donor, he had also voted to approve an unusual development agreement, with the city’s downtown developer.

Turns out Moylan also took money from the developer. The unusual development agreement allowed Moylan’s donor/ the developer/ to avoid the standard requirement of purchasing and posting an overall performance bond. Such a bond is a guarantee from a third-party (usually a bank or an insurance company) that money needed to complete a specified project will be paid if the contractor fails to fully perform. 

Spitaleri solicited money from Sunnyvale’s downtown developer

Tony Spitaleri, mayor of Sunnyvale, California, solicited and received money from the real estate developer that negotiated an agreement to build a 30+ acre project in the city’s downtown.

Anthony Spitaleri and Downtown Sunnyvale Developer

Spitaleri voted to approve an unusual development agreement, in which the developer/Spitaleri’s donor was excused from the standard requirement of purchasing and posting an overall performance bond. [Such a bond is a guarantee from a third-party (usually a bank or an insurance company) that money needed to complete a specified project will be paid if the contractor fails to fully perform.]  

½ Sunnyvale Garbage Rate Increase goes to Political Donor

Sunnyvale city council is plagued with self-serving, high-spending members, who have a history of asking companies, doing business with the city, to contribute money to the councilmembers.  

The council voted 6-1 to increase residents’ garbage rates.  About 50% of the increase, it turns out, is to fund payment of an added $1,517,500.00 to the garbage company.  Some Sunnyvale councilmembers received financial contributions from the company owner.   Subsequently councilmembers approved payment of the additional $1,517,500.00.   The payment comes while a valid and binding contract between the city and the garbage company (providing for a lower payment) is in effect.  The city and its residents got nothing in return for transferring the extra money to the councilmembers’ donor. 

June 11th Sunnyvale Garbage Rate Hike Vote_Council Conflict of Interest?

Courtesy: Pat Meyering Sunnyvale City Council member – Seat 5 

On Tuesday, June 11, 2013, Sunnyvale city council will vote to increase your garbage rates. About 50% of the increase is to fund payment of an added $1,517,500.00 to the garbage company. Some Sunnyvale councilmembers have received financial contributions from the company owner. Subsequently the majority of councilmembers approved payment of the additional $1,517,500.00.

This payment comes while a valid and binding contract between the city and the garbage company, providing for a lower payment is in effect. The city and its residents get nothing in return for transferring the extra money to the councilmembers’ donor. The original garbage processing contract was awarded through a competitive bidding process. The benefits to Sunnyvale residents of using a low bid procedure are being undone by the city council paying more than the originally agreed contract price. 

Sunnyvale Mayor Spitaleri Opposes Free Speech and Disrupts Council Meeting

Tony Spitaleri threw a hostile tantrum during the May 22 Council Meeting,
trying to silence a critic of his administration of the city government.

Just minutes after pledging allegiance to the flag, during the Sunnyvale Council Meeting, on May 22, 2012, and prior to voting on item 1.C. MOTION RTC, 12-121, Mayor Tony Spitaleri erupted in a shockingly hostile manner, repeatedly shouting and disrupting Council Member Patrick Meyering, as Meyering commented about the issue ~ The List of Claims and Bills Approved for Payment by the City Manager.