Today, we're sharing with you a guest column by a new site that covers Santa Clara news -- and sheds light on the 49ers. 

Santa Clara Focus
By Robert Haugh

Do the 49ers "Own" the Santa Clara Weekly?

Over the years, have the 49ers slowly bought out the only newspaper in Santa Clara?

Dating back to 2010, the Santa Clara Weekly had a financial relationship with the 49ers - nearly every week a large 49ers advertisement appeared - I remember - I worked there. In addition, the 49ers recently purchased a full page ad just weeks ago.

Associate Editor Carolyn Schuk was very proud of the 49ers' sponsorship of an event she held for her non-profit Santa Clara Performing Arts Foundation - There’s even a story in the Weekly.

#No49ersDark Money

#WhereTheHellisHarbaugh

Watch our press conference video to understand how we believe the San Francisco 49ers are secretly laundering money to influence the local 2016 Santa Clara Political Election.

Please help us get out the vote and tell your family and friends to VOTE YES for Measure R. Should Measure R pass, the city of Santa Clara would be unable to sell public parkland or open space without voter approval. The initiative would shift the responsibility for city-owned property sales and land-use changes from the Santa Clara City Council to the public. Under Measure R, any applicable land transactions would require two-thirds voter approval.

Show Your Support and Like the Measure R Facebook page

Thank You GreenFoothills.org for endorsing this Measure and spreading the news 

Watch our press conference video to understand how we believe the San Francisco 49ers are secretly laundering money to influence the local 2016 Santa Clara Political Election.

Blupacus.org is a 501c4 Political Action Committee set-up by Douglas Chan in 2015. Their website endorses Patricia Mahan, John McLemore, Ahmad Rafah, Dr. Mohammed Nadeem, Police Chief Mike Sellers and Rod Diridron Jr. (removed last week). Blupac is trying to discredit Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor, City Council Members Debi Davis & Kathy Watanabe, and city council candidate Tino Silva. They are attacking Mayor Gillmor for leading an independent financial audit into Measure J even through she is not even running for re-election.

September 1, 2016 - There was a record turnout last night for the 2016 Santa Clara Candidate Election Forum hosted at the Santa Clara Senior Center.If you could not attend the first 2016 Santa Clara Candidate Forum or could not get into the room because we ran out of space, you can now watch the entire forum right here. Many thanks to the Old Quad Neighborhood Association (especially Noreen Carlson and Adam Thompson), the Santa Clara CAC, Sierra Club, Committee for a Green Foothills, and Win6 Village for helping organize and promote the event. 

We want to thank all the candidates for attending

Santa Clara City Council candidates: Tino Silva, Raj Chahal, Patricia Mahan, Markus Bracamonte, Teresa O'Neill,Kevin Park, Ahmad Rafah, Debi Davis, John McLemore, Kathy Watanabe, Suds Jain, Mario Souza and Anthony J. Becker.

Santa Clara Chief of Police candidates: Pat Nikolai and Mike Sellers.

Santa Clara City Clerk candidates: Deborah Bress and Rod Diridron Jr.

Click here for a complete list of candidates and links to their websites and social media sites.

Elections are always important to local communities, but nothing can be more critical to Santa Clara than a majority of City Council seats up for grabs. Seeing your current council members and prospective council members answer questions regarding future development, affordable housing, open space, urban agriculture and transparency in government can help you make an informed decision. 

This is a non-partisan forum and open to all candidates.

Come join the Old Quad Residence Association partnered with the Sierra Club, Stand Up for Santa Clara, Win6Village and other neighborhood groups for an evening of questions and answers.

Wednesday, August 31st, 6:30pm-8pm
Location: Senior Center located at 1303 Fremont Street, Santa Clara, 95050

We plan to video tape and publish the forum on YouTube after the event.