I found your article regarding the hiring practices by the City Manager, Deanna Santana very interesting. I would like to submit a response:
It is very interesting that the City Manager, Deanna Santana, emphasizes the importance of attracting talent to the City of Santa Clara stating it is a great place to work. However, she does not state the importance, or need, to promote from within in order to retain the talent that is currently within the city offices. Santa Clara is a great place to work because of those who have built the existing structure and work environment. Her approach to hiring outside personnel at a higher salary, especially those she has worked with or who worked for her previously, is big step in demoralizing the existing managers and rank and file. They see this as a slap in the face of the many years they have given to the city with no avenue for promotion or pay raises that measure up to those given to outside hires. Ms. Santana’s actions speak so loudly of a high school “clique” mentality that only those from the inner circle get attention. Ms. Santana should have an external company conduct an employee satisfaction survey to see what city employees believe is truly their ability to earn promotions and pay raises based on their contributions. As Margaret Thatcher said, “You can fool the people you work for. You can fool the people you work with. You cannot fool the people who work for you.”
Thanks for all of the interesting articles in The Weekly!
