The Marketing Committee of the City Council will be considering giving grants for Civic Engagement. So, instead of money for books and parks, Santa Clara Council Members will be handing out shekels to people to advocate for books and parks. Something tells me the Marketing Committee Leadership has a list of favored people to podcast their way to a grant. Over the years I have been a nasty critic of Ms. Bress and her associates, but this seems like a good idea, a gadfly tax. Every building permit will have a dollar tacked on to pay gadflies to engage the public! When our public officials start handing out money for people to engage, it is time for people to engage and tell their elected officials, spend my money on a public swimming, pay off your stooges with your own money.