Letters from the Public - 1 of 2 — San Jose City Council, November 29, 2022

11/28/22, 1:16 PM Mail - City Clerk - Outlook
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a w <
Sun 11/27/2022 12:58 PM
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Dear City of San Jose Government,
I am a homeowner in the Palmia community in San Jose, across the street from the VTA Cottle station and the proposed site of a new homeless EIH tiny home build. I am writing to voice my complete opposition to this. My family will not feel safe using the Cottle VTA to commute with this facility in place. I cannot imagine the many patients and employees using the Kaiser San Jose Hospital will feel safe walking thru this facility to commute using the VTA as well. We already have have seen a major increase in crime in this neighborhood in the past few years coinciding with an increase in unhoused individuals. Package theft, car break-ins, public drug use and intoxication, and catalytic converter theft are regular occurrences here now. These were insignificant issues here just 3 years ago, prior to the large influx of unhoused to this neighborhood. Bringing more homeless facilities here will only draw more unhoused individuals here and further contribute to these issues. There are already 2 other EIH facilities in a 1.5 mi radius of this site, as well as plans for a 3rd facility at Santa Theresa VTA station. This neighborhood is being disproportionately burdened by these facilities. Your suggestion of putting this right in the middle of a massive residential neighborhood is nonsensical.

Amanda Walker
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The site already has trailers coming that is a significant increase in homeless population. If you look at how large the trailer and homeless situation grew on Taylor street it became non manageable. The trash accumulated along with the dumping they did made for the surrounding area to become unsafe. In addition the shopping centers become inundated with homeless. This will bring down business in the surrounding area. It also is a concern with a elementary school in very close proximity along with neighbourhoods and the Myuki Park built in the California Grove neighborhood.. This park then could become a place where even more homeless migrate too.

The impact on the neighborhood and business is too significant to build tiny homes along with VTA trailer parking. In addition the south San Jose area is being significantly used more for homeless than other areas.

Regards,
Marcy Koehler
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11/28/22, 1:18 PM Mail - City Clerk - Outlook
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Mushfiqul Alam <
Sun 11/27/2022 3:01 PM
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Hi,
Regarding the EIH at Cottle VTA sharing our serious concern as for following reasons:
1) serious impact to our family members regarding safety 2) within heavy traffic during rush ours
3) the site is heavily used for parking
4) Sits into an emergency hospital area and needs constant security Thanks,
Mushfiq Alam
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11/28/22, 1:19 PM Mail - City Clerk - Outlook
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Agenda Item Number 8.3 (file # 22-1748)
Son Nguyen <
Sun 11/27/2022 7:52 PM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>
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Hi,
I am writing to voice my concerns over the Tiny Homes at Cottle VTA proposal. As a parent of two young kids and a resident of the area for over 12 years, I highly ask our City Council to reconsider and vote NO to the Tiny Homes at Cotte VTA.

We are against this because it's too close to the residential areas, schools, libraries and parks where kids play. In addition, San Jose already puts approximately 65% of homeless transitional housing within 1.5 miles radius near our neighborhood. This Tiny Homes at Cotte VTA would be a dire concern of public safely and health. Please vote NO to this agenda.

Thank you,
Son

11/28/22, 9:21 AM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Thakor Sutaria < >
Sun 11/27/2022 8:24 PM
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We are totally opposed to Cottle VTA as our neighborhood is disproportionately burdened by the City’s homeless programs. The site in question will pose a serious endangerment of public safety and public health as it will be close to day care centers and senior center and Kaiser patients. No community concerns have been considered nor public environmental impact studies done. So Homeless EIH should not be built near residential areas.

Mr Thakorlal Sutaria
Mrs Tarulata Sutaria

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Agenda Item Number 8.3 (file# 22-1748)
forest wade <
Sun 11/27/2022 10:40 PM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>
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Dear San Jose City Clerk,
I am emailing to voice my concerns and express an emphatic "No" against using the Cottle VTA as an EIH Tiny Homes site. Please pass my concerns to Mayor Mahan and the San Jose City Council. I am a resident and homeowner in the nearby Palmia neighborhood, a short walk to the Cottle VTA. There are numerous reasons why the Cottle VTA Tiny Home project should be rejected. I have listed a few below.

Using the Cottle VTA as a Tiny Home site would cause a
disproportionate burden to my South San
Jose neighborhood. There are already a number of San Jose City homeless sites in the vicinity. These homeless sites (RV safe parking and Tiny Homes) must be shared by all of San Jose's districts.

There will be significant environmental impact. I believe a Tiny Home site at the Cottle VTA would cause increased traffic in an area already facing significant vehicle and foot traffic. The Kaiser hospital is one block away and increased traffic could delay first responders. The Cottle/Palmia intersection (one light south of the Cottle VTA) is already backed up with cars stuck in the intersection near Kaiser.

The area should be used for VTA park and ride. No one will want to park their car and take the VTA leaving their car all day located next to Tiny Home occupants.

Increased traffic and potential pandering at the Village Oaks shopping center (Safeway, Target and all the various stores). This could damage sales and cause issues for retail in the area.

Kindest regards,
--

Forest A. Wade

11/28/22, 1:19 PM Mail - City Clerk - Outlook
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Agenda Item 8.3 (file #22-1748)
Vikram Nandi <
Mon 11/28/2022 1:32 AM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>;CouncilMeeting <[email protected]> You don't often get email from Learn why this is important

I like to express my disapproval of placing the Homeless EIH (aka "Tiny Home") at Cottle VTA station.

The EIH project at Cottle is being pushed against the concerned citizens of the local community, and Council members from other locations are voting for it without taking up any share for their community.

The City's homeless programs disproportionately burden our neighborhood, and the City puts about 65% of the homeless transitional housing within a 1.5-mile radius near our neighborhood.

This site represents a serious endangerment of public safety and public health. It is close to daycare centers (e.g., Bright Horizon, Catalyst Kids, Tulip Kids), elementary schools (e.g., Oak Ridge, Alex Anderson, Peach Blossom), and senior centers (e.g., Southside Senior Center) The VTA parking lot is for VTA riders, and many neighbors and Kaiser patients use the Cottle VTA. The EIH site is located at a heavily used highway onramp, and it will create traffic jams and safety issues.

The VTA is used by local elementary and middle school kids for school trips, and an EIH would be putting our kids in harm's way. As a teenager, I would be terrified to use the VTA station with homeless EIH in that parking lot. Careless city officials are putting the kids like me in danger despite the pushback from the local community. We will hold the people involved responsible.

No community concerns have been considered. No public environmental impact studies have been performed.

As a local community citizen, I strongly oppose this EIH project at Cottle VTA station.

HOMELESS EIH Should Not Be Built Near Residential Areas Sincerely
Vikram Nandi

11/28/22, 1:20 PM Mail - City Clerk - Outlook
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Agenda Item 8.3 (file #22-1748)
Sanjana Nandi <
Mon 11/28/2022 1:34 AM
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I like to express my disapproval of placing the Homeless EIH (aka "Tiny Home") at Cottle VTA station.

The City's homeless programs disproportionately burden our neighborhood, and the City puts about 65% of the homeless transitional housing within a 1.5-mile radius near our neighborhood.

No community concerns have been considered. No public environmental impact studies have been performed.

As a local community citizen, I strongly oppose this EIH project at Cottle VTA station.

HOMELESS EIH Should Not Be Built Near Residential Areas Sincerely,
Sanjana Nandi

11/28/22, 1:21 PM Mail - City Clerk - Outlook
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Agenda Item 8.3 (file #22-1748)
Satish Nandi <
Mon 11/28/2022 1:35 AM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>;CouncilMeeting <[email protected]> Cc: Satish Nandi <
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I like to express my disapproval of placing the Homeless EIH (aka "Tiny Home") at Cottle VTA station.

The City's homeless programs disproportionately burden our neighborhood, and the City puts about 65% of the homeless transitional housing within a 1.5-mile radius near our neighborhood.

The VTA is used by local elementary and middle school kids for school trips, and an EIH would be putting our kids in harm's way. Careless city officials are putting the kids in danger despite the pushback from the local community. We will hold the people involved responsible.

No community concerns have been considered. No public environmental impact studies have been performed.

As a local community citizen, I strongly oppose this EIH project at Cottle VTA station.

HOMELESS EIH Should Not Be Built Near Residential Areas Sincerely
Satish Nandi

Agenda Item 8.3 (file #22-1748)
Nirupama Nandi <
Mon 11/28/2022 1:35 AM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>;CouncilMeeting <[email protected]> You don't often get email from Learn why this is important

I like to express my disapproval of placing the Homeless EIH (aka "Tiny Home") at Cottle VTA station.

The City's homeless programs disproportionately burden our neighborhood, and the City puts about 65% of the homeless transitional housing within a 1.5-mile radius near our neighborhood.

No community concerns have been considered. No public environmental impact studies have been performed.

As a local community citizen, I strongly oppose this EIH project at Cottle VTA station.

HOMELESS EIH Should Not Be Built Near Residential Areas Sincerely
Nirupama Nandi

Agenda Item Number 8.3 (file # 22-1748)
Emily Phan <
Mon 11/28/2022 9:37 AM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>
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Hi,
We are greatly disappointed that the city of San Jose is trying to dump all homeless issues to South San Jose by using VTA parking for Safe Parks as well as for Tiny Homes for the un-home.

We have been working so hard all of our lives to build our home here, and you are about to make it unsafe for our children.

PLEASE stop this, please find a different location where there are no parks, elementary schools near the area.

Thanks & regards,
Boilam Phan & family

11/28/22, 10:04 AM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Agenda Item 8.3
Mary Helen Doherty < >
Mon 11/28/2022 9:59 AM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>
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Dear Mayor and Members of theCity Council
As a resident of Naglee Park and a volunteer with the Sacred Heart Housing Action Committee I request that you support the development of new emergency interim housing and strongly support the staff's recommendation for more services and outreach at ALL emergency interim housing (EIH) sites. In addition expanded funding is required for our city workers to provide those services.

I also strongly support the staff's recommendation NOT to implement no encampment zones and I'm opposed to any measures that would increase the criminalization of our unhoused neighbors.

Thank you so much for your required leadership regarding this critical issue for so many of our community.

Mary Helen Doherty

11/28/22, 1:23 PM Mail - City Clerk - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/AAMkAGJiNDY2NWI3LTY1ODktNDczNy1iYjdkLWZlNWFjYmFmNmQ3ZQAuAAAAAADU… 1/1 Agenda item 8.3 (file #22-1748)
Terrell <
Mon 11/28/2022 11:30 AM
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I am writing this email since I cannot be at the in person meeting on November 29. I want to show my concern and anger towards building tiny homes on the cuddle VTA station parking lot. We DO NOT want tiny homes here put them somewhere else we have too many issues now and these homes will just add more. We have the hospital and and schools all around this area and these homes will attract more problems.

Terrell Gaches

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11/28/22, 1:24 PM Mail - City Clerk - Outlook
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Agenda Item 8.3
Piper McNulty <
Mon 11/28/2022 11:50 AM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>
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To the San Jose City Council:

Regarding Agenda Item 8.3:

People become unhoused for many reasons. Most do not want to be on the street. They want to get back on their feet, feel safe, and pay their own way.

The unhoused should not be criminalized as a group!
Please do not implement no encampment zones. Where will those folks go when there is insufficient safe, dignified housing for them?
I support new emergency interim housing.

I support more services and outreach at ALL emergency interim housing (EIH) sites.

I support MORE funding for our city workers to provide those services.

Thank you,
Piper
_____________
Ms. (Margaret) Piper McNulty
Bay Area Climate Justice (BACJ) - Spokescouncil MEDIA Group Fossil Free California (FFCA) - Union Team
De Anza College faculty, Department of Intercultural Studies, retired

11/28/22, 1:50 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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You don't often get email from . Learn why this is important FW: NO Tiny Homes at Cottle VTA
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Mon 11/28/2022 1:50 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Jeremy Zhu <
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 1:35 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: NO Tiny Homes at Cole VTA

To whom it may concern,

I am wring this email to let you hear my concerns regarding building a homeless EIH at Cole VTA (Agenda Item Number 8.3 - File # 22-1748).

I am living at . There have been many homeless programs in our neighborhood right now. My concern for the safety of my kids and parents has greatly increased recently. I believe there must be other opons and locaons. Anyway, Homeless EIH should NOT be built near residenal areas.

Respecully,
Jeremy

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Agenda Item 8.3 - No EIH at Cottle VTA
Linda Linjun Xu <
Mon 11/28/2022 11:34 PM
To:City Clerk <

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Dear City Council,
I write to express concerns and opposition to the City's proposal to build an EIH at the VTA parking lot on Cottle Road.

First, the surrounding neighborhoods have already been overburdened by temporary housing programs. For example, within the 1.5 mile radius of the Cottle VTA, there are two established EIH sites (Rue Ferrari, Bernel & Monterey) which host 158 units of EIH. Additional EIHs have also been planned in this area including 204 units at Monterey & Branham and an expansion of Rue Ferrari which will get another 100 beds. In total, this represents over 40% of the EIHs of the entire city of San Jose. If the Cottle VTA site (with 100 units) is approved, the same 1.5 mile radius will house over 50% of the EIHs for the entire city of San Jose. In addition to the EIHs, this area has additional affordable housing planned such as Santa Teresa & Lean, as well as RV parking at Santa Teresa VTA station. San Jose is a big city with 10 districts. Each community needs to take the responsibility of helping the unhoused. Building a majority of EIHs and temporary housing in such a small area is plainly unfair to the local community and is not a sustainable long-term solution.

Second, the Cottle VTA is close to schools, daycare centers, and senior centers, many of which are within walking distance.

For example, Cottle VTA is close to day care centers (e.g., Bright Horizon, Catalyst Kids, Tulip Kids), elementary schools (e.g., Oak Ridge, Alex Anderson, Peach Blossom), and senior center (e.g., Southside Senior Center). It is also right next to Kaiser hospital. These locations are frequented and used by the most vulnerable people in our society, such as children, elders, and people with restricted abilities to move. The EIH program does not have a mechanism to protect those vulnerable people from the impact brought by the site or otherwise ensure the health and safety of the surrounding areas. As one example, the EIH program at Rue Ferrari is managed by HomeFirst, which has a very low barrier for determining eligibility. The HomeFirst's website specifically states that it "eliminate[s] as many requirements as [it] can to ease entry (E.g., entrance does not require sobriety)". https://www.homefirstscc.org/programs. This "eased" requirement inevitably fails to separate those who truly need help from those who present public safety concerns (such as drug addicts, alcoholics, etc.). Also, the city is planning to bring the unhoused from other areas of the city into the newly constructed site, which further exacerbates public safety issues.

Moreover, Cottle VTA is close to residential areas, where the Oak Ridge and Anderson East neighborhoods are across the street within one block from the Cottle VTA. Building an EIH in such a close proximity to residential areas is an irresponsible idea. Currently, there is no way to ensure that individuals who prefer living on the street and yet want to use the free services provided by EIH, will not endanger the health and safety of the neighborhoods (e.g., by building illegal camps in the neighorboods).

Third, the proposed EIH at Cottle VTA will cause traffic jams and decrease the community's mobility. The proposed EIH is at the on-ramp to highway 85. It will create traffic congestion at an already busy intersection. Furthermore, the Cottle VTA station is actively used by the community riders. As shown in the example satellite image below from pre-covid (i.e., May 2018), the Cottle VTA station is a park & ride location where many people park there to take the light rail. With Covid receding, the ridership is expected to return to the pre-covid period. By turning three acres of parking lot into an EIH site,

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This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. parking spots will be reduced which will in turn dissuade community riders. Moreover, as there won't be enough parking spots, those who previously took the light rail will drive instead, which further worsens the traffic congestion on the 85 on-ramp intersection. The end result will be a traffic bottleneck at the ramp intersection in front of the EIH site.

Cottle VTA is not the right location for an EIH. It is unfair to the local community, and creates public health and safety concerns that cannot be mitigated.

Sincerely,
Linda

San Jose City CouncilNovember 29, 2022

San Jose City Council
November 29, 2022