San Jose City Council
December 5, 2022

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FW: special council meeting on December 5
City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 9:31 AM
To:Agendadesk <

From: john salah <
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2022 9:25 AM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: special council meeng on December 5

I am voicing my opinion that we should VOTE for the vacant seats in district 8 and 10. Having an appointment does not represent the democratic system of government.

Please do not take away our vote.

John Salah

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FW: In Support of Special Election - 12/5/2022 Special Council Meeting City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 8:13 AM
To:Agendadesk <

From: Sandra Delvin <
Sent: Friday, December 02, 2022 7:53 PM
To: Liccardo, Sam < Jones, Chappie < Jimenez, Sergio
< Peralez, Raul < Cohen, David < Carrasco,
Magdalena < Davis, Dev < Esparza, Maya
< Arenas, Sylvia < Foley, Pam < Mahan, Ma
< City Clerk < District1 < District2
< District3 < District4 < District5
< District 6 < District7 < District8
< District9 < District 10 <
Subject: In Support of Special Elecon - 12/5/2022 Special Council Meeng

Dear Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers:

I respectful request that the registered voters in D8 and D10 be allowed to vote in a special election to fill the upcoming council vacancies.

No other option is acceptable to me.

My vote is priceless!
It was paid for by members of my family and others serving this country.

It is my right!
The precedent of a special election has been used since 1995. These special elections have produced diverse representation (Pat Dando, Madison Nguyen, Nora Campos, Kansen Chu and Manh Nguyen).

Cindy Chavez was first elected to the Board of Supervisors in a special election. Madison Nguyen first Vietnamese-American elected to the city council. Pat Dando was so well respected that a statue of her is outside the Almaden Community Center. And Nora Campos was elected to state office.

This allows the citizens and residents in those districts a choice in their representation on the council.

The cost of the special election is low.

As noted in The Mercury News (https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/12/01/editorial-san-jose-voters- should-get-to-pick-their-council-members/)
“But we’re talking about the election of representatives to help manage a $6 billion annual city budget.

Spending less than one-tenth of 1% of one year’s annual budget on an election is a small price for democracy. “
If the Council does not have a budget contingency to cover one-tenth of 1% in the budget, then all the council members should be recalled for lack of financial responsibility.

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The Mercury News also notes that the move to not have a special election is a power grab. “A labor-backed majority of the San Jose City Council has set the stage for a power grab that would cut one-fifth of the city’s voters out of the process for picking their own council representatives. ... Make no mistake, with a current 6-5 [labor] majority on the council, the progressive labor faction has the votes to do [an appointment]”
and
“In the Nov. 8 election, voters in both districts signaled their desire for moderate city leadership by backing Matt Mahan for mayor over labor-stalwart Cindy Chavez. Our analysis of precinct results shows that Mahan won 52% of the vote in District 8 and 63% of the vote in District 10. “ and
“It would be a gross injustice for the labor-majority on the council to ignore those results and disenfranchise voters in the two districts by filling the vacancies in lieu of an election“ I have also attached to this email a copy of The Mercury News editorial and letters to the editor that appeared in The Mercury News on 12/2/2022 on this topic.

Respectfully,
Sandra A. Delvin, PE

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FW: Council Vacancies in D8 & D10
City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 8:21 AM
To:Agendadesk <

From: Cheryl <
Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2022 11:26 AM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Council Vacancies in D8 & D10

Please add aached PDF into "Leers from the Public".

Berryessa Cizens Advisory Council
Re: Support for a Special Elecon in Districts #8 and #10

Thank You.

Founded in 1973, the Berryessa Citizens Advisory Council is a non-partisan neighborhood association representing the interests of citizens living and working in San Jose City Council District #4 and/or the Berryessa Union School District.

BCAC meets at 7:00PM on the second Monday of each month at the Berryessa Community Center and everyone is welcome. Visit our web site at https://berryessasj.wordpress.com/ or our Facebook page.

November 21, 2022

Mayor Sam Liccardo and San José City Council
San José City Hall
200 East Santa Clara Street
San José, CA 95113

Re: Support for a Special Election in Districts #8 and #10

Honorable Mayor Liccardo and City Council Members,

The Berryessa Citizens Advisory Council (BCAC) Board wants to express its STRONGEST support for appointment of Interim Council Members followed, with all due speed, by a Special Election to replace District 10 Council Member Matt Mahan (San José Mayor Elect) and District 8 Council Member Sylvia Arenas (District 1 Santa Clara County Supervisor Elect). The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters should be tasked with delivering a Special Election Calendar designed to give candidates sufficient time to register and to conduct meaningful campaigns consistent with a timely election.

The appointment of interim Council Members ensures that these districts have representation, but not representation of their own choosing. Therefore to balance the need to fill these Council vacancies and to respect the will of the voters, we believe that interim appointment should be limited to
• Appointees, recognizing their custodial role, formally agree not to be candidates in the Special Election (an example here was set by Ms. Marjorie Matthews in February 2015 when, after Kansen Chu was elected to the California Assembly, she was appointed to represent our District #4) and
• Special Elections are held by June 2023 (7 months) – There is precedence here. The City of San José opted to hold a Special June 23, 2015 Election providing the voters of District #4 the opportunity to elect a replacement City Council Member.

A speedy special election respects the will of the voters and gives the elected councilmembers true authority. The 63,986 voters in District #8 and the 62,121 voters in District 10 deserve representation that is an expression of their will, not an arbitrary vote of City Council Members who represent the interests of other districts. While an “unplanned expense”, the City has an operating budget in excess of $1B/year and can afford to fund a special election. A permanent appointment for the balance of a 4-year term is unacceptable and unnecessary.

Regards,

Linda Locke, President
Berryessa Citizens Advisory Council

Cc All 10 Members of the San José City Council
File
Berryessa Citizens Advisory Council
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FW: CC Meeting 12-5-22 Item 22-1824 Filling Vacancies D8 & D10 City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 8:25 AM
To:Agendadesk <

From: Glenna Howcro <
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2022 6:10 AM
To: Agendadesk < City Clerk < The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo < District1 < District2 < District3
< District4 < District5 < District 6
< District7 < District8 < District9
< District 10 < Martha O'Connell < Hanh
Nguyen < MINH Ly < Glenna Howcro <
Subject: CC Meeng 12-5-22 Item 22-1824 Filling Vacancies D8 & D10

Please see attached

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FW: CC. Meeting 12-5-22 Item 22-1824 Filling Vacancies D8 &D10 City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 9:11 AM
To:Agendadesk <

From: Glenna Howcro <
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2022 9:10 AM
To: Agendadesk < City Clerk < The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo < District1 < District2 < District3
< District4 < District5 < District 6
< District7 < District8 < District9
< District 10 < Hanh Nguyen < Martha O'Connell
< Glenna Howcro <
Subject: CC. Meeng 12-5-22 Item 22-1824 Filling Vacancies D8 &D10

Please see attached

2 this much money to conduct a special election that would only be resolved at around the same time the fundraising period for the upcoming regular election begins.

Conducting elections with limited modalities and at off times is a tried-and-true voter suppression strategy. We urge you not to take this path, and instead appoint members who are representative of the interests and needs of the whole district, rather than allowing a small, non- representative subset of members to choose the representatives that suit them. All more representative electorate would then have the chance to express their preference in the upcoming regular election.

Regards,
Bill James
Santa Clara County Democratic Party Chair

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FW: Filling Vacancies in Council Districts 8 and 10
City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 9:56 AM
To:Agendadesk <

From: <
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2022 9:43 AM
To: Liccardo, Sam < Jones, Chappie < Jimenez, Sergio
< Peralez, Raul < Cohen, David < Carrasco,
Magdalena < Davis, Dev < Esparza, Maya
< Arenas, Sylvia < Foley, Pam < Mahan, Ma
< City Clerk < District1 < District2
< District3 < District4 < District5
< District 6 < District7 < District8
< District9 < District 10 <
Subject: Filling Vacancies in Council Districts 8 and 10

Dear Mayor, City Counselor Members, Clerk and City Staff;

Thank you for all that you do to serve our city of San Jose and support each of us that have made this great place our home.

In the spirit of maintaining the integrity of the democracy we live in, I request that there be a special elecon held to fill the current vacancies in District 10 and 8. I am firmly against these posions just being appointed.

Thank you again,
Stephanie Chase
Almaden Valley, SJ. District 10
Sent from my iPhone

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FW: Filling Vacancies in Council Districts 8 and 10
City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 9:57 AM
To:Agendadesk <

From: Tammi Smorynski <
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2022 9:57 AM
To: Liccardo, Sam < Jones, Chappie < Jimenez, Sergio
< Peralez, Raul < Cohen, David < Carrasco,
Magdalena < Davis, Dev < Esparza, Maya
< Arenas, Sylvia < Foley, Pam < Mahan, Ma
< City Clerk < District1 < District2
< District3 < District4 < District5
< District 6 < District7 < District8
< District9 < District 10 <
Subject: Filling Vacancies in Council Districts 8 and 10

I am requesting that the San Jose City Council create an expedited process for a Special Election to fill the vacancies in the D8 & D10 Council positions. I oppose the current 2022 Council appointing individuals to the D8 & D10 Council positions without a vote of the citizens of these districts.

Thanks. Tammi
In District 10

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FW: Please allow an election for District 8 & 10 Representatives City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 9:59 AM
To:Agendadesk <

From: David Yost <
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2022 9:57 AM
To: Liccardo, Sam < Jones, Chappie < Jimenez, Sergio
< Peralez, Raul < Cohen, David < Carrasco,
Magdalena < Davis, Dev < Esparza, Maya
< Arenas, Sylvia < Foley, Pam < Mahan, Ma
< City Clerk < District1 < District2
< District3 < District4 < District5
< District 6 < District7 < District8
< District9 < District 10 <
Subject: Re: Please allow an elecon for District 8 & 10 Representaves

Forgot to include my name: David Yost
& my zip: 95120 (Almaden)

On Mon, Dec 5, 2022 at 9:55 AM David Yost < wrote:

Please allow an elecon for District 8 & 10 Representaves.

Let Democracy work

-Dave

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FW: Special Meeting on Filling Vacancies in Council Districts 8 and 10 City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 9:59 AM
To:Agendadesk <

From: Carolyn Bauer <
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2022 9:58 AM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Special Meeng on Filling Vacancies in Council Districts 8 and 10

San Jose City Clerk Toni Taber,
I disagree with the reasons WHY many organizations say ‘low voter turnout’ is bad and wastes money. I have voted every election for every position and on every item. I would rather have less voters who are informed & care vote, rather than push numbers. With mail in ballots in different languages, there are very few reasons not to vote.

1. DMV registered you incorrectly when you checked a box, so you know you don’t qualify to vote.

2. You happen to be out of the State during the month

3. You don’t care enough.

If it’s number 3, I don’t want you to vote so screw any reasons about low voter turnout.

With that said, I also know that it is the district’s directly affected whose voice all of you should listen to first.

My voice, which is that of 4 voting residents in our household, along with all other voices outside districts 8 & 10 living in San Jose should be next to take into consideration because as a collective, you are ‘our’ council and we should be coming together (voting) to do what is best for the future of San Jose, NOT what large donors of either sides state.

Yes, having a representative chosen BY the PEOPLE they represent is the FAIREST way to replace the candidate who is moving on AND COST should NOT be considered when it comes to FAIRNESS of representation, however it is always part of the consideration so consider these.

Perhaps the City Charter should be changed to allow the outgoing ‘elected’ representative to appoint their own replacement who would usually align with the goals of the elected.

Otherwise, only an Election will truly be a FAIR representative. So in the future, if you want to ‘save money’ have the candidate choose their replacement.

FW: Filling Vacancies in Council Districts 8 and 10
City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 10:00 AM
To:Agendadesk <
-----Original Message-----
From: James Watson <
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2022 10:00 AM
To: Foley, Pam < District9 < City Clerk <
Subject: Filling Vacancies in Council Districts 8 and 10 [You don't often get email from Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]
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Dear Pam Foley,
I am writing to urge you to vote not to appoint members for these districts but instead hold a special election.  This is the American way. For and by the people!
Regards,
Jim Watson
District 7 resident
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FW: Please fill the Council vacancies for District 8 and District 10 by appointment City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 10:37 AM
To:Agendadesk <

From: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo <
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2022 10:07 AM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Fw: Please fill the Council vacancies for District 8 and District 10 by appointment

From: Salimah Valiani <
Sent: Sunday, December 4, 2022 10:43 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo <
Subject: Please fill the Council vacancies for District 8 and District 10 by appointment

Please fill the Council vacancies for District 8 and District 10 by appointment, to approve a thorough and transparent process to fill the vacancies for the duration of the term and to focus city time and resources on what’s important: good jobs, safe communities, clean streets, and neighborhood investments.

Thank you,

Salimah Valiani
Resident of San Jose and Citizen

[External Email]
FW: Filling two vacancies on the Council
City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 10:37 AM
To:Agendadesk <

From: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo <
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2022 10:07 AM
To: Reed, Jim < City Clerk <
Subject: Fw: Filling two vacancies on the Council

From: Richard Konda <
Sent: Monday, December 5, 2022 8:42 AM
To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo < District7 < District2 < District9 < District 6 < District8
< District3 < District1 < District4
< District 10 < District5 <
Subject: Filling two vacancies on the Council

Dear Mayor Liccardo and members of the San Jose City Council:

Please use the appointment process to fill the District 8 and District 10 vacancies on the City Council. Using this process will ensure that both District 8 and District 10 will be represented and able to vote on upcoming important policy decisions.

The cost of a special elecon is too high when the budget for the next year is very uncertain. With a new mayoral administraon beginning next year, having a council that represents all of the 10 districts is essenal.

Sincerely,

----
Richard Konda (he/him/his)
Executive Director

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FW: We deserve an election to decide who fills the council seat! City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 11:55 AM
To:Agendadesk <

From: Margaret Yost <
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2022 11:40 AM
To: Liccardo, Sam < Jones, Chappie < Jimenez, Sergio
< Peralez, Raul < Cohen, David < Carrasco,
Magdalena < Davis, Dev < Esparza, Maya
<
Cc: Arenas, Sylvia < Foley, Pam < Mahan, Ma
<Ma City Clerk <
Subject: We deserve an elecon to decide who fills the council seat!

We feel strongly that even though it costs money, there should be an elecon to fill the council seats!! Policians should not be deciding.

Margaret Yost

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Fw: Santa Clara County Democratic Party letter supporting an appointment process to fill vacancies City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 11:35 AM
To:Agendadesk <
Office of the City Clerk | City of San José
200 E. Santa Clara St., Tower 14th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
Main: 408-535-1260
Fax: 408-292-6207
How is our service? Please take our short survey.

From: Bill James <
Sent: Monday, December 5, 2022 11:11 AM
To: City Clerk <
Cc: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo < District1 < District2 < District3 < District4 < District5
< District 6 < District7 < District8
< District9 < District 10 <
Subject: Santa Clara County Democrac Party leer supporng an appointment process to fill vacancies

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Dear City Clerk, Mayor, and Council Members,
I am enclosed a revised version of the letter submitted earlier today supporting an appointment process to fill the vacancies from District 8 and 10.

The attached version corrects a typographical error.

Regards, Bill James
Santa Clara County Democratic Party Chair

1 Santa Clara County Democratic Party
2901 Moorpark Ave, Suite 110
San Jose, California 95128
December 5, 2022

Mayor Liccardo and Members of the San José City Council San José City Hall
Re: Agenda Item 22-1824 re Council Vacancies
Dear Mayor Liccardo and Members of the City Council,
We urge you to adopt a fair, transparent, inclusive, and expeditious process to appoint members to represent Districts 8 and 10 until the next regular election. Appointing members who do not have to immediately run in a special election is the surest way to maintain constituent services for residents of Districts 8 and 10 and ensure they have a voice in the budget process.

Historically, voter turnout in special elections is very low, as much as half the turnout in midterm elections and a third the turnout in a presidential election. Based on turnout in the recent midterm elections for San José City Council, turnout could be as low as 20%, or lower, which would result in a candidate being elected with support from barely 10% of the voters in their district. Research shows that communities of color, young people, and workers would be among those greatly underrepresented in such a low participation election. That’s not true democracy.

Special elections would likely require a runoff, which would not be completed until the time the fundraising period for the regular election would begin. It doesn’t serve the residents of Districts 8 and 10, or the best interests of the entire community, to remain in a continuous state of campaigning for the next two years, instead of allowing the City Council to focus on the many unmet needs and challenges we face.

Finally, a special election conducted without undue restrictions, such as not providing for residents to vote in person if they so choose, would cost upwards of $10 million. No member should vote to conduct a special election unless they identify the corresponding $1 million in services they would cut to residents of their district. At a time of budget shortfalls, it doesn’t make sense to spend

2 this much money to conduct a special election that would only be resolved at around the same time the fundraising period for the upcoming regular election begins.

Conducting elections with limited modalities and at off times is a tried-and-true voter suppression strategy. We urge you not to take this path, and instead appoint members who are representative of the interests and needs of the whole district, rather than allowing a small, non- representative subset of members to choose the representatives that suit them. A more representative electorate would then have the chance to express their preference in the upcoming regular election.

Regards,
Bill James
Santa Clara County Democratic Party Chair

Fw: Filling Council Vacancies in 8 & 10
City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 11:34 AM
To:Agendadesk <
Office of the City Clerk | City of San José
200 E. Santa Clara St., Tower 14th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
Main: 408-535-1260
Fax: 408-292-6207
How is our service? Please take our short survey.

From: District 10 <
Sent: Monday, December 5, 2022 11:29 AM
To: <
Cc: Arenas, Sylvia < Jimenez, Sergio < Davis, Dev
< City Clerk < Esparza, Maya < Foley, Pam
< Mahan, Ma < District1 < District2
< District3 < District4 < District5
< District 6 < District7 < District8
< District9 < District 10 < Liccardo, Sam
< Jones, Chappie < Peralez, Raul < Cohen,
David < Carrasco, Magdalena <
Subject: Re: Filling Council Vacancies in 8 & 10

Dear Randi,
Thank you for reaching out to our office about the process for filling the council vacancies. We appreciate your support of common sense solutions – the people should choose their elected leaders, not the politicians.

Today at 5:00pm, Council will decide whether or not to hold a special election to fill the vacancies in Districts 8 and

10. We hope you can join us this evening to voice your support of having an election. Please share this with your network.

The meeting starts promptly at 5:00 pm today, December 5th. Learn how to get involved by clicking this link.

We have always filled vacant seats with a vote of the people. Recently our president talked about how Democracy was on the ballot – and asked us to vote to stand up for our democratic institutions. We have just been through a contentious Mayoral campaign. Now is the time to unite around our shared principles. And no principle is more crucial to San Jose than the foundational value that the people should choose their leaders – not the politicians. There is no greater denial of democracy than simply refusing to have an election.

Let’s make sure the council hears our voices – we want the people to decide, not the politicians! Gema Escorcia
Operations Lead & Council Aid

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Office of Councilmember Matt Mahan
City of San José | District 10
Email:

On Sat, 3 Dec at 12:21 AM , Rmark9039 < wrote:

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Council Members Jimenez, Arenas and Davis,
Your recommendaon to let 6 of the 2023 councilmembers decide who will be appointed to two vacant council seats is despicable.

It does not represent the people. If you wanted everyone to work together, you would recommend that a unanimous vote is needed to appoint the new council members next year.

Arenas and Davis ran for office during their term. Now you’re concerned about other council members running for office during their terms. Complete hypocrisy on your part.

You say you will “handle this in a thoughul manner.” More hypocrisy when you want 6 of the council members to pick the new ones.

You say “It is important to note that mayor-elect Mahan will have a say in who is selected to represent District

10.” More hypocrisy. It’s only 6 of the council members who would choose the newly appointed members.

You say “not allow policians to play kingmaker via campaign commiees” and worried about “IE’s buying an elecon.” More hypocrisy. Where was your outcry when the 49ers spent $720,000 on your Chavez’ campaign? Now YOU want to play kingmaker with only 6 council votes? You say “who sits on the Council, likely for the next 5+ years”. YOU want to play kingmaker for 5+ years on two seats. That is not an interim appointment! You want to hand-pick for 5+ years. Why didn’t you recommend someone who doesn’t want to run for re-elecon? More hypocrisy.

You say “We must demand beer from our policians and our news sources.” More hypocrisy. YOU are the policians and YOU control the news sources.

You say “Elecons which we are sure residents are red of.” Who put you in charge of deciding when residents are red of elecons?
Why didn’t you menon the cost esmate that costs half as much if we do all-mail elecons? The people of San Jose will not forget this divisive, corrupt, hypocrical power-play.

You are liars and you are stealing two council seats because you know that Labor wouldn’t win in D10 and maybe not in D8. The Labor-business divide is not dead.

YOU are perpetuang it! The people see what you are doing.

Randi Markwood
San Jose resident

Fw: Filling Vacancies in Council Districts 8 and 10
City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 1:32 PM
To:Agendadesk <
Office of the City Clerk | City of San José
200 E. Santa Clara St., Tower 14th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
Main: 408-535-1260
Fax: 408-292-6207
How is our service? Please take our short survey.

From: Theo Klopper <
Sent: Monday, December 5, 2022 1:15 PM
To: Liccardo, Sam < Jones, Chappie < Jimenez, Sergio
< Peralez, Raul < Cohen, David < Carrasco,
Magdalena < Davis, Dev < Esparza, Maya
< Arenas, Sylvia < Foley, Pam < Mahan, Ma
<Ma City Clerk < Dis trict1 < District2
< District3 < District4 < District5
< District 6 < District7 < District8
< District9 < District 10 <
Subject: Filling Vacancies in Council Districts 8 and 10

[External Email]
Greetings.

I agree with what the SJ Mercury News wrote on this subject.

1. Let the public decide and vote on the two soon to be vacant SJ City council members’ seats.

2. Keep cost down by mail-only voting.

Thanks and regards.

Theo Klopper.

Sent from my iPhone
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FW: Special Meeting on Filling Vacancies in Council Districts 8 and 10 City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 2:07 PM
To:Agendadesk <

From: Jose Posadas <
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2022 2:00 PM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Special Meeng on Filling Vacancies in Council Districts 8 and 10

As one of the 23 members of the Charter Review Commission from 2021 we submied various recommendaons to the Council on ways to make the City more representave, more responsive, accessible and reflecve of the diverse community at-large. One of the guiding thoughts throughout the year-long process was to increase parcipaon by both cizens and non-cizens alike.

To that end, one of the recommendaons became Measure B which was passed nearly unanimously by the Council based on the argument that increasing voter parcipaon is a desired outcome. That measure was passed by voters in this past June Primary Elecon.

Another recommendaon, in the form of Measure I was also placed on the ballot by the Council and among one its goals was increased parcipaon in our city commissions by non-cizens, an aempt to get more residents to have a say in their local government. That measure was also passed by voters in the November General Elecon.

San Jose connues to be a progressive city, a city with an entrepreneurial mindset when it comes to increasing civic parcipaon for all its residents.

We, thankfully, are not like some groups in naonal polics who aempt to disenfranchise voters, for example in states such as Georgia. Yet, despite efforts by some of those groups, the State of Georgia is reporng record seng early-vong turnouts in their special run-off elecon taking place tomorrow.

I believe San Jose can do the same in our own local special elecons and can work to help turn out voters using exisng resources, partnering with non-parsan organizaons, and promong civic parcipaon at every city-held community meeng, planning workshop and council-sponsored event.

At every such opportunity there should be efforts towards voter registraon, updang of voter informaon, pre-registraon of qualifying teens, and literature on upcoming ballot issues. I personally have had the opportunity to speak in front of thousands of new cizens during their swearing-in ceremonies on the importance of civic parcipaon and on vong specifically. I welcome any invitaon to do so in the city I have called home ever since immigrang here from Mexico as an infant.

As a Lano, as an immigrant who became a naturalized cizen, as a progressive democrat, and unionist I am supporve of efforts to engage underrepresented, diverse communies into the polical process – the more we are engaged the more our voices are heard.

Vong is like exercising a muscle – you get stronger only when you flex it.

Jose Posadas, District 3 resident

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FW: 12/5 Special Meeting - Comment Letter
City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 2:57 PM
To:Agendadesk <

From: <
Sent: Monday, December 5, 2022 2:55 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo <TheOffi Carrasco, Magdalena < District 10 < District1 < District2
< District3 < District4 < District 6
< District7 < District8 < District9
<
Cc: City Clerk <
Subject: 12/5 Special Meeng - Comment Leer

Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,

Please find aached my comment leer for today’s special council meeng on council vacancies. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment on this maer.

Sincerely,

Jesus Flores
President & CEO
Latino Business Foundation SV
www.lbfsv.org

December 5, 2022

Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of San Jose
200 E. Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA 95113

Dear Mayor Liccardo, Vice Mayor Jones, and Councilmembers Carrasco, Mahan, Jimenez, Arenas, Cohen, Davis, Foley, Peralez, and Esparza,

RE: 12/5 Special Meeting on Filling Vacancies on Council Districts 8 and 10

On behalf of our base, small and micro businesses primarily minority owned throughout the Silicon Valley, we write to urge council to use an appointment process, as allowed per city charter, to fill in upcoming council vacancies in council districts 8 and 10. As a small and microbusiness advocacy organization, we are always looking to support our members through turbulent economic times as well as provide resources to increase civic participation among our membership, especially given the fact that our members are businesses that are owned by and employ thousands of residents of our community. We are coming off a midterm election with very low turnout among specific demographics in particular BIPOC communities. We must continue to advocate for a just democracy with opportunities for everyone to participate in their civic duties and special elections are famously known for very low voter turnouts which will have an effect on genuine representation.

Additionally, we must be aware of our current fiscal climate and how we properly utilize our city’s resources. It has been mentioned that a special election could cost up to 11 million dollars, that’s 11 million dollars that the city can use towards supporting economic development, public safety, and other issues impacting our community.

We are in ardent support of a genuine democracy, allowing appointed council members to finish out unexpired terms and allow for elections in a regularly timed cycle should be the preferred option so that our entire community will be best positioned to turn out to the polls to select their representatives.

We look forward to working with everyone on numerous city matters in an expeditious manner, the appointment process allows us that opportunity. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for the opportunity to provide comment.

Sincerely,

Jesus Flores, President and CEO
Latino Business Foundation of Silicon Valley
[External Email]
FW: Special Meeting on Filling Vacancies in Council Districts 8 and 10 City Clerk <
Mon 12/5/2022 3:27 PM
To:Agendadesk <

From: Brad De Young <
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2022 3:27 PM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Special Meeng on Filling Vacancies in Council Districts 8 and 10

This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

San Jose City Clerk Toni Taber,
I am writing in support of the City Council appointing new members of council to fill Districts 8 and 10. According to the City Charter, the City Council has the discretion to appoint someone to fill the two vacancies for the remainder of the term. This option would require no city funding and create an opportunity for a genuinely representative electorate to select their next councilmember. The alternative, a special election, could cost $7-11 million dollars, have extremely low, consequently unrepresentative, voter turnout and will not yield a councilmember until August of next year, months before the 2024 election cycle begins, according to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters.

As a San José resident, it’s clear to me that our city is currently at a critical juncture, in dire need of resources for public safety, parks, and vital infrastructure — every dollar that is unwisely spent means there is less, much needed, funding towards addressing our current housing crisis, and need for public safety and regional economic development. These are urgent issues that impact each and everyone that lives and works in San José. We need our local leaders to focus on funding and implementing solutions that make it possible for each of us to have a roof over our heads, feel safe in our neighborhoods and parks, and have access to critical infrastructure and care.

I stand alongside a broad coalition of partners from labor, community and multi ethnic organizations in supporting a process that would lead to genuine representation and afford for an electorate reflective of our community. I ask the San José City Council to put their constituents first and adopt a fair, transparent, inclusive, and expeditious process to appoint members to represent Districts 8 and 10 until the next regular election in 2024.

Brad De Young