Letters from the Public — San Jose City Council, June 12, 2023

FW: t Public Comment Final Public Hearing: 2023-24 Proposed Operating/Capital Budgets :

City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 5/30/2023 4:28 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
-----Original Message-----
From: Diana Zitman
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 3:51 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: t Public Comment Final Public Hearing: 2023-24 Proposed Operating/Capital Budgets :
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This is a horrible injustice to all who so desperately need affordable housing including my special needs daughter who works so hard at a restaurant so many hours but can’t afford housing. She is an exemplary dedicated employee.

Please do not cut over 50 million in funding for affordable housing.

Diana V Zitman
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FW: Public Comment Final Public Hearing: 2023-24 Proposed Operating/Capital Budgets City Clerk <[email protected]>
Wed 5/31/2023 8:10 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Joy Powell
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 5:32 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Public Comment Final Public Hearing: 2023-24 Proposed Operang/Capital Budgets

Dear Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers,
My name is Joy Powell. I am a resident of the City of San Jose and I oppose the proposal to cut much needed funding for permanent affordable housing for our community’s most vulnerable residents including seniors, veterans, disabled, low-income families and the unhoused. These changes would be a violation of the trust of the voters who supported Measure E as a commitment to building these new homes and a balanced response to the housing needs of San Jose. Over 150,000 people in San Jose live in households that pay over half of their income on housing, just one emergency away from losing their homes. Close to 100,000 people live in overcrowded homes.

Emergency Interim Shelters can be an important new tool, but they work best when there are permanent homes to move into. Changing the Measure E expenditure plan will take away the resources we will need to build affordable housing for many years to come. It costs the city more for two years of operations for an interim shelter bedroom than it does to support an affordable one for 55 years. Without continued investment in permanent affordable housing solutions the city will continue to see more people falling into homelessness outpacing the rate at which new affordable homes are built with no way to exit the temporary solutions being proposed. I urge you not to defund the continued development of much needed new permanent affordable homes for City of San Jose residents.

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FW: Public Comment Final Public Hearing: 2023-24 Proposed Operating/Capital Budgets City Clerk <[email protected]>
Mon 6/5/2023 8:10 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Marie Echevarria-Reina
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2023 5:16 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Public Comment Final Public Hearing: 2023-24 Proposed Operang/Capital Budgets

Dear Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers,

My name is Marie Echevarria-Reina. I am a resident of the City of San Jose and I oppose the proposal to cut much needed funding for permanent aﬀordable housing for our community’s most vulnerable residents including seniors, veterans, disabled, low-income families and the unhoused. These changes would be a violaon of the trust of the voters who supported Measure E as a commitment to building these new homes and a balanced response to the housing needs of San Jose. Over 150,000 people in San Jose live in households that pay over half of their income on housing, just one emergency away from losing their homes. Close to 100,000 people live in overcrowded homes.

Emergency Interim Shelters can be an important new tool, but they work best when there are permanent homes to move into.

Changing the Measure E expenditure plan will take away the resources we will need to build aﬀordable housing for many years to come. It costs the city more for two years of operaons for an interim shelter bedroom than it does to support an aﬀordable one for 55 years. Without connued investment in permanent aﬀordable housing soluons the city will connue to see more people falling into homelessness outpacing the rate at which new aﬀordable homes are built with no way to exit the temporary soluons being proposed.

I urge you not to defund the connued development of much needed new permanent aﬀordable homes for City of San Jose residents.

June 9, 2023

Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers,

I ask that you support the proposal to redistribute the Measure E funds for one budget cycle to provide emergency interim shelters and housing for our unhoused population now.

The decade plus Housing First plan has not provided
adequate results and we cannot wait any longer to help these people.

Affordable Housing is a goal that targets many levels of housing insecurity but we must address the current unhoused “crisis” and provide immediate assistance n
ow to our “most vulnerable” neighbors; those currently living on the streets.

Interim shelter will provide emergency housing now to help people off the streets and provide them with stabilization and a stepping stone to a more productive lifestyle.

While there may be outside monies available for permanent housing, the unhoused segment must be provided with this basic assistance now.

I also question the financial feasibility of the current overall permanent housing plan to provide assistance to hundreds of thousands of residents. We must spend our available money wisely.

E
very effort must be made now to lift people out of homelessness vs creating and perpetuating a system of “permanent” dependency.

Permanent housing is very expensive and takes years to complete. We need to focus on helping the many now instead of just a lucky few in 5-10 years. Any councilmember with a plan that leaves people living outside in encampments (including along the border of their district removed from their constituents) while we wait years for permanent housing should be unacceptable. These encampments and associated cost along with reoccurring destructive abatements are an unnecessary expense and this money should be redirected to actually solving our homeless issues.

It is imperative that we provide solutions now
that will help the most people out of homelessness for the least amount of money. We need leaders that are free thinkers who will not be swayed by the financial interests of the homeless industrial complex, staff (and their chain email lists). We must all be homeless advocates. It is sad that it often seems to be more about money, political grievances and political aspirations than doing the right thing and actually helping people. We are often asked as common residents to take one for the greater good. It is time for the status quo housing advocates and our elected leaders to practice this themselves.

Please support the Housing Now plan to provide immediate assistance to our unhoused neighbors now. It is inhumane to leave people living on the streets and unfair to everyone else.

Thank you,

Tod Williams
Downtown San Jose Resident
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Agenda Item 3.1 - Maintain full funding
Julie Allingham <
Fri 6/9/2023 5:49 PM
To:District8 <[email protected]>
Cc:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
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Councilmember Candelas,
As an early advocate for San Jose Clean Energy and Climate Smart, I’m writing to express my concern about the proposal to reduce funding for Climate Smart.

This is certainly NOT the time to put our climate goals on a lowered priority. Maintaining the hard-won momentum is essential in this fight, and is co-beneficial to help address several other issues our city faces. Please help build upon all the very good and critical work already accomplished by fully funding Climate Smart! Thank you so much for your service to D8, and I hope you’ll play a leadership role to maintain full funding.

Julie Allingham
(D8)
San Jose Clean Energy Advocates, former vice-chair

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FW: Public Comment for City Council Meeting Agenda Item 3.4 or 3.1 (Measure E) City Clerk <[email protected]>
Fri 6/9/2023 4:46 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Debora Ow <
Sent: Friday, June 9, 2023 4:45 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>; District7 <[email protected]> Subject: Public Comment for City Council Meeng Agenda Item 3.4 or 3.1 (Measure E)

Hello, My name is Debbie Ow and I am supporting Survivors of the Street at Sacred Heart.

I am writing in favor of the Davis, Torres and Ortiz plan for Measure E funds.

This plan keeps the promise made to voters for Measure E funds to maximize the building of affordable housing. We know that the reason for the current housing crisis is because there are not enough affordable homes.

This plan finds funding for interim housing and support services without changing Measure E allocations. We all know that interim housing is needed but it is not the final answer.

This plan also continues to invest in homelessness prevention by helping those with housing to keep it.

We all need a safe place to live where we can find work and feel secure in the future for our families. Thank you for listening.

Debora Ow
District 7

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FW: General budget item 3.1
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Fri 6/9/2023 3:04 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Ley Alvarez
Sent: Friday, June 9, 2023 2:47 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: General budget item 3.1

Dear Clark, I'm wring in support of the Davis, Torres, and Orz plan for Measure E funds.

Displacement of our beloved one in San Jose is real.

Manye of my friends had moved out of San Jose because they couldn't aﬀord the rent here.

Manye people that I Know have moved too and I wonder if this situaon will connue through the coming years.

It's important to connue invesng in aﬀordable housing to give those who are struggling with rent the opportunity to connue living in the city that they call home SAN JOSE.

With much respect I urge the Mayor to Measure E funds for what voters of San Jose vote for.

With appreciaon,

Lecia Alvarez,

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FW: June 12th Agenda Item 3.1
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Fri 6/9/2023 3:05 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Robert Vazquez >
Sent: Friday, June 9, 2023 2:26 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: June 12th Agenda Item 3.1

I am wring in favor of the Davis, Torres, and Orz plan for Measure E funds. I am Robert Vazquez. I live in San Jose, CA, 95013. I work as a Senior Accountant in San Jose. I support Measure E. I want the money from Measure E to be used for what it was intended for. The reason is that voters made the decision by vong and approving measure E. The funding for Measure E should support aﬀordable housing and the homeless populaon to demonstrate our compassion and equality. Thank you for taking the me to read this tesmony.

Thank you,
--
Robert Vazquez
Pronouns I use: he, him, his

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FW: June 12th Agenda Item 3.1 Public Comment
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Fri 6/9/2023 3:05 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Alliya Haeri
Sent: Friday, June 9, 2023 2:29 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: June 12th Agenda Item 3.1 Public Comment

Hello,

My name is Alliya Haeri and I am a case manager for the Homelessness Prevenon System. I am wring in favor of the Davis, Torres, and Orz plan for Measure E funds.

The importance of shelter should not negate the importance of aﬀordable housing. Without available and low barrier aﬀordable housing, temporary shelter becomes nothing more than a way to hide away the individuals and families who are in need of housing. It does not provide a long term soluon.

Everyone is owed safe and secure housing by their community, without any caveats. I urge the city council to vote for the plan proposed by Davis, Torres, and Orz, which ﬁnds funding for shelter while maintaining the previous fund allocaons for aﬀordable housing.

Thank you.

--
Alliya Haeri

6/12/23, 2:31 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Sun 6/11/2023 7:08 AM
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Dear Mayor Mahan and City Council members,
My name is [Meron M Perey ]. I am a resident of the City of San Jose and I oppose the proposal to cut much needed funding for permanent affordable housing for our community’s most vulnerable residents including seniors, veterans, disabled, low-income families and the unhoused. These changes would be a violation of the trust of the voters who supported Measure E as a commitment to building these new homes and a balanced response to the housing needs of San Jose. Over 150,000 people in San Jose live in households that pay over half of their income on housing, just one emergency away from losing their homes. Close to 100,000 people live in overcrowded homes.

Best Regards,
[Meron M Perey]
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6/12/23, 2:32 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Public Comment for City Council Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Measure E <
Sun 6/11/2023 10:07 AM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>
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Dear Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers,

My name is Lorraine Zeller and I am a San Jose voter in councilmember Pam Foley’s district. I am writing, as a friend of Survivors of the Streets, in favor of the Davis, Torres, and Ortiz plan for Measure E funds. This is a well-conceived practical plan because it:

Keeps the promise made to voters for Measure E funds to maximize the building of affordable housing we can support and build in our city. We all know that the reason why so many people are leaving San Jose and living on the streets is because there is not enough affordable housing.

Finds funding in the city’s budget for interim housing and homeless support services while maintaining previous Measure E fund allocations. We all realize the need to provide temporary shelter for individuals seeking housing. This plan still helps meet that need and invests in permanent and affordable housing so they have a home to go to rather than return to the streets.

Allows for continued investment in homeless prevention. By providing assistance to those who are struggling to pay rent we help keep families and individuals stably housed and also slow the flow of people to our streets.

On a personal note, I want you to know why this is important to me. I grew up in Silicon Valley and was blessed several years ago with an affordable home in San Jose through sheer good fortune. Otherwise, I could very well be on the streets too or be forced to move far from friends and family. Having an affordable, safe, permanent home has been key to my good health and I believe it should be a human right, not just for folks like me who got lucky.

The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.

Maya Angelou

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Fwd: Urgent Need for Budget Increases for Animal Services <
Sun 6/11/2023 10:34 AM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>
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Please distribute for Monday night meeting.
---------- Original Message ----------
From:

Dear City Councilmembers,

I am writing to bring your attention to the urgent need for substantial budget increases for Animal Services in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget for the City of San Jose. As a concerned member of the community, I believe it is imperative that we allocate the necessary resources to address the critical challenges faced by our animal shelter and prioritize the welfare of our feline companions.

We must act and fund the following, including filling the temporary position of Supervisor of Shelter Operations to permanent status, full-time positions for customer service/licensing and medical services staffing, the establishment of a night shift for neonatal kitten care, and allocation of an existing city employee for repair and maintenance services, it is clear that these measures alone are insufficient to meet the pressing needs of our animal community.

I urge the City Council to go beyond the proposed budget increases and take immediate action to allocate substantial additional funding to Animal Services. The current state of the shelter and the limited resources available are contributing to the ongoing challenges faced by our dedicated animal rescues, shelter staff, and Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) volunteers. It has to stop!

The allocation of $200,000 to offset costs for rescue organizations accepting animals requiring specialized care is a positive step, but it falls short of the actual

6/12/23, 2:32 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Furthermore, while the one-time seed funding of $100,000 for a potential non-profit foundation is a commendable initiative, it is essential to recognize the immediate needs of the Animal Care and Services center. I respectfully request that a substantial portion of these funds be redirected to address the pressing repairs and maintenance issues at the center. Neglecting these critical infrastructural concerns compromises the safety and well-being of the animals and staff within the shelter.

As representatives of the community, it is your duty to ensure that San Jose allocates its resources effectively to meet the needs and priorities of its residents, including the welfare of our animal companions. I implore you to prioritize the well- being of our animal community members and to demonstrate your commitment by approving significant budget increases for Animal Services.

Please consider my request seriously and act in the best interest of our beloved animals and the dedicated individuals who strive to care for them. The well-being of our animal community depends on your commitment to providing the necessary resources to ensure their safety, comfort, and overall quality of life.

I eagerly await your positive response and swift action to address this pressing matter. Thank you for your attention and for considering the welfare of our animal companions as a top priority.

Best Regards
Laurie M Brunner

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This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. 6-12-2023 Item 3.1 Public Comment Final Public Hearing: 2023-24 Proposed Operating/Capital Budgets
Glenna Howcroft <
Sun 6/11/2023 6:06 PM
To:The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;Jimenez, Sergio <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;Bien Doan <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>;District 10 <[email protected]>;City Clerk <[email protected]>;Taber, Toni <[email protected]>;Martha O'Connell < Glenna Howcroft <

Mayor, and Council,
I support the Mayor’s plan 100%. For far too long the city of San Jose has paid for housing to be built that cost too much and rendered minimal results.

Mayor Mahan’s plan is fiscally sound, sensible, timely and compassionate.

Stop wasting the taxpayer’s money and vote this budget in! Glenna Howcroft
Dist. 7 Resident

6/12/23, 2:34 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Daniel Skarbek <
Sun 6/11/2023 8:10 PM
To:The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;City Clerk <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>;District 10 <[email protected]> [You don't often get email from Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]
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Dear City Council,
I’m sure you get lots of these emails, so I’ll keep it short. I fully support Mayor Mahan’s budget plan of focusing on the key issues impacting life in our city: homelessness, crime, and blight. There are many things that sound good to spend money on, but if we don’t focus we won’t make a real difference.

Making a real difference in these key areas is more than worth the loss of funding to less important areas. Don’t be swayed by a vocal minority of special interest groups selfishly trying to keep their funding. Listen to the voice of the people who voted Mayor Mahan into office on this exact platform.

The voters will judge you by whether you will listen to the voice of the people on this. If you still aren’t sure, let’s at least try the experiment! If we really try it and it doesn’t work out then the judgement of the voters will be against Mayor Mahan and you can call out your “I told you so” then. Right now, we are all sick of the encampments and trash and crime. It’s time to focus on making real, substantial progress on these issues right now!
-Daniel Skarbek
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6/12/23, 2:35 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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“Public Comment for City Council Meeting Agenda Item 3.1” Deborah St. Julien <
Sun 6/11/2023 9:50 PM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>

Dear Council Member Jimenez and San Jose City Council,
I am a member of Showing Up For Racial Justice @ Sacred Heart, supporter of Survivors of the Street @ Sacred Heart, a resident of District 2, and member of the Urban Sanctuary faith community.

I support the Davis, Torres, and Ortiz plan for Measure E funds. Their plan keeps the promise made to voters for Measure E funds to maximize the building of affordable housing, while finding funding in the city’s budget for interim housing and homeless support services as well. Funding interim housing without continuing robust financial support of permanent affordable housing doesn't work.

I urge you and the entire city council to vote for the plan created by Council members Dev Davis, Omar Torres, and Peter Ortiz.

Sincerely,
Deborah St. Julien
SURJ@SH

“Hello, my name is ________ and I am supporting Survivors of the Streets at Sacred Heart.” State upfront what you are speaking for:
“I am speaking/writing in favor of the Davis, Torres, and Ortiz plan for Measure E funds State why you are supporting this. You can choose one or more of the following points:

Their plan keeps the promise made to voters for Measure E funds to maximize the building of affordable housing we can support and build in our city. We all know that the reason why so many people are leaving San Jose and living on the streets is because there is not enough affordable housing.

This plan finds funding in the city’s budget for interim housing and homeless support services while maintaining previous Measure E fund allocations. We all realize the need to provide temporary shelter for individuals seeking housing and this plan helps to meet that need and invests in permanent and affordable housing solutions for them to go to.

This plan continues to invest in homeless prevention. The cost of living continues to increase faster than the wages people earn. By providing assistance to those who are struggling to pay rent we help keep families and individuals stably housed but also slow the flow of people to our streets.

State what common values drive your desire for more investment in affordable housing:

No matter what we look like, how much we earn, or where we lay our heads down to sleep, we all need a safe place to call home.

Years of failing to invest in affordable housing while adding thousands of high-wage jobs in San Jose have driven up rents and pushed more and more people into homelessness. And unfortunately, people who already face discrimination in housing, employment, education, or the criminal justice system are more likely to be forced into homelessness.

Being homeless makes it incredibly difficult to keep a steady job, go to school, or take care of a family. Having a safe home is the first, most basic foundation we all need to build thriving lives and strong communities.

By working together, we can take bold action that makes San Jose a place where everyone has a roof over their head and all of our families can thrive, so that all our neighborhoods can be safe, diverse, and strong.

End by reiterating our demands
We urge the city council to vote for the plan created by Council members Dev Davis, Omar Torres, and Peter Ortiz.

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June 12, 2023 City Council Meeting Item 3.1 - City Budget Gabrielle Solleder <
Sun 6/11/2023 10:05 PM
To:The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;City Clerk <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>;District 10 <[email protected]> Cc:Gabrielle Solleder <
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Dear Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers,
I want to express my support for Mayor Mahan’s Measure E spending plan.

The mayor's proposed budget modifies Measure E funding (transfer tax on sales of homes over $2M) to build more interim housing units to shelter homeless people with dignity and wrap-around services within one year. The controversy is that his proposal slightly reduces the funding for permanent supportive (subsidized) housing, which takes 5 years to build and costs about $1M per door. The mayor's election last year was a mandate to improve the way we are addressing homelessness, blight and crime, and that's what his proposed budget does.

Those who support current plans for permanent supportive housing are mobilized against any idea that will redistribute money from their projects. Their intransigence suggests more concern over loss of funding and a refusal to consider other options. But it is clear to me and anyone else who lives in San Jose that the status quo is not working. I think that it is time to show some flexibility and try new methods to get people off the streets.

The truth is we'll never be able to build enough permanent homes for every homeless person at $1M and 5 years per door. But with emergency interim housing we can shelter and provide wrap-around services for homeless individuals 5 times faster at 1/10 the cost.

Many of these individuals could get to self-sufficiency or be reunited with family and not need permanent supportive housing, long before the status quo would even get them off our streets and out of our waterways.

I personally think it is inhumane how we treat the unhoused and allow them to languish in the streets while we spend years building permanent housing that will never suffice to house them.

I ask you all to have the courage to vote and help our fellow unhoused San Jose residents as quickly as we can.

Thank you,
Gabrielle M. Solleder

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This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. 6/12/23 City Council Meeting Item 3.1 - City Budget
David Noel <
Mon 6/12/2023 5:42 AM
To:The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;City Clerk <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>;District 10 <[email protected]>

Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers,
I am writing in support of the Mayor's proposed budget, including reallocation of partial Measure E funds, to provide housing with wrap-around services to homeless individuals approximately five times faster and at 10 times lower cost than the status quo.

The scope of the humanitarian crisis, including 250 homeless deaths per year, demands that we try new ideas. The quicker an unhoused individual is housed, the better their chances of success. Many individuals provided interim housing with wrap-around services will become self-sufficient or reunited with family and won't need permanent supportive housing. We can and should help them now.

I also urge the City of San Jose to lobby at the County, regional and State levels for revenue sharing policies that reward cities that provide housing, especially affordable housing. It's not fair that San Jose suffers economically for serving as Silicon Valley's bedroom community. It's also not fair when San Jose taxpayers fund affordable housing for workers in other cities that reap the economic benefits of those workers.

Mayor Mahan was elected with a mandate to address homelessness, crime and blight. His proposed budget tackles these priorities head-on. In the spirit of Silicon Valley, I urge you to try something new this year, measure the results, and make course corrections as needed next year.

Thanks for your consideration.

David Noel,
District 9 resident and President of Erikson Neighborhood Association

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Public Comment Final Public Hearing: 2023-24 Proposed Operating/Capital Budgets Dr. Amor Santiago <
Mon 6/12/2023 7:52 AM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc:Agendadesk <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]> Some people who received this message don't often get email from Learn why this is important

Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers -
My name is Amor Santiago, a 50 year resident of San Jose in District 8, Evergreen. I've led and been part of many nonprofit organizations, AACI, The Health Trust, and the Community Health Partnership, as the founder, CEO or in executive leadership. I am also on the faculty in Public Health at San Jose State University. I am currently the Interim Director of Community Engagement at Sacred Heart Community Service.

I am commenting on the 2023-24 Proposed Budget that will be discussed in this evening's public hearing.

Please support the proposal put forward by Dev Davis, Omar Torres and Peter Ortiz. Do not shift the resources as proposed by the Mayor. I voted for Measure E. Reallocating funds towards the short- term priority of emergency shelter is short-sighted and will not solve the long-term issue. I ask that you honor my vote and those of the voters who passed the measure, and seek additional funds outside of Measure E to meet the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness.

Thank you,
Amor
--
Amor Santiago, DPM, MPH, CMT
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine & Surgery
Master of Public Health
Certified Massage Therapist # 45296

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Agenda Item 3.1 on 6/12/23
Perla Arellano <
Mon 6/12/2023 9:55 AM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>
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Hello, my name is Perla M. Arellano, District 5 resident. As a San José resident and voter, I write in favor of the Measure E spending plan from Councilmembers Davis, Ortiz and Torres.

We cannot afford to ignore our region’s severe housing affordability crisis. It is a massive shortage of affordable homes that has caused the homelessness we witness today, and we must invest in more permanent, affordable housing while also expanding shelter options for our homeless neighbors.

The proposal from Councilmembers Davis, Ortiz and Torres will have the most impact in attacking our homeless crisis with funding for new affordable housing while also funding the expansion of shelter options.

I urge the City Council to vote YES for the plan created by Councilmembers Davis, Ortiz, and Torres that preserves Measure E funds for responsible investments in emergency shelters and the construction of affordable housing. I oppose the memo from Mayor Mahan to change the voter approved threshold requirement for Measure E.

Thank you!
Perla M. Arellano
District 5

6/12/23, 2:41 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Item 3.1 June 12 Budget Hearing
Lori Katcher <
Mon 6/12/2023 10:06 AM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc:District 6 <[email protected]>;The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]> Some people who received this message don't often get email from Learn why this is important

Dear Mayor and Council Members,
My name is Lori Katcher, I am a 20 year resident and voter in San Jose, a homeowner for 15 years, and a member of Showing Up for Racial Justice at Sacred Heart.

I am supporting Survivors of the Streets and writing in favor of the Davis, Torres, Ortiz plan for Measure E funds.

The Davis, Torres, Ortiz plan keeps the promise made to voters for Measure E funds to maximize the building of affordable housing we can support and build in our city. We must continue to do our part to increase permanent affordable housing.

This plan is not "status quo". This plan is creative, collaborative, and allows our city to do both- build quick, interim housing AND keep moving strongly forward to increase permanent affordable housing.

We have raised three children in San Jose having the safety and security of a home, which has allowed us to focus on caring for both the daily physical and emotional needs of our family and participate in our community. However, when a person is without a home, it makes it incredibly difficult to keep a steady job, go to school and learn, and take care of a family.

I want to live in a vibrant city where everyone belongs. By working together, we can take bold action that makes San Jose a place where everyone has a roof over their head and all of our families can thrive, so that all our neighborhoods can be safe, diverse, and strong.

I urge the city council to vote for the plan created by Council members Dev Davis, Omar Torres, and Peter Ortiz.

Thank you,
Lori Katcher
member, SURJ at Sacred Heart
board member, Neighborhood Hands

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Public Comment Agenda Item 3.1, City Council Meeting, June 12,2023 Adrian Gonzales <
Mon 6/12/2023 10:47 AM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>
1 attachments (103 KB)
All Home San Jose Measure E Memo (1).pdf;
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Hello,
Please find attached written public comment from All Home regarding the proposed changes to Measure E being considered in agenda item 3.1 at today's City Council Meeting.

Thank you,
Adrian
--
Adrian Gonzales
Director of Regional Implementation
cell:
www.allhomeca.org

MEMORANDUM
Date: June12, 2023To: HonorableMayor Matt MahanandCityCouncilmembers, Cityof SanJoseFrom: TomiquiaMoss, CEOandFounder, All HomeRe: All Home’sresponsetotheCityof SanJose’sproposedchangestoMeasureE All Homerecognizestheurgencyof thehomelessnesscrisisinSanJoseandacrosstheSanFranciscoBayArea. AstheCityimplementstheCommunityPlantoEndHomelessness, wecommendyour eﬀortstoprovidearangeof solutionsthat includesinterimhousing,permanent housing, andhomelessnessprevention. TheseinterventionsalignwithAll HomeandtheRegional Impact Council’sRegional ActionPlan. Eachof thesestrategiesisabsolutelycritical, andnoneof themcansolveunshelteredhomelessnesswithout theothers. Inmanyways, theCityandSantaClaraCountyhaveservedasamodel for theprovisionof real solutions.

Weunderstandandsupport theCityCouncil’sinterest inexploringopportunitiestoincreasefundingfor interimhousing; however, MeasureEisareliablefundingsourcefor deeplyaﬀordablehousingthat theCity, theCounty, andour regiondesperatelyneed. WeencouragetheCityCouncil tosupport aMeasureEallocationplanthat continuestoreliablyfundtheCity’spipelineof deeplyaﬀordablepermanent housing, whilepursuingadditionalfederal, state, regional, andlocal fundingtoaccelerateconcurrent investments.

TheCity, County, andstakeholdersinthehomelessnessresponsesystemagreethat theultimategoal istoproducesuﬃcient permanent anddeeplyaﬀordablehousingfor formerlyhomelessand/or extremelylowincomehouseholds. At thesametime, moreinterimhousing/non-congregateshelter that providessupportiveservicesisurgentlyneeded.Qualityinterimhousingcanbothlimit thetraumaof beingunshelteredandexpeditepermanent exitsfromhomelessness. Werecognizethechallengingset of choicesbeforeyou, but onesolutionshouldnot befundedat theexpenseof another.

Jurisdictionsacrosstheregionneedmoreresourcesdevotedtoall thesesolutions, andAllHomewill continuetoadvocatefor them. TheBayAreaHousingFinanceAuthority’sregionalhousingbondheadingtotheballot inNovember 2024isoneimportant opportunitythat cancreate$2billioninfundingbetweentheCityandCounty. Westandreadytoassist theCityofSanJose, aswehaveinthepast, toprovidecomprehensiveandcompassionatehomelessnesssolutions.

6/12/23, 2:43 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Support for Arts Funding - City Council Final Budget Hearing - June 12, 2023 San José Arts Advocates <
Mon 6/12/2023 12:31 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>;The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;Mahan, Matt <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;Kamei, Rosemary <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;Jimenez, Sergio <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;Torres, Omar <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;Cohen, David <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;Ortiz, Peter <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;Davis, Dev <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;Doan, Bien <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;Candelas, Domingo <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>
Cc:Wilcox, Leland <[email protected]>;Shannon, Jim <[email protected]>;Adams- Hapner, Kerry <[email protected]>;
Klein, Nanci <[email protected]>;Maguire,
Jennifer <[email protected]>;San José Arts Advocates < 1 attachments (295 KB)
SJAA Letter June Budget FY24.pdf;
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Honorable Mayor and City Council,
Please find attached a letter from San José Arts Advocates on behalf of our creative industry in advance of tonight's final public hearing on the Mayor's June Budget Message and the Proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.

Thank you as always for your service and for your consideration.

Regards,
SJAA Core Team
Web: sjartsadvocates.org
Social: @SanJoseArts
Newsletter: Sign up

San José Arts Advocates
sjartsadvocates.org | | @SanJoseArts

June 12, 2023

Honorable Mayor and City Council,

We write to you today regarding the City Budget for FY 2023-2024 on behalf of the creative industry that generates hundreds of millions of dollars of economic impact for the City of San José and creates thousands of jobs for San José residents. As you know by now, our industry is at a crossroads, with many small and medium- sized arts organizations and creative businesses pondering their very near futures in the wake of an ongoing health and economic crisis.

We want to thank the City Budget Director and the Director of the Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs for Manager’s Budget Addendum 58 (June 4, 2023), detailing the history of arts and cultural funding in San José, including the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and other revenue streams such as the Percent for Art from public projects.

We appreciate that the Administration’s currently proposed FY 23-24 budget includes a one-time $1M supplement to the Office Cultural Affairs’ Cultural Grants programs. These one-time resources will help sustain our industry during a period of severely diminished TOT-generated revenues into the grants program

However, the one-time nature of this investment only underscores our point that the time has come for city leaders to identify and prioritize pathways to sustainable funding for arts, cultural, and tourism programs. With that in mind, we call on you to:

1. Per MBA 58, direct the Administration to “Pursue a percent for art allocation from private development, also a request from arts and hospitality advocates, which was among the City Council’s top policy interests pre-pandemic” and return with a policy framework for Council consideration prior to mid-year budget hearings in January 2024; and

2. Support recommendation #4 in the memo from Councilmembers Torres, Davis, Ortiz, Batra, and Doan to “Direct staff to explore additional revenue options and a budget policy strategy to re-invest 2% of the General Fund portion of TOT incrementally starting with an increase of .5% in Fiscal Year 2024-2025.”

Thank you as always for your service and thoughtful consideration of our requests.

Regards,
San José Arts Advocates

cc:

City Manager
Budget Director
Economic Development Director
Cultural Affairs Director

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Agenda Item 3.1 2023-2024 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets (6/12/23 Meeting) Charisse Domingo <
Mon 6/12/2023 1:42 PM
To:The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>;District 10 <[email protected]>;City Clerk <[email protected]> Cc:Raj Jayadev < Andrew Bigelow < Elizabeth
Gonzalez < Chandra Jacquez <
1 attachments (161 KB)
SVDe-BugLetter-BudgetComments.pdf;
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Good afternoon,
Enclosed is our letter from Silicon Valley De-Bug opposing Mayor Mahan's reallocation of Measure E funds and opposing any increase to the San Jose Police Department's excessive budget.

Thank you,
Silicon Valley De-Bug

June 2, 2023
Matt Mahan, Mayor, San Jose
Rosemary Kamei, Council Member, District 1
Sergio Jimenez, Council Member, District 2
Omar Torres, Council Member, District 3
David Cohen, Council Member, District 4
Peter Ortiz, Council Member, District 5
Dev Davis, Council Member, District 6
Bien Doan, Council Member, District 7
Domingo Candelas, Council Member, District 8
Pam Foley, Council Member, District 9
Arjun Batra, Council Member, District 10
Jennifer Maguire, City Manager
Re: Comments to 2023-2024 Budget
Dear Mayor and City Council of San Jose,
We, Silicon Valley De-Bug, are writing this letter regarding the San Jose City Council Budget Hearing and Mayor Mahan’s proposed budget, specifically relating to housing and police. For over a decade now, De-Bug has been active around both issues of police and housing because our communities have been directly impacted by both. For reasons explained below, we are opposing any reallocation of Measure E funds and any increase to the Police Department budget. We would like to call attention to the Mayor’s budget priorities of defunding permanent affordable housing and increased policing while using catch phrases like “common sense” or “back to basics.” The mayor’s budget proposal is, in fact, a continuation of City leaders before him who have also defunded permanent housing and increased police budget. This is a continued pattern of the City of San Jose not prioritizing affordable housing and funding a scandalous and unaccountable SJPD to further arrest and incarcerate its communities. We are calling on the Mayor and the City Council to stop this budget pattern. We want homes, not more police. We want cribs, not cops.

WE OPPOSE ANY REALLOCATION OF MEASURE E FUNDS.

San Jose is never short of market rate housing for those who can afford it, but year after year we do not meet our affordable housing goals. The Mayor’s proposal to reallocate Measure E funds from permanent solutions into temporary housing takes us even further away from

reaching those goals. Taking one of the only City sources of funding for affordable housing shows us affordable housing continues to be deprioritized in practice and demonstrates an abuse of power by the Mayor to undermine the will of San Jose’s voters when we made Measure E a reality to help our communities have access to permanent housing.

Our question for Mayor Mahan’s “common sense” budget proposal is: Why do the poorest and most vulnerable of our community have to choose between permanent and temporary housing? The proposed reallocation of Measure E funds is out of touch with the local community who has worked on housing issues for decades, to the point where organizations who are commonly on opposite sides of proposed housing solutions are now unified to preserve permanent housing funding. We are observing a near unanimous opposition to the reallocation by both current and former unhoused persons and the organizations that have supported these communities. Those who have supported the reallocation have almost predominantly been from the land owning class of San Jose, including the associations that represent them. Those affected and the organizations that support them are closest to the solutions, not the ones who have never experienced these realities.

Our ask is not to make us decide between temporary and permanent housing when the proposed allocation is millions of dollars from an over 5 billion dollar budget. Instead, we ask you to fund the absolute need for immediate housing solutions by reallocating from our City’s yearly half a BILLION dollar police budget.
● 2023-2024 Proposed Police Budget: 497.5 Million Dollars ● 2023-2024 Expected income from Measure E: 50 Million Dollars We urge the Mayor and the council to look elsewhere in our City’s budget to meet the needs of immediate temporary housing solutions rather than taking money away from the only long term answer: permanent affordable housing. An obvious source of this needed funding is the bloated Police Budget. Such reallocation could be achieved through an amended version of the memo proposed by Councilpersons Ortiz, Torres, and Davis.

WE OPPOSE ANY INCREASE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT’S BUDGET PROPOSAL.

De-Bug families whose loved ones have been killed by San Jose police oppose any increase in the San Jose Police Department’s budget. For years now, these families have been healing, supporting, and organizing with each other through Silicon Valley De-Bug, and have been pushing for accountability for the harm and death of their loved ones. It is in their names that this demand is made.

The proposed increase by Mayor Matt Mahan is not based on statistics but rather bending to the political rhetoric of the San Jose police. One of the Mayor’s proposals is to add 17 more police officers, 2 police sergeants, and 1 police lieutenant to the field patrol unit, citing that the Department’s priority is:
“public safety and calls-for-service, response time goals, and lowering overall crime, which in turn drive how these resources are allocated. In consideration of the Department's staffing needs, the most immediate need is to focus on calls for service and response time.”
However, upon a review of the statistics, the proposed budget does not support this:
● In reviewing the calls for service to San Jose police, we compared the calls in 2022 and 2023 at the same point in the time (up to June/ July of the respective years). There were approximately 24% less calls for service in June 2023 compared to June 2022.
● The types of calls received were approximately the same.

Priority Level June 2022 June 2023
1 and 2 34% 37%
3 - 6 66% 63%
● According to the San Jose Police, the crime rate from January to March 2023, compared to the same time in 2022, was 8.3% less.

Beyond the math that does not support the addition of more police officers, the escalating, well-documented incidents of police abuse calls for a reduction of their budget rather than an increase. For three years in a row after the racial reckoning after the murder of George Floyd. one out of every three officers out of the 1,100 police officers received a complaint. As De-Bug families have always said - it’s not about a few ‘bad apples’. The culture of San Jose policing allows officers to skirt accountability. In fact, just last week four officers were arrested for violating the law. The Council approving funding to an unaccountable department means the City co-signing this culture violence, abuse of power, and impunity.

The recent scandal involving the Executive Director of the San Jose Police Officers Association has further devolved any trust between the community and the police. While spewing the dangers of fentanyl, the SJPOA’s own Executive Director was involved in the distribution of it – while using resources of the POA’s office. Furthermore, no local agencies have held these actions accountable. If this were a Black or Brown member of our community, they would not be afforded this kind of grace or call to the withholding of judgment. .

Lastly, Santa Clara County rolled out different crisis interventions, including 988, peer support resources, and TRUST - a non-law enforcement response to crisis. These programs need time to be fully implemented before any additions to the current police department.

For the reasons explained above, we fully oppose the destructive budget proposed by Mayor Mahan, which only avoids the dire need for long term permanent housing and safety from police violence. We urge you as our elected officials to support a San Jose Budget that responds to realities and future of all in our city.

Sincerely,
Silicon Valley De-Bug Families
6/12/23, 2:47 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Final Public Hearing: 2023-2024 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets and the 2023-2024 Proposed Fees and Charges for the City of San José, including a One Time Revision of Percentage Allocations of Measure E Real Property Transfer Tax Revenues.

Bertha Madero <
Mon 6/12/2023 2:24 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>;The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;Mahan, Matt <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;Kamei, Rosemary <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;Jimenez, Sergio <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;Torres, Omar <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;Cohen, David <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;Ortiz, Peter <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;Davis, Dev <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;Doan, Bien <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;Candelas, Domingo <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>
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Hello, my name is Bertha Mendoza and I am a resident of District 6 and advocate for my community.

For far too long San José's affordability issues have been ignored, and working-class communities have disproportionally suffered from the effects of overcrowding, homelessness, and poor living conditions.

My family voted for Measure E on the promise that it would be used to build affordable housing, but now the Mayor wants to shift funding towards temporary homeless shelters, which would jeopardize funding for new affordable housing construction. This is unacceptable!

I believe this is a misguided short-term gain that will have a devastating long-term impact on our housing affordability. Our working-class families can’t afford to lose this critical resource.

I urge you all to support the Davis, Ortiz, Torres memo as it represents the will of the voters, and works strategically to address both the affordability and unhoused crisis that we are facing.

Thank you.

6/12/23, 2:49 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Budget
Bill Baron <
Mon 6/12/2023 2:33 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>;The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;Mahan, Matt <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;Kamei, Rosemary <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;Jimenez, Sergio <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;Torres, Omar <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;Cohen, David <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;Ortiz, Peter <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;Davis, Dev <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;Doan, Bien <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;Candelas, Domingo <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>
Cc:Bill Baron <
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Dear Mayor Mahan, Vice Mayor Kamei, Councilmembers Jimenez, Torres, Cohen, Orz, Davis, Doan, Candelas, Foley & Batra:

As leaders, you must tend to many important priories. I don’t envy your posion though I respect your role in ﬁnding soluons.

Among the most pressing priority—morally and ethically—is to insure that our unhoused populaon have safe shelter opons and crical services.

Measure E asked cizens to tax themselves to help solve a crisis. The crisis connues to spin out of control.

Meanwhile, the public grows ever more skepcal of taxing themselves when results aren’t seen, felt or realized. This is not a good metric for the future.

We are failing as a city with regard to our unhoused populaon. So, too, is Santa Clara County.

Every unhoused soul face life and death consequences daily. The path we are on is unsustainable—the facts speak for themselves.

We can and must do beer for each of our unhoused and for our community at large. So much—so very much—is at stake.

Again, you have lots of priories—but I ask you all to get on the same page with regard to our unhoused populaon.

Thoughully Priorize. Take Acon. Achieve Results. TOGETHER!

Do these things for those most vulnerable in our community who are at signiﬁcant risk each and every day—our unhoused populaon.

I ask you to support the Mayor’s Budget.

Thank you.

William B. Baron
San Jose

6/12/23, 3:46 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Item 3.1: Letter of Support for Community-Based Violence Solutions Melissa Luke < >
Mon 6/12/2023 3:44 PM
To:City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc:Adriana Caldera < >
1 attachments (234 KB)
YWCA GGSV LOS-Community-Based Violence Solutions.pdf;

To Whom It May Concern:

Please ﬁnd aached our leer of support for the Community-Based Violence Soluons program, including the violence prevenon and response pilot as advocated by the REAL Coalion. Thank you for your consideraon.

Sincerely,

Melissa Luke | Chief Program Oﬃcer, Healing & Jusce
Direct:

Email – NEW!:

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley
www.yourywca.org
Email Conﬁdenality Noﬁcaon

YW
CA Golden Gate Silicon Valley

P F

yourywca.org

J
une 12, 2023

San J
osé City Council
200 East Santa
Clara Street
San J
osé, CA 95113

RE: 6/12/2023 Ci
ty Council meeting, Item 3.1, Alternative to Law Enforcement Intervention pilot proje
ct

De
ar Mayor Mahan, Vice Mayor Kamei, Councilmember Batra, Councilmember Candelas, Counc
ilmember Cohen, Councilmember Davis, Councilmember Doan, Councilmember Foley, Counc
ilmember Jimenez, Councilmember Ortiz, and Councilmember Torres,

YWCA G
olden Gate Silicon Valley is writing in support of funding for the Community-Based Viole
nce Solutions program focusing on domestic violence. This program will strengthen co
mmunity-based systems to resist violence in all of its forms and use transformative justice to lift solutions f
rom those most affected by violence – survivors, friends, family, and community.

YWCA ha
s over 140 years of experience serving communities across four Bay Area counties.

We ar
e on a mission to empower by working to end racism and violence, to achieve solutions for sur
vivors facing homelessness, and to inspire by closing the education and prosperity gap. Last y
ear, we served over 57,000 individuals, families, and community members across 25 co
mmunity-based locations. We offer a multiservice continuum of response and prevention ser
vices for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault. Our social justi
ce department uplifts restorative practices through prevention education, community building
circles, relationship building, and effective communication.

YWCA ad
vocates are co-located at the San José Police Department Family Violence Center and Sex
ual Assault Investigation Unit. In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we pr
ovide support to over 1,000 survivors every year. We also serve thousands more survivors wh
o chose to not engage with the criminal justice system. We support survivor voice and choice in de
ciding how they would like to seek justice and healing, and we believe a full scope response is ne
eded to end gender-based violence in our city. This includes lifting up alternatives to the cr
iminal legal system, such as the strategies recommended by the Reimagining Public Safety Communit
y Advisory Committee.

Sincerely,

Adriana Caldera Boroffice
Chief Executive Officer
DocuSign Envelope ID: 60819DF1-AD39-4F3E-A342-35D3B0C0544E

6/12/23, 4:39 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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FW: Final Public Hearing 6.12.23, Agenda Item: Public Comment City Clerk <[email protected]>
Mon 6/12/2023 4:33 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
1 attachments (576 KB)
Support for Promotores Funding.pdf;

From: Mahew Snyder < >
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 4:13 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>; CouncilMeeng <CouncilMee[email protected]> Cc: Maria Ines Ortega Barrera < >
Subject: Final Public Hearing 6.12.23, Agenda Item: Public Comment

Hello,

I am sending this email on behalf of Maria Ines [Promotora] who is cc'd here. We are sending over a list of supporters for funding the Promotores Project. Maria collected names at a public tabling this past weekend at Viva Calle.

Please review the list of supporters.

Thank you!

Best,

Mahew Snyder
Administrave Analyst
CommUniverCity-SJSU
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | cucsj.org
San José State University

Office:

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Agenda Item 3.1: Preserve full funding for Climate Smart in 2023-24 budget Linda Hutchins-Knowles < >
Mon 6/12/2023 5:50 PM
To:District1 <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>;District 10 <[email protected]> Cc:City Clerk <[email protected]>;Agendadesk <[email protected]>;Romanow, Kerrie <[email protected]>;Benabente, Julie <[email protected]> 1 attachments (525 KB)
Mothers Out Front & Allies' Letter to SJ City Council_ Preserve Climate Smart budget (2).pdf;

Dear Mayor Mahan, Vice Mayor Kamei, and City Councilmembers, The 10 organizations and 109 individuals who’ve signed this letter urge you to preserve full funding for the Climate Smart program in the 2023-24 fiscal year budget. This funding is essential to reach our climate goals as rapidly and as equitably as the climate crisis and climate justice demand.

Thank you,
Linda Hutchins-Knowles
Team Coordinator,
Mothers Out Front Silicon Valley

June12, 2023
Re: AgendaItem3.1: Preservefull fundingfor ClimateSmart in2023-24budget Dear Mayor Mahan, ViceMayor Kamei, andCouncilmembersJimenez, Torres, Cohen, Ortiz,Davis, Doan, Candelas, FoleyandBatra, The109residents—mothers, fathers, youth, allies, andcommunityleaders—andthe10localorganizationswho’vesignedthisletter urgeyoutopreservetheproposedfundingforClimateSmart SanJoséinthe2023-24budget.

TheCityManager’sBudget Proposal originallyproposed$400,000for non-personnel ClimateSmart expenses. However, theCityManager’sBudget Addenda(MBA) Item#21suggestedCouncil couldcut thisinhalf tojust $200,000if it wishestoreallocatethisfundingelsewhere.

Weurgeyoutodeclinetoadopt MBAItem#21andinsteadpreservetheproposedClimateSmart $400,000lineitem(or increaseit). Thisfundingisurgentlyneededtoimplement our climateplansandfulfill your pledgetoachieveclimateneutralityby2030.Cuttingit wouldbepennywiseandpoundfoolish, aspart of thisfundingcanbeleveragedtosubmit competitiveproposalsfor federal, state, andprivategrants. If wewinanyof thesegrants, thiswill bringmoreresourcestoour Cityandhelpsupport anequitabletransitiontoenergy-efficient, sustainablehomesandtransportation.

Inaddition, toalignwithcitycarbonneutralitygoalsandclimateinvestmentsinother majorcities, millionsmoreisneededinstaffingandnon-personnel funding. Yet Item#21, asexplainedintheCityManager’sAddenda, wouldreduce“technical consultant servicesandCommunityBasedOrganization(CBO) partnershipstosupport theCityindevelopingtheseprograms. Withreducedlevelsof funding, theimplementationanddevelopment of programswill beslowedandwill requirestafftoadjust projectstorequirelessinput andengagement withthecommunitythroughCBOsandtechnical support services.” Nomatter howurgent other issuesmaybe, wecanandmust preserve(andincrease) ourfundingfor climateactionandmaintaincommunityengagement. Theenvironment isthebedrockuponwhichour healthandlivesdepend, andwemust doall wecantoprotect itineverybudget cycle, withinput fromour diversecommunities.

Tojogyour memoryof someof thelocal climateimpactswe’veexperiencedinjust thepast fiveyears:● The2017CoyoteCreekfloodforced14,000residentstoevacuate, causing$100,000,000indamages.● Dangerousair qualityfromthe2018CampFiremadeit unsafetoventureoutsidefordaysonend.● The2020SCUfireturnedtheskyeerilyorangeandforcedevacuationsfromourfoothills.● In2021, SantaClaraCountydeclaredalocal drought emergency.● In2022, record-breakingheat ledPG&EtoissueFlexAlerts10daysinarow.● As2023began, nineatmosphericriversin20dayscausedwidespreadpoweroutages, floodingandschool closures.

Without bold, immediateactionandfocusonclimate, thislist issuretogrow. 39%of SanJosé’sbuildingsareat riskof wildfireand41%at riskof flooding, dependingonlocation, andourEastsideneighborhoodsdisproportionatelyenduretheurbanheat islandeffect.

InMarch, MothersOut Front SiliconValleyaskedyoutopubliclyaffirmtheongoingclimateemergencydeclaredbytheCityCouncil in2019, nameclimatesafetyandjusticeasatoppriority, anddirect theCityManager toallocateadditional fundingsothat our ClimateSmartstaff havetheresourcestosecuregenerousfundingfor climateactionfromfederal, stateandnonprofit entities. Instead, theCityManager’sBudget AddendaItem21goesintheoppositedirectionbyprovidingtheoptionof adramaticcut totheClimateSmart non-personnel budget.

Over thepast sixyears, thisCouncil haschampionedkeyclimateinitiatives: SanJoséCleanEnergy, ClimateSmart SanJosé, CoyoteValleypreservation, buildingelectrification, EVcharging, andbikelanes. Tokeepupthisgoodworkandensureequitableimplementationof theClimateSmart plan, theClimateSmart teamneedssufficient resources. Will youvotetodaytocontinueSanJose’sclimateleadership–or will youproposetodramaticallyreduceitsnon-personnel funding? Intheacceleratingclimateemergency, wedon’t havetheluxuryof focusingonjust afewpriorities. Theclimatecan’t wait. AsHenryDavidThoreauobserved: “What’stheuseof ahouseif youhaven’t got atolerableplanet toput it on?” Canwecount onyoutopreservealivableclimatefor our childrenandcommunities? Sincerely,10local organizations:

MothersOut Front SiliconValleyLindaHutchins-Knowles, TeamCoordinator Acterra: Actionfor aHealthPlanetLauraWeston, ExecutiveDirector 350SiliconValleyCheryl Weiden, SteeringCommitteeMember
Children’sGardenPreschoolIsabelleChappuis, Director andTeacher ClimateRealityProject: SiliconValleyChapterKarenNelson, Chair Emeritus, ExecutiveTeamDir.

TheHarker School GreenTeamDianaMoss, Advisor
Project GreenHomeSvenThesen, Co-founder
Salamander NatureAwarenessSchoolMegPelose, Founder
SiliconValleyYouthClimateActionDanicaKubota, SanJoséCo-LeadandRohanPandit, ExecutiveDirector SustainableSiliconValleyJennifer Thompson, ExecutiveDirector 109residents:

Hoi Poon, District 1
AdamSweeney, District 1
StacyLevy, District 1
DaphneZhu, District 1
LotinaNishijima, District 1
Scott Lor, District 1
MariaCarroll, District 1
JeannieEntin, District 2
singgihtan, District 2
AmandaSenior, District 2
KathleenNunes, District 3
KathrynFunk, District 3
Heather Guillen, District 3
LIsaFeldberv, District 3
AudreyRust, District 3
SandraHayden, District 3
KatjaIrvin, District 3
Michael Kutilek, District 3
MilaBekele, District 3
Ralf Buengener, District 3
KenMacKay, District 3
Mani Bekele, District 3
BrendaRodriguez, District 3
TimWallace, District 3
SerenaZhao, District 4
NMSchringer, District 4
AllanCampbell, District 4
IsabelleChappuis, District 4
PhuongNguyen, District 4
ChloeTsai, District 4
MirandaKim, District 4
VivianZhang, District 4
LisaKobayashi, District 4
MirandaKim, District 4
BlancaAlvarado, District 5
JuanEstrada, District 5
MarcoVelasco, District 5
LiliaPantoja, District 5
AshleyBowman, District 5
MuneerahLalani, District 5
ElizabethDrioane, District 5
LydiaHeinrich, District 5
trudyellerbeck, District 5
MarilynnSmith, District 5
MegKing, District 5
PerlaArellano, District 5
ElaineTravers, District 5
CynthiaRodriguez, District 5
MinhPham, District 5
BruceSmith, District 5
EmmaSeagrim, District 6
Hoai-AnTruong, District 6
RuthMerino, District 6
DianaMoss, District 6
KarenNelson, District 6
DanicaKubota, District 6
MegPelose, District 6
MaryPerry, District 6
CaseyCameron, District 6
ToddWeber, District 6
JimmieYonemoto, District 6
AnnaFox, District 6
ConsueloYepiz, District 6
Rachel Welch, District 6
BarbaraRose, District 6
Patti Bossert, District 6
CharlesChew, District 6
WilliamBenson, District 6
KellyRobertson, District 6
ShreyaKrishnan, District 7
MoriaMerriweather, District 7
RajivOnkar, District 7
JulieAllingham, District 8
SusanTrivisoon, District 8
Jennifer Loft, District 8
Robert Reese, District 8
YolandaAmaro, District 8
HelenAnsted, District 8
LindaHutchins-Knowles, District 9
KristineKarnos, District 9
SusanButler-Graham, District 9
PatriciaBlevins, District 9
Joel Masser, District 9
JennyGreen, District 9
GlenGarfunkel, District 9
PattyLinder, District 9
RebeccaHabermann, District 9
Michael Wittig, District 9
CaroleGonsalves, District 10
GenieBernardini, District 10
ClaireBleymaier, District 10
DavidPoeschel, District 10
MaryLindemuth, District 10
Cheryl Weiden
LauraWeston
HananAbdillahi
SvenThesen
Jennifer Thompson
KathleenWright
RoyNordblom
KevinMa
RebeccaYoung
LorinPeritz-Sharp
markhoffberg
Kristel Wickham
LeaneEberhart
LinhDanDo
RohanPandit
BruceNaegel

San Jose City CouncilJune 12, 2023

San Jose City Council
June 12, 2023