Letters from the Public — San Jose City Council, June 13, 2023

Page 1 ends

Santa Clara County Democratic Party
2901 Moorpark Ave, Suite 110
San Jose CA 95128
June 5, 2023
Mayor Matt Mahan and Members of the
San José City Council

Via Email

Re: Opposing Proposed Changes to the Spending Priorities and Percentage Allocations Measure E Real Property Transfer Taxes (Item 3.5 on June 13, 2023 Agenda) Dear Mayor Mahan and Members of the City Council,

On behalf of the Santa Clara County Democratic Party, which represents over 500,000 Democratic voters in Santa Clara County, I am writing to urge you to maintain the current spending priorities and percentage allocations of Measure E Real Property Transfer Tax proceeds.

The ballot description for Measure E promised the funds would be used for “providing affordable housing for seniors, veterans, disabled, and low-income families and helping homeless residents move into shelters/permanent housing.” The proposed diversion of Measure E proceeds to fund only or primarily short-term housing would break this promise.

Furthermore, such a diversion would be short-sighted and would ignore evidence that demonstrates clearly that an adequate supply of affordable housing, including permanent supportive housing, is essential to meaningfully address homelessness. Non-profit housing developers and government agencies need a consistent and reliable stream of funding to ensure we have an adequate supply of affordable housing in the years ahead.

If we fail to invest in affordable housing, consistently over time, many community members moved into short term housing will return to experiencing homelessness, as recent experience has shown, and others will be at greater risk of becoming homeless.

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RESOLUTION OPPOSING DIVERSION OF MEASURE E HOUSING FUNDS WHEREAS, in 2020 the voters of the City of San José passed Measure E to “fund general City of San José services, including providing affordable housing for seniors, veterans, disabled, and low-income families and helping homeless residents move into shelters/permanent housing”; and
WHEREAS affordable housing in San José continues to fall far short what is needed to protect residents at risk of becoming homeless while also being able to transition those currently experiencing homelessness into stable, permanent housing, and Measure E specifically states that funds will be used to provide affordable housing; and WHEREAS diverting Measure E funding entirely to interim housing will gravely harm the ability of the City of San José to provide permanent, affordable housing for seniors, veterans, disabled persons, and low-income families, thereby undermining a core promise of Measure E; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Santa Clara County Democratic Party urges the San José City Council to reject the Mayor’s proposal to divert Measure E funds to solely fund interim housing in the 2023-2024 city budget, and to instead ensure that Measure E funds continue to be used to fund both interim housing and affordable permanent housing, as contemplated by voters when they passed Measure E, as part of an integrated approach to transition those experiencing homeless to stable, permanent housing while providing long term housing security for all residents.

Adopted by the Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee on June 1, 2023.

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FW: Opposed to changes in Measure E spending (Item 3 on May 16th Agenda) City Clerk <[email protected]>
Fri 6/2/2023 8:55 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: barbara < >
Sent: Thursday, June 1, 2023 5:04 PM
To: The Oﬃce of Mayor Ma 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]>; acon
Subject: Opposed to changes in Measure E spending (Item 3 on May 16th Agenda)

Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers,
The problem of homelessness will not be solved by shiing Measure E funding away from aﬀordable housing and into interim housing.

This is not what the voters intended when they voted for Measure E.

The crying lack of aﬀordable housing is the root cause of the terrible problem aﬀecng our city, and this proposal just defers permanent soluons and puts a band-aid on the symptoms. It may polically make the homeless numbers look a lile beer temporarily, but does not contribute to the soluon when there sll isn't housing for individuals and families to move into aer their me in interim housing.

It is also my understanding that this change could derail permanent housing projects that are already in the pipeline.

Please reject this proposal and keep the exisng Measure E spending plan.

Thank you.

Barbara Canup
District 10 resident and long-me voter.

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FW: I oppose changes to the Measure E Spending Plan (Item 3.3 on the May 16th Agenda) City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/6/2023 11:50 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Shannelle >
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2023 11:45 AM
To: The Oﬃce of Mayor Ma 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]>; ac[email protected]
Subject: I oppose changes to the Measure E Spending Plan (Item 3.3 on the May 16th Agenda)

Dear Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers,
As a San Jose resident and voter, I write to express my opposion to the proposed Measure E spending plan. When we approved Measure E in 2020, we were promised the proceeds would fund much-needed aﬀordable housing, and this new proposal is a reversal of that commitment.

The rates of homelessness our community faces today is a symptom of our severe housing shortage, and we know that solving this crisis will require us to create more permanent aﬀordable homes. Invesng in more interim opons is important, but it cannot come at the expense of building more permanent aﬀordable housing. As the 10th largest city in the county, San Jose should be a leader in deploying evidence-based soluons rather than disinvesng in aﬀordable housing at such a crical me.

Now is the me to fund MORE aﬀordable housing, not less. Please keep your commitment to the people of San Jose by rejecng this new proposal and maintain the exisng Measure E spending plan.

Thank you!

[External Email]
Fw: Letter to city council
Wong, Annie <[email protected]>
Thu 6/8/2023 9:51 AM
To:CMOAgendaServices <[email protected]>;Agendadesk <[email protected]>;City Clerk <[email protected]>
1 attachments (79 KB)
Letter to Council - Daphna Woolfe.pdf;
Good morning,
I received a leer from the Parks and Recreaon Commission Chair Daphna Woolfe to be added on as a public leer to the upcoming City Council Agenda.

Please let me know if you have any quesons.

Best,
Annie Wong | Staﬀ Specialist
Parks, Recreaon and Neighborhood Services
City Hall 9th Floor | Parks Division
200 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA 95113
Building Community Through Fun
Website | Twier | Facebook
From: Daphna Woolfe
Sent: Wednesday, June 7, 2023 4:22 PM
To: Wong, Annie <[email protected]>
Subject:

Leer to city council

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Dear Mayor Mahan and City Council Members,
The Parks and Recreation Commission would like to advocate for budget priorities as they relate to our parks as well the Mayor’s four guiding principles. First and foremost, our parks are a direct representation of the overall quality of our city. Maintaining our 200+ parks and recreation centers at a high standard addresses equity within our city, as well as draws us together as a community. As we are sure that you are aware, our parks are already underfunded based on basic maintenance and necessary upgrades. Not only do we need to maintain our parks at a high level, but we also need to backfill maintenance and upgrades that our parks so desperately need.

Additionally, we seek to make our services and programs available to all who wish to participate. The scholarship program has seen growth, but this needs to be sustainable if everyone who wishes to participate is not turned away due to financial reasons. Our parks and services should be for all residents of San Jose.

We appreciate your caring for our community!
Regards,

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Daphna Woolfe
PRNS Chair
--
Daphna Woolfe
Third Grade Teacher
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Letter to city council
Daphna Woolfe
Wed 6/7/2023 4:23 PM
To:Wong, Annie <[email protected]>
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We appreciate your caring for our community!
Regards,
Daphna Woolfe
PRNS Chair
--
Daphna Woolfe
Third Grade Teacher
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and protected information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.

June 9, 2023
San Jose Mayor & City Council
200 E. Santa Clara St.

San Jose, CA 95113
Re: Fiscal Year 2023– 2024 Budget for Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council:

The Community & Companion Animal Project (“CCAP”) supports the Mayor and City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget increases for Animal Services and appreciates how the budget reflects the recognition of challenges facing Animal Services and responds to the concerns voiced over the past year.

Converting the temporary overstrength position of Supervisor Shelter Operations to permanent status, and adding more full-time positions, a night shift and a dedicated senior resource for facilities repair and maintenance will improve the shelter’s ability to provide greatly needed support to our community and increase live outcomes for the animals.

The night shift is a critical addition, as it will enable the shelter to provide care for underage kittens, the highest volume and most vulnerable animals at the shelter. The allocation of monies for support of adoption and rescue outcomes is also essential. It will allow more animals in need to move to organizations that can provide the specialized care necessary for such animals to be placed for adoption.

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substantial progress, we believe the following matters are still in need of additional funding and attention. ● The data produced and used by the shelter to direct its operations, measure its performance and predict future community needs is incomplete and/or inaccurate. The shelter needs a dedicated IT Business Analyst to review and develop systems and

processes for the collection, use, and transparency of data, including the collection of critical missing data integral to development of a long-term strategy, such as the number of animals turned away at intake and the reasons admission was denied. ● Expanding and staffing the Trap, Neuter & Return (TNR) program for community cats is mandatory. During May the shelter accepted 743 kittens and as of June 6th was holding 340 kittens, representing the majority of the animals in the shelter. The shelter, rescue organizations, and fosters are at or over capacity and animals are being turned away.

Friendly community kittens are being found throughout San Jose; there is no place for them to go and it is still the beginning of “kitten season”. This problem results directly from the reduction in TNR services in 2019 by Animal Services and its termination of all TNR services in May 2022. It has recently reinstated TNR, but on a very limited basis, relying heavily on rescues and volunteers to transport cats outside of the county for spay and neuter services. Since the reduction of TNR service began, the cities served by Animal Services have been experiencing an increasing cat population that will continue to grow exponentially unless a robust TNR program is established and maintained. ● Reinstating low cost spay/neuter and vaccination services is also essential. Pet overpopulation results in unwanted animals that are abandoned or otherwise become strays. Unvaccinated animals spread disease. The economy and the shortage of vets has made it difficult for many people to neuter and vaccinate their pets.

The r einstatement
of low cost spay and neuter services will greatly reduce animal suffering. It will also reduce the number of animals brought to the shelter, which will increase the live release rate.

Fe wer animals in the shelter increases an animal’s probability of adoption and the shelter’s ability to house the animal. This effect was recognized by John Cicirelli when he was Assistant Director of Public Works. The following is his quote from a May 31, 2016, article in sanjoseinside entitled “San Jose Councilman Proposes No-Kill Shelter”:
“One of the most significant contributors to our high save rate has been preventing animals from being born through low cost and free spay-neuter services.

We have learned that this is one of the best ways to invest in our community and achieve our goal of reducing the number of stray animals.” ● The shelter needs a full time animal behaviorist. A dedicated position would enable the shelter to structure enrichment, socialization, and behavior modification programs to offset the stressful conditions of the shelter environment on the animals. An animal behaviorist would also provide post-adoption support and owner-retention programs, increasing positive outcomes.

The challenges facing the shelter will not be resolved overnight. The proposed budget increases represent positive forward movement, but much more needs to be done. Animal Services requires oversight at the City Council level, and your participation in making sure Animal Services meets the current and future needs of the community is vital.

We urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Sincerely,
Catherine Valentine
The Companion & Community Animal Project

District 7 has one of the largest homeless populaon, shelters, centers, and so much more. We have to clean up District 7.

Thank you.

Nancy Keo

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FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Fri 6/9/2023 1:09 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Merrill
Sent: Friday, June 9, 2023 12:30 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc: 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]> Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget [Some people who received this message don't often get email from . Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]
[External Email]
Dear City Clerk:

I am a San Jose resident and am writing to state my strong support for the increases for Animal Services in the Mayor and City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. I appreciate how these increases recognize the challenges faced by Animal Services and respond to concerns voiced by the community over the past year.

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substantial progress, I believe the following matters are still in need of additional funding and attention.

The data produced and used by the shelter to direct its operations, measure its performance and predict future community needs is incomplete and/or inaccurate. The shelter needs a dedicated IT Business Analyst to review and develop systems and processes for the collection, use, and transparency of data, including the collection of critical missing data integral to development of a long-term strategy, such as the number of animals turned away at intake and the reasons admission was denied.

Expanding and staffing the Trap, Neuter & Return (TNR) program for community cats is mandatory. During May the shelter accepted 743 kittens and as of June 6th was holding 340 kittens, representing the majority of the animals in the shelter. The shelter, rescue organizations, and fosters are at or over capacity and animals are being turned away. Friendly community kittens are being found throughout San Jose; there is no place for them to go and it is still the beginning of “kitten season”.

This problem results directly from the reduction in TNR services in 2019 by Animal Services and its termination of all TNR

services in May 2022. It has recently reinstated TNR, but on a very limited basis, relying heavily on rescues and volunteers to transport cats outside of the county for spay and neuter services. Since the reduction of TNR service began, the cities served by Animal Services have been experiencing an increasing cat population that will continue to grow exponentially unless a robust TNR program is established and maintained.

Reinstating low cost spay/neuter and vaccination services is also essential. Pet overpopulation results in unwanted animals that are abandoned or otherwise become strays. Unvaccinated animals spread disease. The economy and the shortage of vets has made it difficult for many people to neuter and vaccinate their pets. The reinstatement of low cost spay and neuter services will greatly reduce animal suffering. It will also reduce the number of animals brought to the shelter, which will increase the live release rate. Fewer animals in the shelter increases an animal’s probability of adoption and the shelter’s ability to house the animal. This effect was recognized by John Cicirelli when he was Assistant Director of Public Works. The following is his quote from a May 31, 2016, article in sanjoseinside entitled “San Jose Councilman Proposes No-Kill Shelter”:
“One of the most significant contributors to our high save rate has been preventing animals from being born through low cost and free spay-neuter services. We have learned that this is one of the best ways to invest in our community and achieve our goal of reducing the number of stray animals.”
The shelter needs a full time animal behaviorist. A dedicated position would enable the shelter to structure enrichment, socialization, behavior modification and offset the stressful conditions of the shelter environment on the animals. An animal behaviorist would also provide post-adoption support and owner-retention programs, increasing positive outcomes.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Please add my comments to the public record and distribute to the Mayor and City Councilmembers.

Sincerely,
Susan Merrill
.

Sent from my iPhone
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FW: Support for Mayor Mahan's Measure E Spending Plan
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Fri 6/9/2023 1:30 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Jean-Marie White >
Sent: Friday, June 9, 2023 1:29 PM
To: The Oﬃce of Mayor Ma 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]> Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Support for Mayor Mahan's Measure E Spending Plan

Dear Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers,

I want to express my support for Mayor Mahan’s Measure E spending plan.

My North Star in this debate is how can we oﬀer anybody who wants to get oﬀ the streets alternaves that are beer than congregate shelters ASAP. One opon is Quick Builds–accommodaons that provide shelter from the elements and relieve someone from spending all their mental energy on basic survival. Another opon is sanconed RV parking.

Measure E revenues would probably take more than 30 years at the current revenue to cost rao to give all the unsheltered folks permanent housing. (Back of the napkin calculaons: Measure E revenues=$50M/year, cost of unit=$625K, need for about 2500 units for about 5000 unsheltered ppl). That is just too long and cannot be the answer for people living on our streets.

The alternate spending plans that peanut buers Measure E revenues over everything to try and make all stakeholders happy is not rising to meet the urgency of the moment.

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

-----------------
Jean-Marie White

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FW: Allocation of Measure E Funds
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Fri 6/9/2023 4:37 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: komuller >
Sent: Friday, June 9, 2023 11:22 AM
To: District9 <[email protected]>; District 6 <[email protected]>; District1 <[email protected]>; District2 <[email protected]>; District3 <[email protected]>; District4 <[email protected]>; District5 <[email protected]>; District7 <[email protected]>; District8 <[email protected]>; District 10 <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]>; The Oﬃce of Mayor Ma Mahan <[email protected]> Subject: Allocaon of Measure E Funds

To: Mayor Mahan & Members of the City Council:

I am unable to attend the Council meeting this coming Tuesday when you will be hearing comments from the public regarding the allocation of Measure E funds. I strongly support leaving the allocation as it was originally set in 2022, for 75% of the funds dedicated to developing long-term affordable housing. It is critical that we “stay the course” over the long run and continue to develop and build as much affordable housing in San Jose as possible. This is what the public was promised when asked to support Measure E and it is sound public policy.

I therefore support the direction proposed by the Councilmembers Davis, Ortiz, and Torres.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Muller
San Jose, CA 95125

cc: San Jose City Clerk

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FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Fri 6/9/2023 4:45 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: MaiLy Pham < >
Sent: Friday, June 9, 2023 4:43 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>; District4 <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget

To whom it may concern,

I am a San Jose resident and am wring to state my strong support for the increases for Animal Services in the Mayor and City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. I appreciate how these increases recognize the challenges faced by Animal Services and respond to concerns voiced by the community over the past year.

Converng the temporary overstrength posion of Supervisor Shelter Opera ons to permanent status, and adding more full-me posions, a night shi and a dedicated senior resource for facilies repair and maintenance will improve the shelter’s ability to provide greatly needed support to our community and increase live outcomes for the animals.

The night shi is a crical addion, as it will enable the shelter to provide care for underage ki ens, the highest volume and most vulnerable animals at the shelter. The alloca on of monies for support of adop on and rescue outcomes is also essen al. It will allow more animals in need to move to organiza ons that can provide the specialized care necessary for such animals to be placed for adopon.

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substan al progress, I believe the following ma ers are sll in need of addional funding and aenon.

Since the reduction of TNR service began, the cities served by Animal Services have been experiencing an increasing cat population that will continue to grow exponentially unless a robust TNR program is established and maintained.

Reinstang low cost spay/neuter and vaccina on services is also essen al. Pet overpopula on results in unwanted animals that are abandoned or otherwise become strays. Unvaccinated animals spread disease. The economy and the shortage of vets

This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. has made it diﬃcult for many people to neuter and vaccinate their pets. The reinstatement of low cost spay and neuter services will greatly reduce animal suﬀ ering. It will also reduce the number of animals brought to the shelter, which will increase the live release rate. Fewer animals in the shelter increases an animal’s probability of adop on and the shelter’s ability to house the animal. This e ﬀect was recognized by John Cicirelli when he was Assistant Director of Public Works. The following is his quote from a May 31, 2016, arcle in sanjoseinside entled “San Jose Councilman Proposes No-Kill Shelter”:

“One of the most signiﬁcant contributors to our high save rate has been prevenng animals from being born through low cost and free spay-neuter services. We have learned that this is one of the best ways to invest in our community and achieve our goal of reducing the number of stray animals.”

The shelter needs a full-time animal behaviorist. A dedicated position would enable the shelter to structure enrichment, socialization, behavior modification and offset the stressful conditions of the shelter environment on the animals. An animal behaviorist would also provide post-adoption support and owner-retention programs, increasing positive outcomes.

The challenges facing the shelter will not be resolved overnight. The proposed budget increases represent posive forward movement, but much more needs to be done. Animal Services requires oversight at the City Council level, and your parcipa on in making sure Animal Services meets the current and future needs of the community is vital.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Sincerely,
Maily Pham

FW: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget City Clerk <[email protected]>
Fri 6/9/2023 4:57 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
-----Original Message-----
From: Virginia Havens < >
Sent: Friday, June 9, 2023 4:54 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc: 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]> Subject: Re: Fiscal 2023– 2024 Animal Care & Services (“Animal Services”) Budget [Some people who received this message don't often get email from . Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]
[External Email]
Dear City Clerk:

I am a Cupertino resident that is under the jurisdiction of the San Jose Shelter and am writing to state my strong support for the increases for Animal Services in the Mayor and City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. I appreciate how these increases recognize the challenges faced by Animal Services and respond to concerns voiced by the community over the past year.

While the proposed budget for Animal Services represents substantial progress, I believe the following matters are still in need of additional funding and attention.

This problem results directly from the reduction in TNR services in 2019 by Animal Services and its termination of all TNR services in May 2022. It has recently reinstated TNR, but on a very limited basis, relying heavily on rescues and volunteers to transport cats outside of the county for spay and neuter services. Since the reduction of TNR service began, the cities served by Animal Services have been experiencing an increasing cat population that will continue to grow exponentially unless a robust TNR program is established and maintained.

I urge you to approve the proposed increases for Animal Services.

Please add my comments to the public record and distribute to the Mayor and City Councilmembers.

Sincerely,
Virginia Havens
Sent from my iPhone
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

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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

6/12/23, 6:03 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkADUxOWI4ZjE3LTRkNDEtNGUzMS04MjAwLTIzNzdiYTdkMjc5NAAQA… 1/2 FW: False Allegations About the June 7 SCCAOR Protesr
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Mon 6/12/2023 12:42 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
-----Original Message-----
From: Sandy Perry <
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 12:39 PM
To: District7 <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]>; District5 <[email protected]>; District 10 <[email protected]>; District3 <[email protected]>; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]>; District1 <[email protected]>; District8 <[email protected]>; District 6 <[email protected]>; District4 <[email protected]>; District2 <[email protected]>; District9 <[email protected]> Subject: False Allegations About the June 7 SCCAOR Protesr [External Email]
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
It has come to our attention that the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors has been circulating false allegations about the peaceful protest that some of us held at their office on June 7.

As one of the organizers, let me explain why we decided to target SCCAOR. It was clear that SCCAOR was one of if not THE main organization that was mobilizing to support Mayor Matt Mahan’s poorly crafted proposal to slash Measure E affordable housing funds. SCCAOR has no connection with the various constituencies that depend on San Jose’s affordable housing, no expertise in affordable housing and homelessness issues, and in fact has a history of not supporting affordable housing measures in San Jose and Santa Clara County.

The protest was a peaceful picket line of about 35 tenants, currently or formerly unhoused people, and community residents. We confess that we were in fact loud, but we did nothing to “terrorize”, harass, intimidate, or threaten anyone, and we have video available if anyone wants to see it. SCCAOR accuses us of calling them names. We are not sure what they are referring to. Perhaps it was one of our chants:
“Hey realtors, you can’t hide, we can see your greedy side.” SCCAOR is apparently not used to receiving this level of public scrutiny and criticism. But if they are

6/12/23, 6:03 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkADUxOWI4ZjE3LTRkNDEtNGUzMS04MjAwLTIzNzdiYTdkMjc5NAAQA… 2/2 going to participate in what many feel is a political attack on San Jose’s low-income and BIPOC communities, they should be prepared for more nonviolent protests in the future.

Sandy Perry
CHAM Deliverance Ministry
Affordable Housing Network of Santa Clara County
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6/12/23, 6:04 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkADUxOWI4ZjE3LTRkNDEtNGUzMS04MjAwLTIzNzdiYTdkMjc5NAAQA… 1/2 [External Email]
June 13, 3.5, # 23-874Measure E Reallocation
Roma Dawson <
Mon 6/12/2023 2:28 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 Mayor and Councilmembers,
I urge you to adopt the memo authored by Councilmembers Davis, Torres and Ortiz.

My preference is to leave the Measure E percentage allocation untouched. However, of all the options to address homelessness and the need for affordable housing at all income levels, this is the most practical one. I was part of the Measure E campaign with my picture featured prominently in print, tv and social media ads. I feel personally betrayed by the proposal offered by the Mayor and administration. I heard so many times that this was a general tax and that council members could not be trusted. I responded noting the adopted Council Policy. I urged support for Measure E noting that the percentage allocation could be tweaked but it would not be abandoned. I was horrified to see that not only was the entire category of affordable housing zeroed out, there is now a proposal to move to a majority vote. This will greatly damage any future attempt to pass a general tax measure. I will not support a general tax measure if this Council betrays the voters by adopting a council policy change by a simple majority. I am also a parks and open space advocate. I have waited for over 10 years for some sort of ballot measure to ensure parks equity and that all parks are in good repair.

Please do not let your vote become the "hit piece" for all future general tax ballot measures.

In future, I respectfully suggest that you consider major policy changes outside of the budget process. It looks to the average voter that you are trying to pull a fast one.

What happened to the Council adopted Community Plan to End Homelessness? Was that not worry of discussion?

6/12/23, 6:04 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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I am currently Vice Chair of Housing and Community Development Commission. I sincerely hope you read the HCDC letter. The opinions expressed in this email are mine alone. The HCDC has not had the opportunity to discuss any of the Measure E options now on the table for your consideration.

Pleading with you to keep faith with the voters,
Roma Dawson
District 1 resident and taxpayer

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Opposition to Mayor's proposal on how the city spends funds raised from Measure E.

Tito A Cortez <
Mon 6/12/2023 3:12 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>;The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;[email protected] <[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]> 1 attachments (118 KB)
MEASURE E 2019 IN FAVOR.pdf;

On December 6, 2019, I was one of the co-signers in favor of passing Measure E during the March 3, 2020 Primary Municipal Elecon for the City of San Jose. Fortunately, it passed.

See aached.

At that me, we were concerned about housing homeless people as well as providing aﬀordable homes to our cizens who keep our city safe including our ﬁreﬁghters, police oﬃcers, nurses and the middle class workers who try to keep San Jose running. These are our teachers, mechanics, bus drivers, including our hospitality workers.

Most of us can't aﬀord to live in San Jose and if we try to live here, we are living in overcrowded condions because this is all we could aﬀord. Overcrowded condions that are not too healthy for raising our families.

The Real Property Transfer Tax Revenue, Measure E, is supposed to be used in addressing the housing problems faced by what was already menoned. I don't believe that it was meant to cover only temporary homeless housing as the Mayor is proposing.

As one of the signers, I believe that the Real Property Tax Revenue was explicitly designed to provide more aﬀordable housing opons, NOT just one. Thus, I am not in favor of using Measure E funds to be completely spent towards temporary homeless shelters.

With honors in serving our country--
Tito A. Cortez, MSW
Vietnam War Disabled Veteran - US ARMY

Veterans Suppor ve Services Agency, Inc. (VSSA)
vssainc.org *

Sent from Mail for Windows

6/12/23, 6:05 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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FW: Public comment for Measure E
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Mon 6/12/2023 3:55 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Maria Rosa Rojas <
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 3:53 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Public comment for Measure E

Good afternoon,
My name is Rosa Rojas, I support the survivors of the streets of Sacred Heart Community Service. I am also one of them, on three occasions I was left homeless, I support proposal E to increase the construction of affordable housing. for low-income and homeless people.

Thank you.

--
Maria Rosa Rojas
Family Support Networks Coordinator
Ph:

Fax:

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June 12, 2023

San José City Council
San José City Hall
200 E. Santa Clara St.

San José, CA 95113
Sent via electronic mail
Re: Item 3.1, June 12, and Items 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, June 13 Dear Mayor Mahan and Members of the City Council:

This letter was prepared by members of the Race Equity Action Leadership (REAL) coalition.

Background
The REAL Coalition has been deeply engaged throughout the budget process, discussing our proposals to advance racial justice and economic equity with the Mayor and every councilmember at least once.

We appreciate the inclusion of a pilot program to establish non-police responses to interpersonal violence (as well as several other items we’ll delineate later), and are grateful to Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei and Councilmembers Pam Foley, David Cohen, and Sergio Jimenez for their thoughtful efforts to preserve money for permanent affordable housing.

However, with the release of the Mayor’s June message we see there are still several shortcomings in the proposed budget and call on Council to make these changes:

Measure E
We have always been supportive of “an all of the above'' approach to end our homelessness crisis. The city needs to invest in emergency interim shelter but it must not shy away from its commitment to affordable and permanent supportive housing by even a single dollar. The REAL Coalition supports the memo from Councilmembers Davis, Ortiz and Torres that preserves Measure E, taps more of the excess fund balances, and outlines a plan to expand emergency interim 2 | P a g e

shelter in collaboration with other partners. This memo should be adopted as-is as part of the FY 23-24 budget.

BEST Programs
We are disappointed to see no additional funding for Bringing Everyone’s Strengths Together (BEST) programs. As we stated in our March letter, council should double down on the city’s investment in prevention and intervention of violence by adding $5 million to the BEST appropriation. Whereas the mayor has acknowledged the importance of prevention and intervention in his message, the budget should express this stated value.

Recovery Task Force
The pandemic may be considered over but the needs identified by the Recovery Task Force persist. We appreciate the use of unspent money to continue progress in workforce development but there should be further allocation to continue the task force’s work in health equity, early childhood education and housing. The city should budget an additional $2 million to further high priority and high impact recommendations. As staff and council committees assess which priorities to move forward, task force members should be consulted as appropriate.

Racial Equity Work
Although the Mayor’s Message spoke to racial equity, we need to put our money where our mouth is. We should advance racial equity work in the City of San José by ensuring that City positions dedicated to this work are filled. In light of failure to hire key positions in Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services; Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement; and Transportation, those positions should be converted to permanent Program Manager positions.

City Manager’s Budget Addenda and Council Budget Documents We are glad to see the following items included in the mayor’s June message:
• Extension of the Eviction Help Center
• Additional staff to raise money for Vision Zero and manage Vision Zero projects
• Tree canopy projects in Calle Willow and Luna Park
3 | P a g e

• Investments in digital equity programs
• Investment in pedestrian safety projects
• Enhanced traffic and pedestrian safety through road and intersection design
• Investment in youth education and afterschool programs • Investments to serve our LGBTQ+ residents
• Investing in cultural spaces including the Vietnamese Heritage Garden and African American Community Services Agency
• Enhanced lighting for safety
Further, with the extension of the automated license plate reader program, the City needs to acknowledge that its data management and transparency policy is inadequate and convene relevant stakeholders to write a stronger and more equitable policy.

Lastly, we are interested in the references in the March message to divert calls from 911 and other possibly innovative ways to move away from unnecessary policing and carceral approaches. We call on the City to involve the community at a deep level in these conversations. The REAL Coalition stands ready to participate in these dialogues and to support the City in bringing the voices of community members with relevant lived experiences to the table.

We appreciate the Council offices that engaged in dialogues with Coalition members during this process and all of the offices and staff for their hard work on the budget.

About the REAL Coalition
The REAL community of nonprofit leaders and allies has been meeting since June 2020 to use our positional power to advocate for a more racially-just and equitable society; to establish a peer network of leaders committed to fighting white supremacy and systemic racism in ourselves and our institutions; and to hold each other accountable to the promises we made in the Nonprofit Racial Equity Pledge. The REAL coalition is broadly representative of the nonprofit community including human and community services, behavioral health and health, arts and culture, domestic violence, older adults, food distribution, education, environmental, farming, legal, disability rights, LGTBQ rights, ethnic, immigrant rights, housing and homelessness, criminal justice 4 | P a g e

reform, urban planning, and intermediary organizations, and others. Over 125 organizations have participated in the REAL coalition.

Signed by:

Vaughn Villaverde
AACI

Lavere Foster
African American Community Service
Agency

Steve Eckert
Alum Rock Counseling Center

Jeremy Barousse
Amigos de Guadalupe

Richard Konda
Asian Law Alliance

Josh Selo
Bill Wilson Center

Jahmal Williams
Black Leadership Kitchen Cabinet

Carlos Rosario
Bay Area Community Health

Greg Kepferle
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara
County

Frederick Ferrer
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley

Erin O’Brien
Community Solutions

Jennifer Loving
Destination: Home

Pete Settelmayer
Downtown College Prep

Shawn Gerth
Educare California at Silicon Valley

Beth Leary
Family Supportive Housing

Reymundo C. Espinoza
Gardner Health Services

Veronica Goei
Grail Family Services

Bob Nuñez
La Raza Roundtable

Darcie Green
Latinas Contra Cancer

Gabriel Manrique
Latinos United for a New America
(LUNA)

Alison Brunner
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley

Dr. Angelica Cortez
LEAD Filipino

5 | P a g e

Gisela Bushey
Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen

Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez
MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura
Latino Americana

David K. Mineta
Momentum for Health

Héctor Sanchez-Flores
National Compadres Network

Colsaria Henderson
Next Door Solutions to Domestic
Violence

Rhonda Berry
Our City Forest

Pamela Campos
Parent Voices Santa Clara County

Heather Cleary
Peninsula Family Service

Sharon Winston
Project HIRED

Nathan Svoboda
Project MORE

Dontae Lartigue
Razing The Bar

Kathy Cordova
Recovery Café San Jose

Poncho Guevara
Sacred Heart Community Service

Wisa Uemura
San Jose Taiko

Vanessa Shieh
School of Arts and Culture at Mexican
Heritage Plaza

Gabriel Hernandez
Sí Se Puede Collective

Deanna Chevas
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition

Kyra Kazantzis
Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits

Sheri Burns
Silicon Valley Independent Living
Center

Saul Ramos
SOMOS Mayfair

David Cox
St. Joseph’s Family Center

Regina Celestin Williams
SV@Home

Yvonne Maxwell
Ujima Adult and Family Services

Michael Elliott
Valley Health Foundation

6 | P a g e

Cayce Hill
Veggielution

Sujatha Venkatraman
West Valley Community Services

Shelene Huey-Booker
Youth Utilizing Power and Praise
Organization

Adriana Caldera
YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley

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FW: Why are you allowing speakers to talk about the protest at SCCAOR here? City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:43 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Kathryn Hedges
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 8:49 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: Why are you allowing speakers to talk about the protest at SCCAOR here?

Any group I'm in would be ejected if we did that.

Regards,
Kathryn Hedges

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FW: I Support Keeping the Current Measure E allocation
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:38 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Eulalio Mendez Garibay
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 5:53 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>; info
Subject: I Support Keeping the Current Measure E allocaon

Hello,

I'm writing in strong support to maintain permanent funding for affordable housing.

Mea ure E ha been critical in building much needed permanent hou ing option and taking it away would only be a tep backwards. Keep permanent Measure E funding as recommended by Councilmembers Davis, Ortiz and Torres.

Thank you. Sincerely --

-Eulalio Mendez
Resident from District 3.

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FW: Measure E affordable housing issue
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:38 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Mary Idso
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 6:31 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Measure E aﬀordable housing issue

Please support the Ortiz, Torres, Davis version of how to allocate Measure E funds. This amendment to the budget addresses both interim and longterm affordable housing. Long term housing takes a long time to build for many reasons and we can't afford to delay starting projects. Interim housing is not a long term solution - we need both.

Mary Id o
District 3.

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FW: I Support Keeping the Current Measure E allocation
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:40 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Sarah Vaccaro
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 7:00 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>; info
Subject: I Support Keeping the Current Measure E allocaon

Dear Council Members,

I don't want to reduce city funding for loans to build aﬀordable housing so I'm urging you to maintain the City Council's 2022 allocaon of Measure E funding as recommended by Councilmembers David, Orz, and Torres.

Permanent housing is the soluon to homelessness. Measure E is our tool to increase the availability of permanent housing soluons for those who need them most.

This is a moment to call for a comprehensive approach and a home for everyone. We are looking to leadership within City Council to step up and recommit to real aﬀordable housing and be proacve in ﬁnding funds for interim housing that do not upend the intent of Measure E.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Sarah Vaccaro

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FW: I Support Keeping the Current Measure E allocation
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:42 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Pamela Campos <
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 7:44 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: I Support Keeping the Current Measure E allocaon

Thank you Sincerely, Pamela
--
Pamela Campos (She/Ella)

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FW: Measure E
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 7:42 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: pegelwel <
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 7:56 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>; Cohen, David <[email protected]> Subject: Measure E

While we do need some interim soluons for unhoused people - I was glad to hear of plans for RV safe parking not to far from my home - what we really need is permanent aﬀordable housing. I support the Davis, Orz, Torres memo for the maximum use of Measure E funds for permanent aﬀordable housing.

Peggy Elwell
District 4 homeowner
Sent from AOL on Android

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Support Measure E
Andrea Perry < >
Tue 6/13/2023 10:07 AM
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:Andrea Perry
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Dear Mayor and Councilmembers:

Since 1990, I have been an active community volunteer and homeowner in both Willow Glen and downtown San Jose. As a mother, grandmother and longtime child and family advocate, I want all children and families in our community to have a healthy, secure and safe life and thrive! As you well know, San Jose (and SF) have the highest rents and housing costs in the country and many of our families are impoverished and suffering! Many of us 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.

Andrea M Perry MSW

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FW: Re Item 3.4, 3.5 & 3.6: Labor and Community FY23-24 Budget Recommendations City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 11:20 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Jeﬀrey Buchanan
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2023 10:52 AM
To: The Oﬃce of Mayor Ma Mahan <[email protected]>; Kamei, Rosemary <[email protected]>; Jimenez, Sergio <[email protected]>; Torres, Omar <[email protected]>; Cohen, David <[email protected]>; Orz, Peter <Peter.Or[email protected]>; Davis, Dev <[email protected]>; Doan, Bien <[email protected]>; Candelas, Domingo <[email protected]>; Foley, Pam <[email protected]>; Batra, Arjun <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc: Maria Fernandez >; david ; jean
Subject: Re Item 3.4, 3.5 & 3.6: Labor and Community FY23-24 Budget Recommendaons

Greengs Mayor and Council:

On behalf of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council, the Santa Clara and San Benito County Building Trades Council and Working Partnerships USA, I would like to share the below recommendaons on the Mayor’s June Message, the Measure E Allocaon, and the FY23-24 Operang Budget. Please let me know if you have any quesons.

Best, Jeﬀrey

Jeﬀrey Buchanan
Director of Public Policy
Working Partner
ships USA

Dear Mayor and Councilmembers:

Thank you all for the incredible amount of work and thoughulness that each of you have put into the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget process and for your willingness to engage the community and working families on these important quesons. As representaves of over 100,000 workers and their families across Santa Clara County we know the enormous needs facing San Jose and believe we need a budget that takes a comprehensive approach to solving our biggest problems: housing, homelessness and public safety.

Aer reviewing the memos submied by Councilmembers we would encourage the Council to pass a June Budget Message and FY23- 24 Operang Budget which:

Adopts the 6/8 memo by Councilmembers Davis, Orz and Torres to keep the current allocaon of Measure E dollars, which already balances funding interim shelter spending and permanent housing, and using addional funds from the General Fund Excess Fund Balance to support the funds needed for construcon and operaons of all of the City’s FY23-24’s planned interim shelter sites.

Directs staﬀ to ﬁnd addional resources to fund the addional staﬃng and/or interim shelter needs idenﬁed in Councilmembers Cohen and Jimenez’s 6/9 memo.

Adopts the 6/9 memo from Councilmembers Davis, Orz, Torres, Batra and Doan to not accept the reducon in Med 30 recommended by staﬀ, and to fund poron of MBA #21 idenﬁed in their memo through a reducon in the future deﬁcit reserve.

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

Addionally, we encourage the City Council to vote no on the 6/9 memo from Mayor Ma Mahan to break with the City’s promise to voters who passed Measure E in 2020, and to a broad coalion of labor, faith, community and developers who came together working with Mayor Liccardo and City Council to reach a diﬃcult agreement to require any changes to the spending allocaon of those funds to require super majority support by future Councils. We believe unraveling this requirement would be a major blow to our community’s faith in this Council and future ballot measures.

Thank you for your consideraon.

Sincerely,

Jean Cohen, Execuve Oﬃcer, South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council David Bini, Execuve Director, Santa Clara & San Benito Counes Building & Construcon Trades Council Maria Noel Fernandez, Execuve Director, Working Partnerships USA

June 13, 2023

Mayor, Council, and Former City Colleagues,

Thank you for your dedicated service to our community.

I regret that the debate over the allocation of Measure E dollars has become so divisive. Our city faces a crisis of homelessness, and we’ll need everyone working together– neighborhood residents, non-profit providers, affordable housing developers, community leaders, the Council, City staff, and many others– to address this crisis.

I write because I’m concerned that some context has been lost in the debate over Measure E. I have some insight into that context, because of my deep level of engagement in the process three years ago. Most relevant to the current discussion, my staff and I drafted the language that serves as the basis of the Measure E funding allocation in the form of a November 26, 2019 memorandum, which I co-signed along with Councilmember Pam Foley and two former colleagues. That was adopted by the Council on December 10, 2019. I also drafted the November 15, 2019 memorandum proposing a supermajority Council voting requirement and other “guardrails” to change Measure E funding allocations. That memo was also co-signed by two former colleagues, and the Council adopted that direction at its November 19, 2019 hearing.

A few observations seem worth making about those Council-adopted memoranda:

• The establishment of “guardrails” –the council policy requiring a supermajority vote and multiple public hearings– emanated wholly from a concern that future councils might spend Measure E dollars on purposes other than affordable housing and homelessness. The most vocal critics of the measure, Councilmembers Johnny Khamis and Dev Davis voted against putting Measure E on the ballot at the December 3, 2019 Council meeting because they asserted that as a general tax, Measure E’s language alone could provide no assurance that future city councils wouldn’t spend Measure E revenues on purposes unrelated to housing and homelessness. The public debate focused on that issue, as captured by the online title of a November 19, 2019 Mercury News story, “San Jose officials say new property transfer tax will fund affordable housing. But will it?”

• In short, we inserted the guardrails solely to assure the public that future Councils would more likely focus Measure E revenues on homelessness and affordable housing, not to create a rigid allocation formula that would require the functional equivalent of a constitutional amendment In my view, the critical issue is to keep the faith of the voters by restricting Measure E spending to homelessness and affordable housing. Council’s discretion within those broad categories should remain unhindered.

• Further evincing this desire for flexibility, we crafted the ballot language to provides that measure’s revenue will serve for “...helping homeless residents move into shelters/permanent housing….. ” This broad mandate would, in my view, enable the City to remain consistent with the will of the voters while allocating Measure E dollars flexibly on homelessness solutions along the spectrum from shelter to permanent housing.

• Our November 26th memorandum provided an allocation of “45% for permanent supportive and affordable rental housing for extremely low-income (ELI) households-defined as earning less than 30% of area median income (AMI)...” At the time that I wrote that, I fully intended and expected that innovative models for housing extremely low-income residents –such as motel conversions, quick-build housing, and other interim solutions – could be funded from this ELI pot.

• In subsequent budget processes, the Housing Department disagreed when I encouraged the use of this Measure E ELI funding allocation for interim housing, seizing on the word “rental” as precluding interim models. We avoided “calling the question” on the issue, however, because the Housing Department was able to identify other sources of funding in 2022 to achieve our goal of constructing 1,000 quick-build prefabricated units, Those alternative sources–such as federal pandemic-related funding, and state Homekey and HHAP allocations–were ephemeral, however.. Accordingly, it seems appropriate for every city council to “call the question” for itself on how best to reduce homelessness among our ELI residents within that 45% category of funding. The mere deletion of the word “rental”—without any reallocation of funding—would serve this purpose.

• I understand that there are also disputes over the use of Measure E funds for the San Jose Bridge program, which provides previously unhoused residents with jobs cleaning and beautifying the city, and housing. We have previously used Measure E dollars to support San Jose Bridge,without controversy. In repeated polling conducted in recent years, few City programs have been more strongly supported by our residents.

I hope that this letter sheds some light on the origins and purpose of these regulations. My best to each of you in your important deliberations.

All the best,

Sam Liccardo
San Jose resident

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FW: Agenda Item 3.4 and 3.5 2023-2024 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets (6/13/23 Meeting) City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/13/2023 1:02 PM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
1 attachments (161 KB)
SVDe-BugLetter-BudgetComments.pdf;

From: Charisse Domingo
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2023 12:54 PM
To: The Oﬃce of Mayor Ma 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]>; CouncilMeeng <CouncilMee[email protected]> Cc: Raj Jayadev < >; Andrew Bigelow < ; Elizabeth Gonzalez >; Chandra Jacquez < >
Subject: Agenda Item 3.4 and 3.5 2023-2024 Proposed Operang and Capital Budgets (6/13/23 Meeng)

Good aernoon,

Enclosed is our leer from Silicon Valley De-Bug opposing Mayor Mahan's reallocaon 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

San Jose City CouncilJune 13, 2023

San Jose City Council
June 13, 2023