Letters from the Public - 1 of 4 — San Jose City Council, February 4, 2025

January 13, 2025
San José City Council
City of San Jose
200 East Santa Clara Street
San José, CA 95113
Sent via electronic mail
Dear members of the Rules Committee,
Re: Rules Item C2, Memorandum by Councilmembers Ortiz, Campos, Cohen, and Candelas -- SUPPORT
I write to you on behalf of the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN), an alliance of community-based organizations working to support thriving and equitable communities in Santa Clara County.

Comprised of nonprofits that provide vital services for immigrants, SVCN acknowledges and thanks the City for its history in welcoming and protecting its immigrant communities, remaining uninvolved with immigration enforcement, and maintaining its commitment to being a sanctuary city. Given our vibrant immigrant community’s strong contributions to San José’s culture and economy, SVCN strongly supports the City renewing and expanding efforts to protect undocumented community members and their families. The incoming presidential administration has been transparent in its intent to bolster harmful immigration enforcement efforts, including a mass deportation program. As these threats loom near, we urge the Council to take robust action to protect San José’s immigrant populations.

SVCN writes in support of Councilmembers Ortiz, Campos, Cohen, and Candelas’ request to the Council for an informational memo on actions to protect San José residents from harms proposed by the incoming presidential administration. In particular, SVCN supports the recommendations detailed in the memo to bolster the reach of the Rapid Response Network and prioritize funding needs to provide essential support services and legal assistance. We also commend the inclusion of Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits | Sobrato Center for Nonprofits | | San Jose, CA 95126 item 4 in the memorandum, which directs the City Manager to coordinate these efforts with community stakeholders. We stand ready to participate in stakeholder dialogues.

In regards to the recommendation to evaluate current and additional options to protect San José residents found in item 1B, we note amendments to immigrant protection ordinances in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Long Beach and encourage the City to take the most comprehensive approach to broadening the City’s current suite of protections for immigrants against the federal administration’s targeting of undocumented individuals and their families.

We encourage the Rules Committee to pass this item and thank the Committee for its consideration.

Sincerely,
Shannon Zhang
Policy and Advocacy Associate
About SVCN
Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN) advances the role, voice, and capacity of the nonprofit community in Santa Clara County, driving positive social change and fostering equitable, vibrant, and thriving communities. SVCN is committed to being a change agent and a model of possibility by centering racial justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do, both internally and externally. A key strategic priority is to support the nonprofit ecosystem by serving as a trusted source and hub of information, resources, and connections for Silicon Valley nonprofits, facilitating collaboration and collective impact. We also leverage our power, position, and access to partner with, amplify, and support the community, influencing decision-makers to address the biggest challenges facing nonprofits and the communities they serve. SVCN’s nonprofit membership is 170+ strong.

January 14, 2025
The Honorable David Cohen
Chair, Rules and Open Government Committee
City of San Jose
200 E Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA 95113
RE: Request for Informational Memo on Actions to Protect San José Residents from Harms Proposed by Incoming U.S. Presidential Administration (Item C.2) – SUPPORT Dear Chair Cohen,
On behalf of the County of Santa Clara, I write in support of the memo led by Councilmembers Ortiz, Campos, Candelas, and you that ensures the City of San José is prepared for the policy changes and challenges associated with the incoming federal administration. The County applauds your leadership and stands ready to work collaboratively with you to support our community.

Like you, the County anticipates the incoming federal administration will create enormous challenges for local jurisdictions. The incoming federal administration has shared publicly their intent to rapidly and aggressively disrupt the lives of immigrant families and the communities in which they reside. The incoming federal administration has also targeted the LGBTQ+ community, women, and others. While we do not know the exact actions that will be taken, the threats and widespread fear are anticipated to have harmful effects on our community’s wellbeing and a chilling effect on residents’ willingness to access needed services, including critical County safety-net services like healthcare, housing, and nutrition.

The work to support our community through the next federal administration is critical. As you know, more than 40 percent of the people living in Santa Clara County are foreign born. Our county is diverse, and our role as government is to work towards a community where everyone can live, work, play, and thrive. The County is ready to continue and strengthen our partnership through the next federal administration.

For these reasons, the County supports the leadership by Councilmembers Ortiz, Campos, Candelas, and yourself. We respectfully request your AYE vote in Rules Committee on Wednesday, January 15th, and look forward to continuing to work together to ensure that our communities are prepared to quickly meet the challenges that will be imposed by the incoming federal administration.

The County also urges other governmental agencies, including the City of San José, to invest in their stated values and allocate financial resources directed to meet the challenges of this moment. The County has dedicated $5 million so far, but the community needs additional support from other local jurisdictions like County of Santa Clara
O f f i c e o f t h e C o u n t y E x e c u t i v e

County Government Center, East Wing
70 West Hedding Street, 11th Floor
San Jose, California 95110
(408) 299-5105
Board of Supervisors: Sylvia Arenas, Betty Duong, Otto Lee, Susan Ellenberg, Margaret Abe-Koga County Executive: James R. Williams