Letters from the Public - 7 of 7 — San Jose City Council, June 8, 2026

Dear Concerned Legislators and Citizens, June 5, 2026 My name is Mark Hoag, I live in Santa Clara. As a historian, writer and concerned citizen I am writing to implore you to maintain the necessary budget and stafﬁng to ensure full public access to the wealth of materials contained within the MLK Library’s California Room.

During research for my ﬁrst book, I found the California Room to be indispensable for a diverse cross-section of historical materials. The Directories, Thompson Maps, Aerial Photographs, Extensive collection of books, Old Maps, Period Photographs and Letters all offered unique glimpses and priceless gems of our areas storied history .

A mention needs to also be made for the incredible support staff and their attention to the visiting public. I was constantly amazed by the helpful and engaged manner in which all employees supported my research in every visit to the California Room.

This collection needs continued professional stewardship. I urge you to support its full inclusion in the 2026-27 budget. Historic preservation is an essential element of an educated and socially enriched population. How can we possibly know where we are going if we can’t fully comprehend where we’ve been.

During a recent centennial celebration for our historic neighborhood, my wife and I were amazed by how much we were able to embellish the experience for greater than 160 residents by showing them the real life history garnered from the California Room. A friend from the Burrell Park neighborhood near the Rose Garden had equally rewarding results uncovering history for their very own centennial celebration held the same year. Even Mayor Mahan attended the gathering. What an outstanding way to bring our community together. I Implore Y ou to Keep the California Room Alive it would be very shortsighted to do otherwise.

estimates that the City of San Jose spent $20,000,000 on sweeps in one year. We see no mention of the costs of sweeps labeled as “encampment management and enforcement teams” in the Mahan’s budget message. So we ask the City of San Jose to immediately stop the practice of encampment sweeps and to make public the total cost of sweeps to the City of San Jose. We, at Silicon Valley De- Bug, have submitted a CPRA request asking for the total number of sweeps within Matt Mahan’s tenure since 2023 and a cost-average per sweep. We can not take any conversation around budget cuts and the need to reduce spending seriously until one of the most inhumane practices of this City on it’s most vulnerable population stops and is accounted for.

Do not focus City resources to coddle real estate developers who are operating for-profit housing and making San Jose unaffordable.

Families we support on our weekly participatory defense housing calls join because they are looking for affordable housing, facing evictions or other challenges with their homes. We constantly see people, who would otherwise be stable, have one thing happen in their life that creates the high risk of displacement, often because of unaffordable rents. Folks at highest risk of displacement are low income folks who are renters, elderly, disabled, people of color and families with children - yet the mayor’s message on housing centers the builders, their profits, and their ease of navigating the city process. We have a history in San Jose of creating incentives for for-profit housing developers to come build more housing. This has shown over and over again to not reduce housing costs or the market rate. In fact, we constantly see new developments sit empty either because of unaffordable market-rate rents or building deficiencies because these companies have cut corners, exemplified by the now repurposed, empty high rise on Market Street or the empty high rise near Julian Street in Downtown. Any efforts to make this process easier for multi-million dollar companies is wasted time and resources.

The Ellis Act in particular serves to prevent displacement for the most vulnerable renters and is already a weakened ordinance. We urge the City Manager to include recommendations that include the city playing a larger role supporting preservation through models that promote resident control and have a commitment to antidisplacement and deep affordability.

Nothing within the housing budget message addresses the root cause of homelessness and affordability: an unregulated for-profit housing system.

For San Jose to be “a city where working families can stay, where young people can build a future, and where seniors can age in place” as the mayor says on page 26 of the budget then the city needs approaches that go beyond the market. If increasing housing supply alone really stabilized home prices and increased economic opportunity, we would have housing for all income levels, but our housing system is not designed to ensure everyone is housed - it is designed to maximize profits. The market is a failure.

We do not see any good-faith effort to protect San Jose renters from unaffordable market rates.

Protections we wish we would see include a more expansive rent control, funding an indigent defense for those being railroaded through eviction court, and preserving housing. Even our current supportive services for renters often means non-profit or government agencies just paying the unaffordable rent to the landlord in place of the tenant. But what about the next month? This system is designed to fail. And as we are happy to see that some people transitioned into permanent housing, this hyper focus on temporary shelters does not stop the demand for shelters. San Jose residents will continue to become houseless unless the issue of housing inequality and affordability is meaningfully addressed and prioritized.

Policing
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.

Funding from diverting calls from 911 to 988 and TRUST should go to youth serving programs, mental health resources and housing, not law enforcement. Alternatives to 911 are increasingly being accessed by the community – more calls are being diverted from police and going to crisis intervention teams like Santa Clara County’s TRUST program. Your own data shows that monthly transfers to 988 from 911 increased from 10 to 150. That means calls are being diverted from law enforcement and thus saving lives. We ask the City to analyze the savings from these diverted calls and direct them away from the police department and towards true life-saving needs in our communities that need to be fully resourced.

Pause any continued funding on RTIC and the use of surveillance technology Over the years, the San Jose Police Department has been increasing its reliance on AI to police, while simultaneously asking for more money for the police department - for wages. These do not make sense.

San Jose Police using mass surveillance technology puts the entire community at risk - whether it’s risk of ICE accessing the database, risk of being profiled and targeted, risk of misuse by local police for their own purposes – all of which have been documented. Trusting AI to take over body cam footage translation- in one of the most critical pieces of information in a case – is irresponsible and lends itself to even more mistakes in the justice system. ACLU has documented that this body cam footage translation has led to
AI generated police reports – can only lead to more bias, less transparency, and more errors. It is not enough to just put ‘guardrails’ on this technology; we should not spend resources on it. We urge you to reject this proposed pilot program.

Audit, and then cut, the City Attorney’s resources for defending police in misconduct and excessive use of force cases
In January of this year, the City Council approved an $8 million settlement in the case of K’aun Green, who was shot by police in 2022 for deescalating a situation at La Vic’s. It was proven that Officer Mark McNamara who shot him 4 times, was also part of a racist texting scandal that revealed this officer’s state of mind as he encounters Black and people of color. Furthermore, McNamara then texted about Mr. Green and his attorneys, saying:
“N— wanted to carry a gun in the Wild West ... Not on my watch” and “They should all be bowing to me and bringing me gifts since I saved a fellow n— by making him rich as f—. Otherwise, he woulda lived a life of poverty and crime.”
He was placed in the decertification process in 2023.

Yet, despite City statements including Matt Mahan “denouncing” these racist statements, the City continued to defend McNamara’s actions well until 2025.

This $8 million settlement is one of the largest settlements in San Jose history – the highest one being in 2024 when the City settled with Lionel Ruvalcaba for being wrongly imprisoned for 17 years where 3 San Jose Police officers fabricated evidence and got witnesses to falsely identify Mr.

Ruvalcaba as the shooter in a drive-by that left a man paralyzed.

We’ve sat in courtrooms watching the City Attorney defend these police actions, and furthermore criminalize and blame the person killed or harmed by police actions, villainize their families and diminish their pain. We’ve seen the City Attorney hire experts to justify the shootings – including John Black, the ‘use of force’ expert defending white nationalist Kyle Rittenhouse who shot and killed 2 protestors in Kenosha, WI during a protest against the shooting of unarmed Jacob Blake. We demand that the City audit the City Attorney’s office for the costs of defending officers for misconduct and cut those resources.

The Justice System and Prop 36
Direct funding to mental health resources, not the exploratory trip to San Diego to observe Prop 36.

Over the years we have seen the struggles and limitations for treatment alternatives within the justice process but as of recent due to prop 36 which essentially removed funding for the very same programs running to address this issue. Now with even less funding or should we say no funding for treatment options those same issues and some have increased. We now see people waiting for months up to a year or more to get accepted into a program within mental health court. There are not enough beds or capacity to handle all the individuals who have volunteered let alone the people who have been mandated. We will never see the false promise brought by fear mongering through prop 36. The stalling is filling our jails and keeping its population full unnecessarily. If we are serious about stopping homelessness and lowering recidivism,
we must address and provide funding for our loved ones who need and request treatment. We ask that you refer funding from the police department to ensure those with mental needs do not fall through the cracks of our justice system.

Respectfully,
Silicon Valley De-Bug Families

101 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA 95113 | sjchamber.com | 408-291-5250 |

June 7, 2026

The Honorable Mayor and Members of the San Jose City Council 200 East Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA 95113

Re: Agenda Item 3.1: Support for Mayor’s June Budget Priorities

Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,

On behalf of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and the diverse business community we represent, thank you for your leadership and thoughtful work developing a balanced budget during a challenging fiscal year.

Businesses throughout San Jose continue to navigate economic uncertainty, rising operating costs, workforce challenges, and changing market conditions. We recognize that the City faces similar pressures as it works to address a significant budget deficit while maintaining the services residents and businesses rely upon. As you finalize the budget, we encourage continued focus on the priorities that will strengthen San Jose's economic future and improve quality of life for residents and employers alike.

First, we support efforts to maintain fiscal discipline and long-term financial sustainability. As difficult choices are made, we encourage the City to prioritize investments that strengthen the local economy, grow the tax base, and reduce future structural budget challenges.

Second, we support continued investments in public safety and neighborhood quality of life. Safe commercial corridors, clean public spaces, and reliable City services are fundamental to business success and community confidence. These investments are essential to attracting customers, employees, visitors, and future investment.

Third, we support the focus on advancement of housing production through streamlined permitting, regulatory improvements, and policies that support new housing opportunities. Addressing housing affordability remains critical to the long-term competitiveness of our region and the ability of employers to attract and retain talent.

Fourth, we support efforts to strengthen San Jose's economy through strategic investments in economic development, tourism, sports and entertainment, downtown activation, and business growth.

Major events over the next several years present a unique opportunity to elevate San Jose's profile, generate visitor spending, and create lasting economic benefits for local businesses. Investments that help attract visitors, support convention activity, activate downtown, and improve the overall customer experience should be viewed as investments in future revenue generation.

Fifth, we encourage the City to pursue operational efficiencies, modernization efforts, and technology solutions that improve service delivery and maximize taxpayer value. Before pursuing new taxes or fees that may affect business competitiveness, we encourage continued focus on economic growth, operational effectiveness, and expanding the City's revenue base through job creation and investment.

101 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA 95113 | sjchamber.com | 408-291-5250 |

Finally, we appreciate that the proposed Mayor’s budget does not advance a business tax modernization study at this time. Voters have approved three tax measures in the last eight months, including one with a direct return to the City General Fund. With additional tax measures anticipated on the fall ballot, advancing a study of additional business taxes risks sending the wrong message to employers considering whether to invest, expand, or locate in San Jose.

We believe the City's limited financial and staff resources are better directed toward initiatives that strengthen San Jose's economy and grow the tax base. If the City chooses to dedicate resources toward revenue generation, we encourage a focus on identifying targeted incentives, infrastructure investments, site-readiness improvements, and regulatory reforms that help attract, retain, and expand employers in San Jose.

Growing jobs, investment, and economic activity offers the most sustainable path to strengthening the City's long-term fiscal health and expanding the resources available to fund essential public services.

Thank you for your continued partnership in building a stronger and more prosperous San Jose.

Sincerely,
Leah Toeniskoetter
President & CEO

CC:

Jennifer Maguire
Lee Wilcox
Toni Taber

2003 E. San Antonio St. • San José, CA 95116 • 408-347-7892 • www.gfsfamilyservices.org

June 08, 2026
Office of the City Clerk, City of San José
200 E Santa Clara Street
San José, CA 95113
Re: Final Public Hearing, 2026-2027 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets and 2026-2027 Proposed Fees and Charges Report
Dear Mayor Mahan, Vice Mayor Foley, and City Councilmembers, On behalf of Grail Family Services (GFS), I am writing to share our appreciation for your commitment to the families we serve in East San Jose. Our agency, alongside SOMOS Mayfair, have been leading the Mayfair/Poco Way demonstration pilot site for the Children and Youth Services Master Plan (CYSMP).

Our demonstration site is in active service delivery, supporting residents across multiple tiers of support and connecting them into a single system of care through a true no wrong door model. CYSMP efforts are no longer theoretical; families are walking through our doors and receiving coordinated, cross- system support. Furthermore, we are building the data and evaluation infrastructure needed to track outcomes and strengthen this evidence-based framework, which both the County and City have envisioned for many years. Just as importantly, we are also building trust. In a moment when trust in government institutions can feel fragile, we work alongside families every day to ensure this system feels accessible, culturally responsive, and worthy of their confidence.

We respectfully request the City of San Jose to fully fund the Children and Youth Services Master Plan demonstration sites through fiscal year 2027 by maintaining the $1 million funding for the Mayfair/Poco Way and Seven Trees/Santee pilot projects. We thank you for your leadership and look forward to continuing to advance pathways of opportunity for our families together.

Sincerely,
Veronica Goei
Executive Director
Grail Family Services

Outlook
FW: Support the California Room
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:30 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Martha Wallace
Sent: Friday, June 5, 2026 5:05 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
City Clerk
Subject: Support the California Room
Maguire, Jennifer
Bourne, Jill
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don 't often get email from . Learn why this is important Please support the MLK Librruy's California Room, an incredible civic asset that should be celebrated, not locked away behind closed doors. BudgetAddendum #19 proposes a reasonable funding compromise ensuring continued public access and professional stewru·dship, and I mge you to suppo1i its inclusion in the 2026-27 budget. Open access to the California Room is an essential public service that benefits over five thousand students, educators, planners historians , genealogists , homeowners , developers, and interested citizens a year. Should the California Room be allowed to close, an appointment -based system could limit access to fewer than 300 visits a y ear and leave whole collections of important materials inaccessible. Continued 2026-27 funding, even at a reduced level, can be a bridge to leverage community suppo1i for a more sustainable long-te1m public/private funding model, but only if the California Room remains open and accessible to all.

This affects the wider Santa Clam County population of historians ru1d genealogists . Please retain the availability of this important resource .

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

Martha Wallace, Sunnyvale
Genealogy - So many ancestors...so little time!

Outlook
FW: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:31 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Ryan H. Smith
Sent: Friday, June 5, 2026 5:28 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan Maguire, Jennifer
City Clerk
District 10
Subject: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget Bourne, Jill
District3
District 6
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't ofte n get email from - - Learn why this is important The California Room is an~ mce and one that my students and I have enjoyed visiting and using for research purposes consistently. Cutting the budget for this incredible hub would be to slam the door on the rich history of San Jose, the Bay Area, and California. In many ways for our st.ate, hist01y begins and is written here in San Jose; we have to set the example. Please don't dismiss and neglect that rich and important hist01y - preserve it, fund it, and keep it accessible for the community now and in the future!
Please support the MLK Libraiy's California Room, an incredible civic asset that should be celebrated, not locked away behind closed doors. Budget Addendum #19 proposes a reasonable funding compromise ensuring continued public access and professional stewai·dship, and I urge you to suppo1t its inclusion in the 2026-27 budget. Open access to the California Room is an essential public service that benefits over five thousand students, educators, planners, historians, genealogists, homeowners, developers, and interested citizens a year. Should the California Room be allowed to close, an appointment-based system could limit access to fewer than 300 visits a year and leave whole collect.ions of impo1tant materials inaccessible. Continued 2026-27 funding, even at a reduced level, can be a bridge to leverage community support for a more sustainable long-term public/private funding model, but only if the California Room remains open and accessible to all.

Cheers,
Ryan H. Smith, MFA [he/ him]
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Screenwriting Competition Program Mgr., Cinequest Film Festival Co-founder, Midnight Chem
Fmr. Managing Editor, Reed Magazine

“If the desire to write is not accompanied by actual writing then the desire is not to write.” -Hugh Prather

Outl ook
FW: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:32 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Laura Preston-Mobley
Sent: Friday, June 5, 2026 6:59
To: City Clerk
Subject: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't ofte n get email from . Learn why th is is important Dear City Clerk:

Please support the MLK Libraiy's California Room, an incredible civic asset that should be celebrated, not locked away behind closed doors. Budget Addendum #19 proposes a reasonable funding compromise ensuring continued public access and professional stewardship , and I urge you to support its inclusion in the 2026-27 budget. Open access to the California Room is an essential public service that benefits over five thousand students, educators, planners , historians , genealogists , homeowners, developers, and interested citizens a year. Should the California Room be allowed to close, an appointment-based system could limit access to fewer than 300 visits a year and leave whole collections of important materials inaccessible. Continued 2026-27 funding, even at a reduced level, can be a bridge to leverage community support for a more sustainable long-term public/private funding model, but only if the California Room remains open and accessible to all.

Sincerely,
Laura Preston-Mobley
District 3
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Outlook
FW: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:32 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Darlene Marshall
Sent: Friday, June 5, 2026 8:45 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan Maguire, Jennifer
City Clerk
District 10
Subject: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget Bourne, Jill
District3
District 6
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't ofte n get email from . Learn why th is is important As a library user and citizen of this great city I'm writing you to urge you to please support the MLK Librruy's California Room, an incredible civic asset that should be celebrated, not locked away behind closed doors. Budget Addendum #19 proposes a reasonable funding compromise ensuring continued public access and professional stewardship, and I urge you to suppo1t its inclusion in the 2026-27 budget.

Open access to the California Room is an essential public service that benefits over five thousand students, educators, planners, historians, genealogists, homeowners, developers, and interested citizens a year. Should the California Room be allowed to close, an appointment-based system could limit access to fewer than 300 visits a year and leave whole collections of important materials inaccessible. Continued 2026-27 funding, even at a reduced level, can be a bridge to leverage community suppo1t for a more sustainable long-term public/private funding model, but only if the California Room remains open and accessible to all.

Sincerely,
James H. Marshall
Willow Glen, District 6
Outlook
FW: It is essential to keep the California Room of the San Jose Public Library open.

From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:32 AM
To Agendadesk
From: vacarpio
Sent: Friday, June 5, 2026 9:30 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
City Clerk
Maguire, Jennifer
Bourne, Jill
District3
District 6
Subject: It is essential to keep the California Room of the San Jose Public Library open. [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't often get email from-· Learn why this is important Please adopt City Libra~s budget proposal to keep the California Room open at least 2 days a week with 1.5 FTE staff. The public must have access to this priceless collection.

Research, the state's history, business resources and student materials are fundamental avenues of information and education for the public.

Thank you,
Virginia Carpio
Assistant City Librarian, Retired
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Outlook
FW: California Room funding
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:32 AM
To Agendadesk
From: james rogers
Sent: Friday, June 5, 2
To: City Clerk
Cc: The Office f a r
Subject: California Room funding
District3
District 6
District9
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel Dear Decision Makers,
Districtl
District4
District?
District 10
Closing the California Room would be a tragedy, denying so many access to valuable research sources. As a member of the Gilroy Historical Society I have visited the California Room and know its importance to all of us. Please support Budget Addendum #19 as a reasonable funding compromise enabling reduced hours.

Connie Rogers, Past President
Gilro Historical Societ
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Outlook
FW: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:32 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Vivian Kramp
Sent: Saturday, June 6, 2026 1:19 AM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
City Clerk
District 10
Maguire, Jennifer
Bourne, Jill
District3
District 6
Subject: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel Please support the MLK Libraty's California Room, an incredible civic asset that should be celebrated, not locked away behind closed doors. Budget Addendum #19 propose s a reasonable funding compromise ensuring continued public access and professional stewardship , and I urge you to support its inclusion in the 2026-27 budget. Open access to the California Room is an essential public service that benefits over five thousand students, educators, planners , historians, genealogists , homeowners, developers, and interested citizens a year. Should the California Room be allowed to close, an appointment-based system could limit access to fewer than 300 visits a year and leave whole collections of important materials inaccessible. Continued 2026-27 funding, even at a reduced level, can be a bridge to leverage community support for a more sustainable long-term public/private funding model, but only if the California Room remains open and accessible to all.

Sincerely,
Vivian Kramp
Sent from my iPhone
Outlook
FW: PNA Public comments for 6/8/26 Agenda item 3.1 - JBM From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:33 AM
To Agendadesk
----- Original Messaqe----
From: Mike Kraus
Sent: Saturday, Jun
To: City Clerk
Cc: District4
Subject: PNA Public comments for 6/8/26 Agenda item 3.1 - JBM [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn more< https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderldentification >]
[You don't often get email from
https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderldentification ]
Learn why this is important at
Elva Wilson
Reference 1) 6:00pm - Public Hearing, Council Chambers, City Hall, Agenda Item 3.1, Subject: Public Hearing on the 2026 -2027 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets and the 2026 - 2027 Proposed Fees and Charges for the City of San Jose.

Dear County Clerk, City Council, (et al),
Please accept my public comments regarding the above reference (1) city council agenda item. As a community leader in District 4 of the city of San Jose, I have reviewed the Mayor's Memorandum to the City Council, subject: June Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, and concur with the mayor's city of San Jose budget approach without any modifications. I am pleased to observe that the budget prioritizes safety, security, and the enhancement of the quality of life for San Jose's citizens. Consistent with previous years' budgets, I am pleased to see the emphasis on addressing unsheltered homelessness, improving community cleanliness, and supporting BeautifSJ neighborhood grant programs. Additionally, the budget addresses crime through support for the San Jose Police Department, the construction of new housing units, and the attraction of new businesses to the City of San Jose.

Respectfu I ly,
Michael Kraus
President - Penitencia Neighborhood Association Board of Directors- Berryessa Art Festival Foundation 501(c)3 Nonprofit Corp Member at Large - Berryessa Citizen Advisory Council This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Outl ook
FW: June 8 final hearing, Item 3.1 California Room Library budge From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:33 AM
To Agendadesk
----- Original Message-----
From: Suzanne Morrone
Sent: Saturday, June 6, 2026 8:15 AM
To: The Office of Mavor Matt Mahan
Subject: June 8 final hearing, Item 3.1 California Room Library budge [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn more< https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderldentification >]
I strongly support the memo approving a compromise of reduced public access as stated in MBA #19 but still keeping the California Room open a couple of days a week.

Please vote to approve this memo.

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

Outlook
FW: California Room - Library Department Budget
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:33 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Emma Strong Thomas
Sent: Saturday, June 6, 2026 11:48 A
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
City Clerk
Subject: Re: California Room - Library Department Budget Maguire , Jennifer
Bourne, Jill
District3
District 6
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't ofte n get email from - - Learn why this is important I write in support of the ~mitted by Councilmembers Kamei, Tordillos, and Cohen, proposing a cutback rather than full closure of the California room (item 3.3 6/9 Mtg, File No. 26-682)
The proposed compromise will aid to alleviate my concerns about losing important public access to local history materials while also alleviating concerns about the impact on the city budget.

Thank you for your consideration,
Emma Thomas, lifelong San Jose resident
On May 9, 2026, at 2:36 PM, Emma Strong Thomas
wrote:
>
I urge you to maintain funding for the California Room at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Librruy in the 2026 27 budget. For more than a centmy, the California Room and its dedicated librru·ians have preserved the histo1y of San Jose and Santa Clara Valley through an irreplaceable collection of books, photographs, maps, archives , and historical records This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. explored by thousands of students, educators, researchers, and community members every year. Closing this invaluable public resource to save just 0.6% of the overall City Library budget would be a devastating and short-sighted decision, especially as San José prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2027. I ask you to protect the California Room, preserve public access to our shared history, and demonstrate that San José values its cultural heritage and civic memory.

Sincerely,
Emma Thomas, D3 Resident N 12th St

Outlook
FW: June 8th City Council Agenda Item 3.1
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:34 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Andrew Siegler
Sent: Saturday, June 6, 2
To: City Clerk
Cc: The Office f a r
Subject: June 8th City Council Agenda Item 3.1
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel Some people who received this message don't ofte n get email from . Learn why this is important Dear Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Councilmembers,
My name is Andrew Siegler. I'm a resident of District 3, writing for myself and on behalf of my own views alone. This letter is addressed to the Council as a whole, though some of it lands squarely with the Mayor, because this is his budget.

I love this city. That is exactly why this budget is so hard to read. It reads like a document written by people who resent the residents they serve.

I understand you are closing roughly a $50 million shortfall, and that no version of that is painless. But a budget is a statement of priorities. What you chose to protect, and what you chose to cut, tells the people of San Jose precisely where they rank. Right now that ranking is an insult. Here is what needs to change.

1. Fund immigrant support services fully, now, and without strings. Activate the ent ire $1 million for immigrant support services as unrestricted, available funding. Splitting it, half now and half parked in a reserve "in case of emergency," misreads this moment badly. The emergency is not on some distant horizon. It is here. It has been here. Our undocumented neighbors need support today, not on some hypothetical worse day to be named later. Release the full amount.

2. Stop towing the vehicles people live in. MBA 20 expands the OLIVE program and points to a rise in tows as evidence of success. Towing someone’s home is not a success. So let me ask the questions the memo does not: where did those people go? Did they get outreach, services, a real path to housing? Or did they just sink deeper into debt trying to get their vehicle out of impound? You can count tows. Count what happened to the human beings who were living inside them. If the honest answer is “more instability,” then this is not a program working as intended.

3. Keep the California Room open. Ending public access to the California Room saves the city roughly $388,000. That is a rounding error in a $1.7 billion general fund, and the price is the public’s access to the documented history and culture of this valley. Maps, aerial photographs, one of a kind records that students, researchers, city planners, journalists, and ordinary curious residents rely on. When a city government quietly removes public access to its own history to save pocket change, that should embarrass this Council. Find that $388,000 somewhere that does far less damage. You have much larger line items to examine first.

4. Restore funding for Viva CalleSJ and Viva Parks. These programs serve our least resourced neighborhoods, the families with the fewest other options for safe, free, public space. Cutting them takes the most from the people who already have the least. Fund them.

5. Stop pitting us against each other. Do not gut the business-tax study to pay for a watered- down immigrant fund. Here is where the game shows. That restricted, half-measure immigrant funding is being paid for by cutting the money that would have gone toward studying a business tax. That study could have grown the size of the pie that all of us, every underfunded need in this city, are being forced to fight over. So the move is twofold: hand immigrant families a smaller, hamstrung version of what they actually need, and pay for it by killing the one thing that might have expanded future revenue for everyone. That sets neighbor against neighbor in a fight over scraps, while the wealthiest corporate interests in this city are shielded from even being studied. Residents can see who that serves. A budget that guards billionaire balance sheets while telling immigrant families, library patrons, and park users to scrap over the leftovers does not reflect this city’s values.

And the elephant in the room: the police budget.

Policing already commands the single largest share of the general fund, and the department still cannot live within it. Consider the airplane. On September 16, 2025, the Council approved the purchase of a fixed-wing surveillance aircraft for the Police Department, a Daher Kodiak 100 (File 25-977, Item 4.2). The plane alone is $3.8 million. With equipment, installation, and a contingency, the all-in cost is $5.1 million.

It reached the Council the same week as the revived Mounted Unit. The horses drew public attention and were deferred over the deficit. The aircraft went through.

I will be fair about one thing. The plane is funded through state law-enforcement grants and drug-asset- forfeiture money, not the general fund, so it could not legally have been redirected to the library or to immigrant services. But sit with what that arrangement reveals. This city has dedicated pipelines of money that reliably appear for police surveillance hardware, while $388,000 to keep the California Room open to the public is treated as unaffordable. And the aircraft’s own justification leans on the 2026 World Cup and other major events, which means sustained aerial surveillance over downtown crowds and over the working and immigrant communities this budget is already failing. That is the priority structure I am asking this Council to question.

So here is what I am asking this Council to do:

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

Activate the full $1 million for immigrant support services, unrestricted.

Halt vehicle tows tied to the OLIVE expansion until you can show what happens to the people displaced.

Preserve public access to the California Room.

Restore Viva CalleSJ and Viva Parks.

Keep the business-tax study alive instead of cannibalizing it to fund a gesture.

You can balance this budget without treating the most vulnerable residents of San José as the easiest line items to cut, and without setting us against each other to do it. Show us you know that.

Thank you for your time and your service.

Andrew Siegler (he/they)
Unceded Tamien & Muwekma Ohlone Land | District 3, San Jose, CA Social Justice Advocate & Organizer
Book a 1on1 with me!

Sent with Proton Mail secure email.

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Outlook
FW: California Room
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:34 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Dennis Mattish
Sent: Saturday, June 6, 2026 3:50 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
City Clerk
Subject: Californ ia Room
Maguire , Jennifer
Bourne, Jill
District3
District 6
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't ofte n get email from . Learn why this is importa nt As the author of two San Jose history books (History of San Jose Auto Racing 1903-2007), it saddens me to hear that funding for the California Room in the Martin Luther King Library is in danger. As a local historian I have spent many hours there doing research for my books. Please support the MLK Library's California Room, an incredible civic asset that should be celebrated, not locked away behind closed doors. Budget Addendum #19 proposes a reasonable funding compromise ensuring continued public access and professional stewardship, and I urge you to support its inclusion in the 2026-27 budget. Open access to the California Room is an essential public service that benefits over five thousand students, educators, planners, historians, genealogists, homeowners, developers, and interested citizens a year. Should the California Room be allowed to close, an appointment-based system could limit access to fewer than 300 visits a year and leave whole collections of important materials inaccessible. Continued 2026-27 funding, even at a reduced level, can be a bridge to leverage community support for a more sustainable long-term public/private funding model, but only if the California Room remains open and accessible to all.

Thanks
Dennis Mattish
• Outlook
FW: Save the California History Room
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:34 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Sandy Baily
Sent: Saturday, June , 2
To: City Clerk Bourne, Jill
Subject: Save the California History Room
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't ofte n get email from . Learn why th is is important Honorable Councilmembers. I strongly encourage you to
seriously consider the potential closing of the California History Room. The loss of this amazing resource would be a great detriment not only to the City of San Jose, but to anyone, anywhere who wants to do historical research. I started using this room in the 1970's to research and then write news articles for my high school paper at Leland High School to educate my classmates on the importance and history of Almaden Valley.

Later, working as a Town Planner and retiring as the
Community Development Director for the Town of Los Gatos, I and our Historic Preservation Committee would use this room to research very specific history that we could not find in our historic records. It is a huge educational tool for the young and old. Please do not let us lose this invaluable resource.

Sandy Baily
Santa Clara County resident
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. --

>^..^< Sandy
“Let your smile change the world.

Don’t let the world change your smile"

Outlook
FW: Budget input for funding of immigration services
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:34 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Karen Matsueda
Sent: Saturday, June 6, 2026 4:00 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: Budget input for funding of immigration services [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
My name is Karen Matsueda and I'm a resident of District 3, and a member of the Rapid Response Network. Thank you for including $1 million for immigration services in the budget proposal. However, we need to fully allocate these funds to community organizations on the ground doing the work now, not direct half of it to a reserve fund. We urge the council to adopt the memo authored by Councilmembers Ortiz, Candelas , Campos, and Casey.

To reduce last year's allocation from $1 M to $SOOK available now means that critical services for immigrants will have to be stopped or reduced now. This will negatively impact many vulnerable people, who are relying on these services and programs now. There is enforcement happening now in our city, everyday, which is straining existing resources. With proposed ICE facilities in Gilroy and Dublin, this is not the time to cut those services and programs.

San Jose has been greatly impacted by immigration enforcement. There have been times when ICE disappeared ten or more of our residents in a single day. Santa Clara County is experiencing 3 times more detentions than any other county in the Bay Area. San Jose is the most-impacted city in our county, with detentions impacting residents from across 22 zip codes - a stark reminder that no community within the city is insulated. The threat from the federal government has not gone away and our communities still need these services to stay here in this city and united with their families. This funding is not just about legal support, it's about honoring our values and ensuring everyone can thrive.

We're living in uncertain times, and San Jose's most vulnerable immigrant neighbors urgently need these protections. These services are lifelines for families trying to stay safe, stable, and connected to their communities.

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

Thank you for your leadership on this critical issue, and I hope you will agree to allocate the full $1M to immigration organizations now so that they have the capacity and time to build up to protect our most vulnerable neighbors. Our immigrant community can’t wait

Respectfully,
Karen Matsueda

“We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond.” -Gwendolyn Brooks

Outl ook
FW: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:34 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Andrew Noonan
Sent: Saturday, June 6, 2026 5:05 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
Subject: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / Californi a Room - Library Budget [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel Bourne, Jill
You don't ofte n get email from -. Learn why this is important Please support the ML~a Room, an important civic asset that should be celebrated , not locked away behind closed doors.

Budget Addendum #19 proposes a reasonable funding compromise ensuring continued public access and professional stewardship, and I urge you to support its inclusion in the 2026-27 budget. Open access to the Californ ia Room is an essential public service that benefits over five thousand students, educators, planners, historians , genealogists , homeowners, developers, and interested citizens a year.

Should the California Room be allowed to close, an appointment-based system could limit access to fewer than 300 visits a year and leave whole collections of important materials inaccessible.

Continued 2026-27 funding, even at a reduced level, can be a bridge to leverage community support for a more sustainable long-term public/private funding model, but only if the California Room remains open and accessible to all.

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

Outlook
FW: Invest in our future: Save Little Learners Program
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:35 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Chethan N Murthy
Sent: Saturday, June 6, 20
To: City Clerk
Subject: Re: Invest in our future: Save Little learners Program [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. learn morel You don't ofte n get email from
Hello Representative ,
. Learn why this is important
I have heard the decision on San Jose Little Learners program at Camden community Center is still pending. Please consider my request to retain the program based on my email below.

Really appreciate your time and support.

Best
Chethan
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 12:27, Chethan N Mmthy
Respected Representative of the City of San Jose,
wrote:

I am writing to express my strong support for maintaining and continuing the Little Learners program in our community.

Early childhood programs like Little Learners play a critical role in shaping not only a child's academic foundation but also their social and emotional development. At a preschool age, children begin to learn how to interact with peers, share, communicate, and navigate group environments. These early social experiences are essential in building confidence , empathy, and cooperation-skills that are just as important as reading and math in long-term success.

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

Beyond academics, exposure to structured social settings at a young age helps children develop a sense of belonging and community. It teaches them how to respect others, follow shared norms, and resolve conflicts constructively. These are the building blocks of becoming socially and morally responsible individuals later in life.

Investing in early learning programs is not just beneficial for individual families—it is a responsibility of the city to foster a strong, educated, and connected community.

Programs like Little Learners help ensure that all children, regardless of background, have access to early developmental opportunities that set them up for future success in school and society. In the long run, this contributes to a more engaged, productive, and responsible population.

Discontinuing such programs risks widening educational and social gaps at a stage when early intervention is most impactful. Keeping Little Learners active demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of families and to the future of our community as a whole.

Thank you for your time and for your continued service to our city. I strongly urge you to support and preserve the Little Learners program. Hoping you will put your best effort in that direction.

Sincerely,
Chethan

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

Outlook
June 8 Final Budget Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - library Budget From Alona Kostka
Date Sun 6/7/2026 8:01 AM
To The Office of Mayor Matt
Cc
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn more l You don't often get email from Learn why this is important Good morning,
I want to thank Council Member Tordillos and City Librarian Bourne for their work supporting an alternative funding plan for the San Jose Public library's California Room.

I urge you, Council Member Tordillos, to continue this support at Monday's budget hearing.

I also urge Mayor Mahan to consider Budget Addenda #19, #28, and the 6/5 Kamei Tordillos Cohen memo which propose a reasonable funding compromise ensuring continued public access and professional stewardship, and I urge you to support their inclusion in the 2026 27 budget.

For more than a century, the California Room and its dedicated librarians have preserved the history of San Jose and Santa Clara Valley through an irreplaceable collection of books, photographs, maps, archives, and historical records explored by thousands of students, educators, researchers, and community members every year.

I have personally seen the many ways in which the California Room benefits San Jose State's academic mission as well as the broader community, and this depends greatly upon the California Room's ability to offer specialized, dedicated service to the public. To echo what others have certainly said: reducing the room's hours may be an option, but eliminating staff and severely restricting access should not be on the table.

As an officer of the SJSU History Club and active voice in collaborations with the SJSU History Department, I have helped build a relationship with the California Room that enriches students' firsthand experience with history. Our students regularly utilize the rare resources in the California Room for their research and tour the collection to learn about career opportunities connecting the public with history, all made possible via the specialized assistance of the room's librarians. In April, at my invitation, a California Room librarian (and SJSU alum) even spoke at the Northern California Regional Phi Alpha Theta Conference on a panel about history careers.

Looking to the future, the SJSU History Department is excited to bring back its Public History courses starting next Fall, which will provide critical support for students seeking careers that preserve and share history for the next generation. The California Room is one of our go-to connections in making this coursework possible, especially because of its location in our shared library and its experienced staff. The California Room is an invaluable resource to SJSU's History Department, Anthropology Department, and to other members of the SJSU community learning the necessary skills of working with primary sources and archival collections, as well as developing their information literacy and public communication skills. As a bridge between the academic and the public, the California Room is irreplaceable, as are its librarians.

Despite its small physical and financial footprint, the California Room's rich collection and dedicated service also draw thousands of non-student visitors every year, from both the immediate community and beyond San José. In doing my own research there, I have shared the space with a diverse public -- from locals discovering the history of their home to out-of-state researchers digging into some particularity of Santa Clara Valley's past that they can't find anywhere else. The California Room staff always go above and beyond to serve, including with the Retro Tech media digitization program and their public talks and exhibits. Community members who may not otherwise visit the collection have the opportunity to digitize their home media for free, preserving their personal histories and creating connections in a compassionate community space. The talks and exhibits hosted by the California Room also make our community history engaging and accessible, often focusing on underrepresented groups. Again, none of this would be possible without dedicated librarians.

Closing this invaluable public resource to save just 0.6% of the overall City Library budget would be a devastating and short-sighted decision, especially as San José prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2027. I'm sure that the city budget is stretched, and that the money could be used elsewhere, but the California Room is a unique and treasured resource that should not be subject to closure. Having worked with various historical groups in the Bay Area, including other library history centers, I know that funding is hard to come by and, once cut, incredibly difficult to regain. Without the specialized knowledge of a dedicated librarian, much of the history in the collection will effectively be lost.

I ask you to protect the California Room, preserve public access to our shared history, and demonstrate that San José values its cultural heritage and civic memory. It is never the right time to limit community access to history, nor to leave it stewardless. In light of current trends attacking history at the federal level, now is an especially dangerous time to do so. Please include MBA #19 in the final FY 2026-27 budget so the California Room can remain partially staffed and open to the public.

Thank you!
Sincerely,
Alona Kostka
District 3, 95112

Outlook
FW: California Room
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:36 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Diane Noonan
Sent: Sunday, June 7,
To: City Clerk
Subject: California Room
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't often get email from . Learn why th is is important Please support the MLK Library's California Room, an incredible civic asset that should be celebrated , not locked away behind closed doors. Budget Addendum #19 proposes a reasonable funding compromise ensllling continued public access and professional stewardship, and I mge you to suppo1t its inclusion in the 2026-27 budget. Open access to the California Room is an essential public service that benefits over five thousand students , educators , planners , historians, genealogists , homeowners, developers, and interested citizens a year.

Should the California Room be allowed to close, an appointment-based system could limit access to fewer than 300 visits a ye,ar and leave whole collections of impo1tant mate1ials inaccessible. Continued 2026-27 funding, even at a reduced level, can be a blidge to leverage community suppo1t for a more sustainable long-term public/private funding model, but only if the California Room remains open and accessible to all.

Sincerely,
Diane Noonan , Campbell, Disttict 4
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Outl ook
FW: Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room t
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:37 AM
To Agendadesk
From: ~
Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2026 1:35 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
City Clerk
Maguire, Jennifer
Bourne, Jill
Dist rict3
Dist rict 6
District8 Dist rict9
District 10 = ?utf-8 ?8?4oCLYWR2b2NhY3k= ?=@preservatio n.org Subject: Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room t
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't ofte n get email from . Learn why this is important I beg of you to support the MLK Library's California Room, an incredible civic asset that should be celebrated , not locked away behind closed doors. Budget Addendum #19 proposes a reasonable funding compromise ensuring continued public access and professional stewardship , and I urge you to support its inclusion in the 2026-27 budget. Open access to the California Room is an essential public service that benefits over five thousand students, educators, planners, historians, genealogists , homeowners, developers, and interested citizens a year. Should the California Room be allowed to close, an appointment-based system could limit access to fewer than 300 visits a year and leave whole collections of important materials inaccessible. Continued 2026-27 funding, even at a reduced level, can be a bridge to leverage support for a more sustainable long-term public/private funding model, but only if the California Room remains open and accessible to all.

The California Room provides a unique and fabulous historical perspective on our city, that provides a greater appreciation of San Jose and the surround ing area. Please ensure it will continue to be open and available to our community.

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

Josephine Hogin
San Jose 05126

Outlook
FW: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:37 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Tabitha Kappeler-Hurley
Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2026 2:24 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan Maguire, Jennifer
City Clerk
District 10
Subject: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget Bourne, Jill
District3
District 6
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't ofte n get email from - · Learn why this is important Hello Mayor Mahan, Ci~ouncil Members,
Please suppo1i the MLK Libraiy's California Room, an incredible civic asset that should be celebrated, not locked away behind closed doors. Budget Addendum #19 proposes a reasonable funding compromise ensuring continued public access and professional stewardship , and I urge you to suppo1i its inclusion in the 2026-27 budget. Open access to the California Room is an essential public service that benefits over five thousand students, educators, planners , historians , genealogists , homeowners, developers, and interested citizens a year. As a public school teacher, I already see the worlds of my students being more limited each day, please do not add another limitation to their leaining. My students and their families do not understand how to access many governmental systems and often cannot make appointments due to work and personal limitations, so having an important resource like the California Room at the MLK Libraiy open as much as possible is ve1y important. Continued 2026-27 funding, even at a reduced level, can be a bridge to leverage community support for a more sustainable long-te1m public/private funding model, but only if the California Room remains open and accessible to all.

Sincerely,
Tabitha Kappeler-Hurley
City Council #6
Outlook
FW: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:38 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Christopher Manning
Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2026 4:35 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
City Clerk
Maguire, Jennifer
Bourne, Jill
District3
District 6
Subject: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don 't often get email from . Learn why this is important Dear Mayor Mahan, City Manager Maguire, and San Jose City Council Members, My name is Chris Manning, and I am a student i Master of Archives and Records Administration program. I also serve as Vice Chairperson for the Santa Clara County Historical Preservation Commission and have been a long time resident of San Jose. I am writing to express my strong personal support for the Martin Luther King Jr. Library's California Room, specifically regarding the need to maintain public access and professional staffing for this vital resource. Budget Addendum #19 offers a practical funding compromise to keep the doors open, and I urge you to support its inclusion in the 2026 2027 budget.

We have already seen the impact of restricted access elsewhere; the Santa Clara County archives are currently available only by appointment. While their staff is excellent, there is no question that these archives are now severely under utilized. The history of our county-one of the most dynamic and influent ial regions in the country-suffers when its primary sources are locked away.

Access by appointment is simply not a substitute for dedicated staffing and open pathways for researchers, educators, and students. Professional staff do more than just monitor a room; they provide expert guidance, institutional knowledge, and essential advocacy that brings history to life for the public. The California Room is more than just a collection of documents, it is a champion for our shared culture and a safeguard for the records of underrepresented groups. By funding the California Room in 2026 2027, even at a reduced level, the City Council provides a necessary bridge for the community to develop a more sustainable long term model. I hope you will strongly consider This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. supporting Budget Addendum #19 during the final budget hearing on June 8th. In an era where information is often filtered through social media or AI, we cannot afford to limit public access to the authentic, documented history of our community.

Kind Regards,
Chris Manning

--
Chris Manning

Outlook
FW: Public Comment on Agenda Item 3.1 for June 8 Public Hearing on Proposed Operating Budget From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:38 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Georgia Bacil
Sent: Sunday, June 7,
To: City Clerk
Cc: The Office f a r
District9 District 10
Subject: Public Comment on Agenda Item 3.1 for June 8 Public Hearing on Proposed Operating Budget [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel Some people who received this message don't ofte n get email from Dear Mayor Mahan and Members of the San Jose City Council, . Learn why this is important
We understand that the City Council will be reviewing the FY 2026-2027 Proposed Operating Budget as Agenda Item #3.1 at your Public Hearing on June 8, 2026.

We hope to participate in the Public Hearing, but if we are not able to do so we also submit these written comments for Agenda Item #3.1.

Senior Adults Legal Assistance (SALA) provides free legal services to San Jose residents 60 or older, targeting clients that are low income or at risk of abuse, isolation, or loss of independence.

SALA and seven other agencies are currently funded by San Jose's Older Adult Health and Wellness (OAHW) program. Our OAHW funded agencies serve a broad cross-section of the City's senior population and offer services at Senior Nutrition Program sites that are culturally appropriate, cost-effective, and health and independence promoting.

We want to thank Mayor Mahan for including $300,000 to sustain Older Adult Health and Wellness (OAHW) funding for 2026-27 in his June 2026 Budget Message. We also want to thank Vice Mayor Foley for her efforts related to this fund ing restoration in BD #24.

The San Jose Senior Citizens Commission recognized the importance of Older Adult Health and Wellness services in their Budget Priorities Recommendations in MBA #2, where the Commission stated:

This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. “Health and Wellness Grants are part of a vital service oﬀered by PRNS. The Department continues to focus on recreation activities while utilizing partnerships to oﬀer services that are not recreation based. These services, such as legal, health which includes mental health, protection from abuse, and important community resources are vital and support the well-being of older adults in our community.”

We urge the San Jose City Council to support the recommendation to sustain Older Adult Health and Wellness (OAHW) funding in the Mayor’s June 2026 Budget Message.

Respectfully submitted,

Georgia Bacil
Directing Attorney
Senior Adults Legal Assist
ance (SALA)

NOTICE:

This email message and/or its attachments may contain information that is conﬁdential or restricted. It is intended only for the individuals named as recipients in the message. This entire message constitutes a privileged and conﬁdential communication pursuant to California Evidence Code Section 952 and California Code of Civil Procedure Section 2018. If you are NOT an authorized recipient, you are prohibited from using, delivering, distributing, printing, copying, or disclosing the message or content to others and must delete the message from your computer. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by return email.

Outl ook
FW: Please Fund the California Room library and maintain public access From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:39 AM
To Agendadesk
From:

Sent: Sunday, J
To: City Clerk
Subject: Please Fund the California Room library and maintain public access [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't often get email from - · Learn why th is is importan t I am a registered Sa~ Clara County voter for more than 60 years.

I implore all city officials to maintain funding for the California Room to remain open to the public at our MLK library.

Even if funding amounts must be reduced in next year's budget, this ever-so valuable resource needs to be recognized and upheld for use by the citizenry and for the good of the general public welfare.

It is particularly vital at this time when information has become the basic resource of our region's economy - and also central to the existence of democratic government everywhere.

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

Outlook
FW: June 8 City Council Meeting Agenda Item No. 3.1
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:40 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Maria Lynch
Sent: Sunday, June 7,
To: City Clerk
Cc:

Subject: June 8 City Council Meeting Agenda Item No. 3.1 [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't often get email from- · Learn why this is important Hi. My name is Maria Ly~ent of Michael Mulcahy's and I am also a member of SURJ, Santa Clara County and Democrats For Palestinian Rights Bay Area. I am writing to urge city Council to support the Campos, Ortiz, Candelas, Casey memo and allocate the full $IM to immigration organizations now so that they can continue to protect our most vulnerable neighbors. A city as diverse as San Jose must stand behind our immigrant neighbors and be a leader in the fight against ICE and the Trnmp administration ,
Regards,
Maria Lynch
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Outlook
FW: June 8 City Council Meeting Agenda 3.1
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:40 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Maria Lynch
Sent: Sunday, June 7,
To: City Clerk
Subject: June 8 City Council Meeting Agenda 3.1
The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't often get email from-. Learn why th is is important Hi. My name is Maria Ly~ent of Michael Mulcahy's and I am also a member of SURJ, Santa Clara County and Democrats For Palestinian Rights Bay Area. I am writing to urge city Council to restore funding to the California Room at the MLK libra1y. I used that library as a student at SJSU and all of my fellow San Jose residents should have the same opportunity as I did. Please support the Tordillos, Kamei and Cohen memo.

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

Outlook
FW: June 8th City Council Meeting Agenda Item 3.1
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:40 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Maria Lynch
Sent: Sunday, June ,
To: City Clerk
Subject: June 8th City Council Meeting Agenda Item 3.1
The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn more] You don't often get email from - - Learn why th is is important Hi. My name is Maria Ly~ent of Michael Mulcahy's and I am also a member of SURJ, Santa Clara County and Democrats For Palestinian Rights Bay Area. I am writing to urge city Council to stop towing, sweeping and criminalizing our unhoused neighbors. We have an affordability and housing problem that the city has not addressed properly and swept both the Jungle and Columbus Park with unnecessaiy cruelty and with little regai·d for the humanity of the residents. Punishing people with parking tickets who are just hying to survive is cruel and a complete waste of our tax payer dollai·s.

Regards
Mai·ia Lynch
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Outlook
FW: June 8th City Council Meeting Agenda Item 3.1
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:40 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Maria Lynch
Sent: Sunday, June 7,
To: City Clerk
Subject: June 8th City Council Meeting Agenda Item 3.1
The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel Hi. My name is Maria Lynch. I am a constituent of Michael Mulcahy's and I am also a member of SURJ, Santa Clara County and Democrats For Palestinian Rights Bay Area. I am writing to urge the City Council to support the Campos, 01tiz, Candelas and Casey memo and make affordability a key focus area with metrics .

Regards,
Maria Lynch
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Outlook
FW: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:41 AM
To Agendadesk
From: ._
Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2026 9:38 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
Subject: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't often get email from- . Learn why this is important City Clerk
Please suppo1i the MLK Library's California Room, an incredible civic asset that should be celebrated, not locked away behind closed doors. Budget Addendum #19 proposes a reasonab le funding compromise ensuring continued public access and professional stewai·dship, and I urge you to suppo1i its inclusion in the 2026-27 budget. Open access to the California Room is an essential public service that benefits over five thousand students, educators, planners , historians, genealogists, homeowners, developers, and interested citizens a year. Should the California Room be allowed to close, an appointment-based system could limit access to fewer than 300 visits a y ear and leave whole collections of important materials inaccess ible. Continued 2026-27 funding, even at a reduced level, can be a bridge to leverage community suppo1i for a more sustainable long-term public/private funding model, but only if the California Room remains open and accessible to all.

Sincerely,
Bill Pfahnl
District 9
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Outlook
FW: opinion of a budget cut and misc.

From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:41 AM
To Agendadesk
From: SG Clifford-Aning
Sent: Sunday, June 7, 20
To: District9 City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: opinion of a budget cut and misc.
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't ofte n get email from-. Learn why this is important Original message sent ~ek. Copying City Clerk to be included in public comment.

Thank you,
Sharon Clifford
District 9 resident
Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:

From: SG Clifford-Aning
Date: May 31, 2026 at 9:3
To: District
Subject: Re: opinion o a
Hello Councilmember Pam Foley,
>
I hope you and your staff had a wonderful weekend. I know you had an email that sent out asking if your constituents their opinion for balancing the budget. One disappointing service that our taxes have been paying for quite some time and quite frankly, is a waste of our tax payer dollars, is street sweeping.

Because they use very little water to clean the street, the sweeper just pushes the dirt and debris along the street. For example, just recently the street sweeper pushed smashed oranges in front of our home which we had to clean up. The sweeper also doesn't sweep the gutter where all the dirt is accumulated.

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This is one budget cut that I don’t believed will be missed.

Thank you,
Sharon Clifford
District 9 resident.

Sent from my iPad

Outl ook
FW: Council Meeting 6/8/26, Agenda Item 3.1
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:42 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Kathryn Hedges
Sent: Monday, June 8, 20 6 1:0
To: City Clerk
Cc: The Offi ce f a r
Subject: Council Meeti ng 6/8/ 26, Agenda Item 3.1
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel Dear Mayor, Vice-Mayor, and Councilmembers:

I am a local voter and member of SURJ Santa Clara County.

When I was working on organizing my neighbors in Donner Lofts, I learned that about half our residents were immigrants who primarily spoke Spanish. Some were blue collar workers, some were caregivers , some were service workers, and others were retired or disabled. They just wanted to have a peaceful life like you and I do.

I was very worried when I heard there was an ICE raid at the building and relieved when that turned out to be a false alarm, because ICE doesn't care if someone's a naturalized immigrant, a green card holder, or any other status including citizens. San Jose is home to Mexican families whose ancestors lived here before Californ ia became a state but I'm sure all ICE cares about is whether or not they're Brown.

Everyone at City Hall talks a good game about racial equity and how much they care about immigrants. That's why I never expected to hear that San Jose is behind on paying out the promised support to the Rapid Response Network and other immigrant support agencies. I demand that the City support the Campos, Ortiz, Candelas, and Casey memo and pay the full $1 million in FY 2026-27 funding up front because ICE has been quite active and we are now facing the development of a larger regional ICE processing center in Gilroy. They need to be ready to protect our immigrant community against this foreseeable threat, not operating on a skeleton crew without adequate outreach funds.

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I have also been following updates about the City continuing to sweep and tow our unhoused neighbors despite their failure to match them with appropriate housing as promised. This is not a drug or crime issue, this is an affordability issue. Rents are too high to afford on disability income, Social Security, or service wages. (Yes, a lot of unhoused people work but still can't afford to move into housing.) People lose their housing when the rent goes up too much or they miss a paycheck or have a sudden emergency expense and they can't find anything else they can afford.

The City needs to track the progress of housing affordability by making affordability a key focus area within its metrics, by supporting the Campos, Ortiz, Doan, Candelas, and Casey memo.

Additionally, I have long been proud of the resources collected and maintained in the California Room at the downtown MLK Library. Please support the Kamei, Tordillos, and Cohen memo to restore full funding. This is a small amount to pay to preserve these valuable historical resources.

Sincerely,

Kathryn Hedges

Outlook
FW: YES to full allocation of $1million funding for immigration Services From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:42 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Marjorie Sieg
Sent: Monda
District3
District 6
District9
Subject: YES to full allocation of $1million funding for immigration Services [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't often get email from . Learn why this is important Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
Please add my comment to the public record, if possible.

District4
District?
My name is Marjorie Siegel, and I'm a resident of District 8. Thank you to Mayor Mahan for including $1 million for immigration services in the budget proposal. However, we need to fully allocate these funds to community organizations on the ground doing the work, not directing half of it to a reserve fund. We urge the council to adopt the memo authored by Councilmembers Ortiz, Candelas , Campos, and Casey.

San Jose has been greatly impacted by immigration enforcement. There have been times when ICE disappeared ten or more of our residents in a single day. I have personally witnessed some of these actions as a Rapid Response Network volunteer at their routine ICE check-ins on. Blossom Hill Road.

Fortunately the RRN was able to notify their loved ones, connect them with legal aide, and provide support to their family. Already stretched too thin, these resources absolutely must continue.

Santa Clara County is experiencing three times more detentions than any other county in the Bay Area.

San Jose is the most impacted city in our county, with detentions impacting residents from across 22 zip This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. codes – a stark reminder that no community within the city is insulated. The threat from the federal government has not gone away and our communities still need these services to stay here in this city and united with their families. This funding is not just about legal support, it's about honoring our values and ensuring everyone can thrive.

Thank you for your leadership on this critical issue. I urge you to allocate the full $1M to immigration organizations now so that they have the capacity and time to build up to protect our most vulnerable neighbors. Our immigrant community can’t wait

Respectfully,

Marjorie Siegel

San Jose, CA 95135

San Jose Downtown Association
28 N. First Street, Suite 1000
San Jose, CA 95113

sjdowntown.com
408.279.1775

June 6, 2026
Mayor Mahan & Members of San Jose City Council
City of San Jose
200 E. Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA 95113

Re: Support of June Budget Message
Dear Mayor Mahan and Members of the San Jose City Council:

Downtown San Jose is the economic, cultural, and civic heart of our city, and its continued recovery is essential to San Jose's long-term prosperity. On behalf of the San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA) and our Property and Business Improvement District (PBID) Boards of Directors, I write to express our strong support for the Mayor's FY 2026-2027 June Budget Message as presented and to thank you for prioritizing investments that strengthen Downtown and the community it serves.

While Downtown has experienced meaningful momentum in recent years, our recovery remains incomplete. Office occupancy continues to lag pre-pandemic levels, many small businesses continue to operate in a challenging environment, and the success of our urban core depends on sustained public and private investment. The initiatives included in this budget recognize Downtown's role as an economic engine for the entire city and demonstrate a commitment to creating a safer, more welcoming, and more vibrant place for residents, workers, businesses, and visitors.

Stitching Districts - The Stitching Districts initiative is already demonstrating the value of physically and programmatically connecting Downtown's neighborhoods. By improving walkability, activation, and the public realm, the program strengthens safety and the sense of place that supports local businesses and encourages exploration across Downtown. The City's current $250,000 investment in Stitching Districts along Sharks Way and adjacent areas was leveraged to invest more than $1M in private funds towards public space and parks improvement projects.

Downtown Patron Safety - The proposed pilot of ID scanning technology is a targeted, data-driven approach that will help participating establishments manage disruptive behavior while improving the experience and safety for patrons, employees, and neighboring businesses. SJDA looks forward to partnering with local operators to implement the program and measure its effectiveness.

Downtown Bike Lane Beautification - Beautification and landscaping improvements will ensure these corridors contribute not only to mobility but also to the sense of place, neighborhood pride, and welcoming environment that supports residents, workers, and businesses.

Holiday Ice Skating - This year marks the 30th anniversary of one of San Jose's signature civic traditions. Continued investment in this destination event will bring families, residents, and visitors into the heart of Downtown during the holiday season, supporting local restaurants, retailers, and hotels, and reinforcing Downtown as the region's gathering place.

Outlook
FW: June 8th City Council Agenda Item 3.1
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 7:45 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Chris Dunlap
Sent: Monday, June 8,
To: City Clerk
Subject: June 8th City Council Agenda Item 3.1
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't often get email from-· Learn why this is important To the Members of the ~ouncil:

My name is Christopher Dunlap, and I am a Santa Clara County voter & active member of SURJ Santa Clara County and Grace Lutheran Church in Palo Alto.

As the county seat of the sixth largest count}!. bl!, GDP in the entire United States, San Jose must be accountable to all of its residents, housed or unhoused.

And as the county seat of one of America's most vibrant and attractive places to live, San Jose must offer its residents protection from the egregious overreach of federal immigration enforcement operations. This issue is particularly close to me, as I live and work in communities powered and enlivened by immigrant families who have committed no crime; like any non Indigenous people in the United States, they or their ancestors came to live the American dream of greater prosperity and peace. May San Jose's City Council take action to help make sure this dream doesn't become the American nightmare, as it has for so many under an authoritarian president motivated by toxic "White replacement" ideology, directing ICE agents, unaccountable to local or state courts, capable of and willing to murder in service of their profoundly racist and unconscionable "mission."
I urge all members of City Council to support the Campos, Ortiz, Candelas, Casey Memo to allocate the full $1 million to immigration organizations now so that they can continue to protect our most vulnerable neighbors from disappearance and family separation. San Jose must meet this moment with the urgency that it demands; ICE is ramping up operations in Gilroy and Dublin, and three times more Santa Clara County residents have been deported compared with any other county in the Bay Area.

The City of San Jose has a well-known problem with affordability, and must focus on providing resources to those struggling in tough economic times, not punishing people merely struggling This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. to survive, feed their families, and pay their rent in one of the highest-priced communities in our nation. The City Council must stop San José's aggressive towing, sweeping, and criminalization of our unhoused neighbors.

This is a racial justice issue in addition to a
profound economic justice problem, as the consequences of aggressive overnight parking enforcement, violent sweeps of unhoused encampments, and such actions fall disproportionately on our neighbors of color and those without White privilege. Sadly, San José city leadership and its mayor Matt Mahan have a
terrible track record of going back on their
promises to protect our unhoused neighbors; now is a chance to begin to repair the breach.

Tonight, I urge the City Council to allocate the full $1 million for immigrant support services and to stop aggressive operations against our unhoused neighbors. San José can certainly afford racial and economic justice for its most vulnerable citizens.

Sincerely,

Christopher Dunlap
Mountain View, CA

Outlook
FW: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 8:51 AM
To Agendadesk
From: nancymo~ <nancymo~
Sent: Monday, June 8, 2026 8:42 AM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
City Clerk
District 10
Maguire, Jennifer
Bourne, Jill
District3
District 6
Subject: June 8 Final Hearing Item 3.1 / California Room - Library Budget [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't often get email from . Learn why th is is important Please support the MLK Library's California Room, an incredible civic asset that should be celebrated, not locked away behind closed doors. Budget Addendum #19 proposes a reasonable funding compromise ensuring continued public access and professional stewardship, and I urge you to support its inclusion in the 2026-27 budget.

Open access to the California Room is an essential public service that benefits over five thousand students, educators, planners, historians, genealogists, homeowners, developers, and interested citizens a year. As someone who deeply values historical preservation and research, having this dedicated space open to the community is vital. Should the California Room be allowed to close, an appointment based system could limit access to fewer than 300 visits a year and leave whole collections of important materials inaccessible.

Continued 2026-27 funding , even at a reduced level, can be a bridge to leverage community support for a more sustainable long-term public/private funding model, but only if the California Room remains open and accessible to all.

Sincerely,
Nancy Moffett
Outlook
FW: In Support of California Room
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/2026 8:51 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Sarah Kishler
Sent: Monday, June 8,
To: Districts
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: In Support of Californi a Room
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel Dear Mr. Ortiz,
I am a district 5 resident (ZIP Code 95116) and have already written into the city clerk/city council twice to urge everyone to keep the California Room at the MLK Library open and with its current staff in place, as their expertise is part of what makes the California Room a standout resource for the City of San Jose. I understand that tonight is maybe the last chance for public comment on the matter, but as I will be unable to attend, I just wanted to write to you as my District representative to ask for you to support the California Room. I understand each department was asked to propose budget cuts but I sincerely believe this is not the right resource to eliminate . Thank you!
Sincerely,
Sarah Kishler, San Jose Resident
---------- Forwarded messaQe --------
From: Sarah Kishler
Date: Mon, Jun 1, 202 a
Subject: In Support of California Room
To: City of San Jose Mayor's Office
Hello,
>
>
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

I am an SJPL staff member, but today I am writing to you as a San Jose resident to express my support for keeping the California Room at the MLK Library open to the public with dedicated staff. I was fortunate to listen to California Room librarian Michael Lara speak about the history of Japantown a few days ago, and his passion and knowledge is a treasure. I feel it would be such a shame to remove his expertise from the California Room. California Room staff member Ralph Pearce is another fountain of knowledge who has produced many fascinating writings about the history of San Jose. San Jose residents interested in our city's and state's history are so lucky to have them where they are, and to have the California Room open to visitors who can walk in and explore its amazing collection, with the chance to make serendipitous discoveries that could not be possible by making appointments. Being able to access the help of staff who specifically specialize in these archives is also one of the things that make the San Jose Public Library's main location stand out as truly special.

I agree with the Preservation Action Council of San Jose's statement below. Thank you for taking my thoughts and concerns into your consideration.

Sincerely,

Sarah Kishler, San Jose Resident
I urge you to maintain funding for the California Room at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in the 2026–27 budget. For more than a century, the California Room and its dedicated librarians have preserved the history of San José and Santa Clara Valley through an irreplaceable collection of books, photographs, maps, archives, and historical records explored by thousands of students, educators, researchers, and community members every year. Closing this invaluable public resource to save just 0.6% of the overall City Library budget would be a devastating and short-sighted decision, especially as San José prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2027.

I ask you to protect the California Room, preserve public access to our shared history, and demonstrate that San José values its cultural heritage and civic memory.

Sincerely,

Outlook
FW: California Room - Library Department Budget
From City Clerk
Date Mon 6/8/ 2026 10:02 AM
To Agendadesk
From: Anna Lara
Sent: Monday, June 8, 2026 9:35 AM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
Subject: Californ ia Room - Library Department Budget
[External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel You don't often get email from
Hello,
. Learn why this is important
I urge you to maintain funding for the California Room at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in the 2026 27 budget. For more than a centmy, the California Room and its dedicated librarians have preserved the history of San Jose and Santa Clara Valley through an irreplaceable collection of books, photographs, maps, archives, and historical records explored by thousands of students, educators, researchers , and community members eveiy year. Closing this invaluable public resource to save just o.6% of the overall City Library budget would be a devastating and short-sighted decision, especially as San Jose prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversaiy in 2027. I ask you to protect the California Room, preserve public access to our shai·ed history, and demonstrate that San Jose values its cultural heritage and CIVIC memory.
<;incerely, Anna Lai·a District 7
This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

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

ICE facilities looming in the South and East Bay, these funds are urgently needed.Overall, acknowledging the city's affordability crisis, direct the city's actions toward providing resources — not towing, sweeping, or criminalizing our unhoused neighbors and punishing people struggling to survive.

Support the Campos, Ortiz, Doan, Candelas, Casey Memo and make affordability a key focus area with clear metrics. In addition, acknowledging the city's affordability crisis, direct the city's actions toward providing resources — not towing, sweeping, or criminalizing our unhoused neighbors and punishing people struggling to survive.

Support the Kamei, Tordillos, Cohen Memo and restore funding to the California Room at the MLK Library. Public access to this one-of-a-kind resource is immeasurably valuable — for academic research and for deepening our understanding of our full history and the systems we live in and are working to improve. Funds are tighter than usual this year, but the money saved by shuttering it is a drop in the bucket.

Thank you for continuing to pore through the budget, and for listening intently to the community's priorities.

Regards, Karen Matsueda
--
“We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond.” -Gwendolyn Brooks

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

Sincerely,
Teresa Ponikvar, LMFT

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

Also, restore the funding for the California Room at the MLK Library. Without knowing and understanding San Jose's past, we will not be able to grow into the future that the city promises.

Thank you,
--Rebekah Jensen

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

Thank you for your time, consideration, and service to our community.

Sincerely,
Analyn Bones
San Jose Resident, Artist, and community advocate

This message is from outside the City email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. www.vaousa.org
San Jose, California

THINK GREEN!
P please don't print this e-mail unless absolutely necessary.

This e-mail message may contain proprietary, confidential or legally privileged information for the sole use of the person or entity to whom this message was originally addressed.

Any review, e-transmission dissemination or other use of or taking of any action in reliance upon this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, kindly delete this e-mail from your records. If it appears that this mail has been forwarded to you without proper authority, please notify
immediately and delete this mail.

Celebrating heritage. Building futures. Strengthening communities. Vietnamese American Organization Mailing: 1750 Lundy Ave Unit 612066, San Jose, CA 95161. A non-profit organization. EIN 83-4209351 Tel: (408) 800-1230 Website: www.vaousa.org

Rooted in Culture. Driven by Community.
5/17/2026
To:

Mayor and Members of the San Jose City Council
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

Subject: Vietnamese and AAPI Communities Must Not Be Excluded from Immigration Defense Funding
Dear San Jose City Mayor, Councilmembers, and Santa Clara County Supervisors We write with deep frustration and concern regarding the continued exclusion of Vietnamese and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities from immigration legal defense funding and deportation defense investments in Santa Clara County.

Vietnamese and AAPI immigrants are also directly impacted by harsh federal immigration enforcement policies. Families in our communities continue to face ICE enforcement, detention, deportation, and family separation. Many residents and refugees remain vulnerable to removal proceedings, often without meaningful access to legal representation or culturally competent support services.

We recognize that the City of San Jose has proposed preserving approximately $1 million for immigration-related services and that the County of Santa Clara has allocated more than $6 million toward immigration support efforts.

However, despite these significant public investments, little to none of these resources appear to be directed toward the legal services most urgently needed within Vietnamese and AAPI communities — particularly post-conviction relief (PCR) and immigration motions to reopen (MTR).

Our concern is not whether funding exists — it clearly does. Our concern is that available funding has not been allocated in a way that adequately serves all impacted communities, including Vietnamese and AAPI residents facing deportation risks and immigration-related legal barriers.

True equity is not simply about announcing funding amounts. It is about ensuring those investments actually reach underserved communities with the greatest unmet needs.

Vietnamese and AAPI immigrants continue to face additional barriers navigating the legal system due to language access challenges, cultural stigma, insufficient community engagement, and underinvestment in trusted community-based support systems.

San Jose City CouncilJune 8, 2026

San Jose City Council
June 8, 2026