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SJPD’s woes infect
a whole community
The San Jose Police Department continues to be an embarrassment to our city.
When an organization’s employees can’t even stay sober for their shifts, it shows a complete inability to instill even basic judgment. When those employees carry weapons through our neighborhoods and make life and death decisions as part of their job, that complete lack of judgment is a direct and immediate danger to our families.
Remember that this is a department that promoted someone who gunned down an unarmed man to its highest position. We all understand that public safety and law enforcement are necessary and important functions of local government, but SJPD has repeatedly shown itself to be incapable of upholding even the lowest standards.
The fact that a family called SJPD for help in their time of need and were sent a man with a gun who performed sex acts in their home should be completely unacceptable to anyone.
Alden Breckfield
San Jose
Meeting cancellation
shakes immigrants’ faith
The recent decision by the Rules Committee to cancel a study session on noncitizen voting in San Jose is undermining immigrant and Latino empowerment.
When welfare reform disqualified 51,000 legal immigrants from receiving SSI and food stamps in 1996, they were required to become citizens to receive these life-sustaining benefits – and to vote.
With Jim Beall spearheading the Santa Clara County Citizenship Initiative, I was hired to lead an effort resulting in thousands of immigrants receiving exemptions from the “100 questions” of history and government. This enhanced democracy in our county.
The location of the Atlantic Ocean will not be particularly relevant to noncitizen voters in San Jose either. What matters is access to electing local representatives and deciding local ballot measures.
Already distrustful of the federal gutting of immigration reform and Build Back Better, the city would be remiss if it too exacerbates local immigrant distrust.
Richard Hobbs
Executive Director, Human Agenda
San Jose
Dev Davis possesses
right skills for mayor
Dev Davis demonstrates effective leadership through measured, thoughtful actions and by engaging the community. Davis, with support from Councilwoman Pam Foley, assured that the Council held a study session that resulted in an urgency ordinance limiting the adverse impacts of state-mandated SB 9 to four units versus up to 10 units. She managed this despite efforts by Councilmembers Chappie Jones, David Cohen, Sylvia Arenas and Raul Peralez to quash a discussion of SB 9 in the Council.
She successfully opened Vermont House (housing for formerly homeless veterans). She engaged with District 6 faith-based communities to increase the availability of homeless services. She uses community advisory groups to address and consider community concerns on proposals. She is the type of leader San José needs in a mayor – intelligent, thoughtful, engaged with the community and working for the best for our city, even when others are working at the behest of outside pressure groups.
Sandra Delvin
San Jose
A slate of candidates
worthy of your vote
Big money is being devoted just to elect the weakest big-city mayor in America. The four major candidates in the San Jose mayor’s race reported raising a total of $2.3 million. On top of that, the 49ers have committed $300,000 and the Common Good Silicon Valley PAC has raised over $400,000, much of which will likely be spent in support of their favored candidate. It gives us pause and makes us wonder what the various contributors hope to gain…or avoid.
Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility looks for candidates we believe will focus our tax dollars on delivering the core services that we deserve: public safety, good roads and parks. We believe the following candidates will focus on those priorities and urge you to vote for them.
Mayor: Dev Davis
Council District 1: Ramona Snyder
Council District 3: Irene Smith
Council District 5: H.G. Nguyen
Council District 7: Bien Doan
Council District 9: Pam Foley.
Pat Waite
President, Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility
San Jose
Source: www.mercurynews.com