Explanation of grades in 2023-2025

COPA
A vote for Community Opportunity to Purchase (COPA) is good because it would give low-income renters the chance to pool resources and purchase long-term stability for themselves and their families.

Measure E
Voting to protect Measure E was good because it’s the city’s only dedicated funding to jumpstart affordable permanent housing projects. Permanent is the only actual solution to our homelessness crisis.

Mahan’s Cruel Plan
Supporting the mayor’s proposal to arrest unhoused residents who decline certain city services criminalizes people for being homeless and threatens to make it harder for them to ever get housed.

Shelters
Pushing for shelters is bad because they don’t work and are bad for people.

Interpersonal Violence Pilot
A vote to include this project in the budget was good because people harmed by domestic violence will be able to get support without involving the police if that’s what they choose. This is a small step to a safer community. 2025 update: After most of the money was wasted on a consultant report we didn’t need, the mayor led the council to spike the pilot program

Independent Police Auditor
Voting to limit the power of the independent police auditor was bad because it preserves more power for law enforcement to police themselves.

Use of Force
A vote to track pulling a gun as a “use of force” was good because it is a simple common sense measure of accountability.

Funding TRUST
A vote to fund TRUST was good because TRUST means people in crisis get mental and physical healthcare and police resources are reserved for appropriate deployment.

Violence Prevention
Supporting an office of violence prevention is good because the city needs better coordination in its programming and is missing out on funding, and building healthy communities is the best way to end violence.

Immigration
The entire council deserves credit for investing money and standing up to ICE to support and protect our immigrant neighbors.

Wage Theft
A vote to protect workers against wage theft and create accountability for employers who do it is a good vote.

To earn an A in 2026 the mayor and council should take these actions:

Housing, Homelessness and Tenant Protections

• Adopt a policy and provide funding for “right to counsel” and/or other supports for tenants facing eviction

• Expand safe parking for people living in recreational vehicles and end the useless RV ban

• Rally community support for a revenue measure in 2028 to raise the money we need for interim shelter and permanent housing

Community Safety

• Create an “Office of Violence Prevention” or something similar to have non-police oversight of alternative models and programs to increase community safety

• Continue funding Santa Clara County to expand TRUST access in San José

• Create an equitable program to deploy speed cameras and prioritize traffic safety investments wherever cameras are placed

• Use a deep analysis of 911 calls to identify types of calls that can be best handled by people without guns, and continue efforts to divert calls from 911 to 988 and TRUST.

• Increase investments in BEST programs that help students build a bright future and increase safety in our neighborhoods.

• Continue using every legal and financial tool available to protect our immigrant neighbors from the federal government.

Economic Justice and Good Governance

• Now that the city has an equity standards policy, actually use it in policy and budget decisions

• All additions or cuts to the city budget preserve services with an eye toward racial and economic justice.

• Make good on a recent resolution to help working families have affordable childcare