Matt Mahan Continues to Push Falsehoods
By David G. Johnson
“Safest Big City”
This is the one statement that San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan repeats with great frequency. Why? Perhaps at one point this was true, but it is no longer the case. Our recent review of more than 10 “safest cities” lists found that in NOT ONE instance, was San Jose on the list.
San Jose has an underfunded and understaffed police department with low enrollment and low cadet graduation rates. The cadets do not want to work in San Jose, because they cannot afford to live in San Jose. The police staffing is so low that if there is a crime or accident in one part of the city, officers must be pulled from another part of the city to help out. No overtime is permitted, due to budgetary issues. And on and on. This has been a problem for years. It is getting worse and Mahan has done nothing to fix it.
The lack of having an adequately sized police force directly affects the homelessness and drug issues that come as a result of lack of funding and staffing. One last note: Violent crime in San Jose is up 50% year over year and the COST of that crime is higher here than almost anywhere else.
Homelessness
One of the recent low-income shelters built in San Jose was funded by a $100,000 grant. There are 200 units, built essentially out of modular structures stacked on top of each other. If that sounds bad, it is – and even worse, as one year after completion there are leaking sewage pipes and mold everywhere, as well as rampant crime and drug-dealing. The CEO of “Housing First” who built the shelter recently stepped down from his position due to pushback from citizens.
The homelessness problem in San Jose is getting worse, not better, as the new 5/8 cent tax increase, backed by Mayor Mahan, went into effect on April 1st, helping to raise the cost of living in San Jose to those who can least afford it.
Actual numbers on homelessness remain flat, and no spin or headlines will fix that trend.
Building New Housing
“We’ve approved 20,000 new homes”. This carefully worded phrase was used in the debate. And the difference between approval and completion are two completely different things. For example, Planning Department approvals take 6, 7 or 8 months – or longer. By the time the concept is approved, the economics of the development may no longer work. Construction material costs are always rising, which contributes to the overall cost. In addition, building codes and state regulations also push the cost up, and the permitting process for a typical inspection is around 3 weeks, which slows progress. The permitting process in San Jose is getting WORSE, not better and everyone in the construction industry knows that to be true. Again, another falsehood perpetrated by the mayor.
Conclusion: We already know that Mayor Mahan has been FOR every tax increase that has come along. San Jose is not business friendly due to continuously rising costs and regulations. Restaurants are closing. Crime is allowed and theft is permitted and not prosecuted. And, the underfunded police officers are simply trying their best to keep some semblance of order. All the while roads continue to crumble. This is Matt Mahan’s fingerprint on this city and one main reason he should never be our governor. These things are NOT Trump’s fault.
