Protest of the Mayor of San Jose

Opinion by Dave Johnson, SVGOP Chairman

While all local residents would likely agree that homelessness is a problem, stoking the flames of the City’s efforts to deal with the issue are off track.

We are speaking specifically of the recent protest arranged by a local group to meet at Carrabelle Park in San Jose so that the protesters could march over to the mayor’s house.

The logic behind this is curious, because the language used in the flyer is itself defamatory and factually incorrect.  The language used in the approved legislation by the City council removes the ability by the City to arrest any homeless person who refuses shelter three times in 18 months and now says that a homeless person who refuses shelter “cannot be arrested”, unless they are trespassing or committing other violations or crimes.  How about dealing with "petty" theft?

Local advocacy groups are effective in “stoking the flames”, while the larger issues of the high cost of housing, high taxes and other city and state-caused issues are the more likely culprit.  The City of San Jose must do a better job to fight homelessness to be sure.  Taking over local hotels will only erode any remaining support the mayor has. 

Instead of marching to the mayor’s house, those who do not like or approve of local policies should instead march to City Hall or Sacramento to protest the local and state Legislators who are the real cause of the high cost of housing, taxes and crime.

Regards,

Dave Johnson
SVGOP Chairman
408 540-540-8984