Policy Updates

Building Housing While Protecting Neighborhoods: Item 10.3 / 8.18.2026 City Council Meeting

At the August 18th San José City Council meeting, Council considered the General Plan Four-Year Review Policy Framework, including a proposal to significantly increase housing capacity in Residential Neighborhood areas.

I support San José’s goal of producing more housing and recognize the need for additional housing options. But I do not believe a blanket increase in density is appropriate, particularly in established single-family neighborhoods.

That is why I voted no.

Our neighborhoods were not all designed for this level of additional density. In many areas, we lack the infrastructure needed to support significant increases in housing, and we cannot guarantee adequate emergency and safety access on every street. We need to be realistic about the capacity of our roads, utilities, parking, transit, and public safety infrastructure before fundamentally changing the character of established neighborhoods.

I continue to believe that a more thoughtful approach is to focus new housing around high-quality transportation, major corridors, transit routes, Urban Villages, and other areas already planned for greater intensity. We can add housing while making strategic investments in infrastructure and transportation, rather than applying the same density standard across neighborhoods with very different conditions. Increasing density around transit corridors to the maximum extent feasible to meet RHNA requirements would allow San José to meet RHNA requirements while limiting the impact on parking, traffic, and other city residents who may not want higher density in their neighborhoods.

I also proposed deferring the Council’s vote for four weeks to allow additional community meetings and engagement. Residents deserve a meaningful opportunity to understand what is being proposed, ask questions, and share their concerns before decisions are made that could permanently affect their neighborhoods.

The Council ultimately voted 8–3 to advance the General Plan Four-Year Review Policy Framework, with Councilmembers Domingo Candelas, George Casey, and I voting no. This was not the final adoption of the General Plan changes, and additional work and community engagement will take place before the final amendments return to the Planning Commission and City Council.

As we plan for San José’s future, we must also recognize that housing is a regional issue. San José cannot, and should not be, expected to solve the region’s housing needs alone. Neighboring cities must do their fair share. San José is already suffering from the effects of a housing-and-jobs imbalance, with the concentration of jobs in our city contributing to traffic, congestion, and pressure on our infrastructure and neighborhoods.

We can support housing growth while protecting the neighborhoods that make San José a great place to live. I will continue to advocate for a balanced, responsible approach that puts new housing where it makes the most sense, ensures our infrastructure can support it, and protects the safety and character of our communities.

Advocating for Federal Funding to Open Fire Station 32

Keeping our neighborhoods safe means ensuring our firefighters have the resources they need to respond quickly when emergencies happen. That’s why I recently wrote a letter in strong support of the San José Fire Department’s application for a $3.3 million FEMA SAFER Grant to fund the seven firefighter positions needed to activate Fire Station 32.

As both your District 7 Councilmember and a former San José Fire Captain, I know firsthand how critical response times are. Our community continues to grow, and existing stations—particularly Fire Station 26—are among the busiest in the city. Opening Fire Station 32 would help reduce response times, improve emergency coverage in a high-demand area, and provide much-needed support for our firefighters.

Although Fire Station 32 was strategically planned to serve this growing part of San José, staffing the station has been delayed due to budget constraints. Securing this federal funding would allow the City to put the station into service without placing the full financial burden on local taxpayers.

I am proud to advocate for this investment in public safety and will continue working with our federal partners to bring resources back to San José. Our residents deserve fast, reliable emergency response, and supporting Fire Station 32 is an important step toward achieving that goal.

Supporting Housing for All Essential Workers

Earlier this year, the City Council approved the LIVE (Lower Income Voucher and Equity) Program, an innovative workforce housing initiative designed to help lower- and moderate-income households afford housing in San José. The program includes nearly 200 apartments and gives preference to public employees, recognizing the important role they play in serving our community.

During the February Council meeting, I supported the creation of the LIVE Program but advocated for expanding any workforce housing preference to include all essential public servants—including firefighters, police officers, and teachers—rather than limiting it to a single profession. I believe the housing affordability challenges facing San José impact many of the dedicated individuals who keep our city safe, educate our children, and provide critical public services.

Following additional legal review, the Council considered a proposal on April 7 to establish a housing preference specifically for San José Police Department personnel. While I remain deeply supportive of our police officers and their recruitment and retention needs, I voted against the motion because it did not reflect the broader, inclusive approach I had advocated for previously.

My position has remained consistent throughout this process: San José should invest in housing solutions that strengthen our entire public workforce. Police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other essential public employees all contribute to the safety, well-being, and success of our community, and I will continue working toward policies that recognize and support all who serve our residents.

Progress on Fireworks Prevention & Drone Pilot Launch - Summer 2025

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible work being done by our Fire Department, Police Department, City Attorney’s Office, Code Enforcement, and other City staff to improve public safety and enforcement efforts in our community. One of the most innovative initiatives underway is the launch of a drone pilot program aimed at addressing the persistent issue of illegal fireworks—particularly during high-risk times like the Fourth of July.

For months, my District 7 team has worked closely with the All District Leadership Group, Code Enforcement from the City of Elk Grove, and our own City staff to understand how best to implement this pilot program. By using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, we can observe and respond to illegal fireworks activity in real time. This approach not only helps gather crucial intelligence and video evidence but also supports future enforcement actions, such as issuing citations through the Social Host Ordinance to hold property owners accountable.

This forward-thinking initiative is a powerful tool for enhancing public safety, reducing fire hazards, and preventing injuries, all while minimizing disruption to the community. With the collaboration of various departments, we’re able to use this technology to protect the safety of our officers and the public in a smart, efficient, and effective way.

On February 20, 2025 the Public Safety and Finance Strategic Support Committee voted unanimously to accept the report and officially launch the pilot program. As we prepare for the upcoming Fourth of July, I am confident that this program will lay the groundwork for continued success in reducing illegal fireworks and improving safety in our neighborhoods. I’d like to thank all the staff and partners involved in this important work.

RVLording Ordinance Initiative

Exciting news for San José! The District 7-led ordinance is taking strong action to tackle the growing issue of "vanlording" in our City. The memorandum requests that the City Manager, in collaboration with key departments, will work on a comprehensive report to curtail the renting and leasing of RVs on public streets as well as potential new ordinances. This initiative is set to improve safety, curb exploitation, and ensure better living conditions for vulnerable residents. The proposed ordinance will include exploring new restrictions on RV sales, trades, and auctions, as well as enhanced enforcement to protect tenants and the community. The proposal is set to come to the Rules and Open Government Committee on March 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM. With support from Mayor Matt Mahan, Councilmember David Cohen and Councilmember Michael Mulcahy, all signing on, the City is taking an important first step towards making San José a safer, more sustainable housing environment for all. My team will update after the vote.

UPDATE - the Rules and Open Government Committee voted to push this item forward. The City Manager will report back to the full City Council, cost implications, during the budget study sessions beginning in May. We are excited to see this work move forward during the budget process.

Mayor's March Budget Message

Together with my colleagues, Councilmembers Casey, Mulcahy, Salas, and Campos we championed for issues facing our districts and for inclusion within the Mayor's March Budget Message.

Since day one, I’ve advocated for Pre-Engineered Modular Structures (PEMS)—a faster, more cost-effective way to provide shelter, hygiene facilities, healthcare access, and support services for our unhoused neighbors. These structures can be built quickly, at a fraction of the cost of traditional shelters, and offer immediate relief from life on the streets.

To put it in perspective:

• Permanent Supportive Housing can cost up to $1.4 million per bed

• Emergency Interim Housing is around $232,000 per bed

• PEMS? Just $16,000 per bed

That’s a potential savings of over 98%, which means we can help more people, faster, while stretching our limited resources further.

While the City of San José has stepped up in big ways, the County must also do its part. No new shelters have been built here since the 1990s, and the mental health crisis continues to grow due to a lack of County support and accountability. Mismanagement of vital resources like Prop 1 funds has only made the situation worse.

We don’t need more studies or committees—we need action.

Now is the time to focus on real, tangible progress. With smart, scalable solutions like PEMS and true collaboration between the City and County, we can bring safety, stability, and dignity to every member of our community. I am grateful to my colleagues and to the Mayor for incorporating PEMS into the March Budget Message, and greatly anticipate its success here in San José.

Bringing Back Med30

We're thrilled to share a proposal to bring back Med 30, a beloved and essential part of our San José Fire Department! This specialized unit was once the busiest EMS resource in the City, playing a key role in emergency scenes—from coordinating medical response to supporting families impacted by crises. Thanks to a new First Responder Fee program, we have an opportunity to restore Med 30 and boost our city's emergency response—keeping our neighborhoods safer and more resilient. This is a big step toward putting community safety first! For more information on this proposal refer to item 4.1 on the 3.25.25 City Council meeting.

Lifting Up Vietnamese-American Voices in the Digital World

On April 23rd, the Rules and Open Government Committee will consider an important resolution affirming San José’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity and cultural representation. This resolution calls for the recognition of the Heritage and Freedom Flag of the Republic of Vietnam—the iconic yellow flag with three red stripes—as an official emoji, honoring the history, resilience, and identity of our Vietnamese-American community. For many Vietnamese refugees and their families, this flag is a powerful symbol of freedom, democracy, and remembrance. As emojis become a central part of digital communication, it’s time the diversity of our communities is reflected there too.

Item 5.1

In 2020, the City Council adopted the Vision Zero Action Plan to reduce and eventually eliminate traffic fatalities in San Jose. The 2025 plan builds on this by focusing on five key areas: equity, data analytics, traffic enforcement, safety engineering, and community engagement. The goal is to reduce traffic deaths and severe injuries by 30% by 2030, and eliminate them entirely by 2040. The City is investing $80 million into redesigns and improvements, with $4 million already spent on improvements for streets with the highest crash rates. This plan has clear, achievable goals, and I’m excited to see it come to life after years of work on the task force. 

Item 3.3

We’ve made significant progress in supporting those with mental health challenges, particularly with the launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This service provides critical support to individuals in crisis. Recently, City Council discussed expanding alternative response programs for 911 calls and explored additional funding sources, such as the Opioid Settlement Funds. We are working closely with the County to ensure 911 calls related to mental health are directed to 988. Continued funding and collaboration are essential to ensure the success and growth of this life-saving program. We will keep advocating for the resources needed to sustain and improve it.

Item 7.2

Shopping carts are a major source of blight in our community, often left discarded or used to transport items to encampments. To address this, Mayor Mahan and several Councilmembers, including myself, proposed a plan to tackle the issue. We directed the City Manager to create an agreement for shopping cart retrieval services, integrate this with SJ311, and establish a process for removing carts from creeks and trails. We also aim to strengthen laws around cart theft and hold businesses accountable for preventing cart loss. Our goal is to improve cleanliness and make it clear that stealing shopping carts is a crime.