David Low leaving Sam Liccardo’s office for homeless nonprofit

Mayor Sam Liccardo’s top spokesman is leaving City Hall after nearly four years on the job to work at the nonprofit Destination: Home.

“I’d like to thank each and every one of you for your partnership, support and friendship during my time here at City Hall,” Low said in an email to his colleagues Monday. “I’m reminded every day of what a tremendously talented and dedicated group of colleagues we have working for the City of San Jose.”

Low joined Liccardo’s team in Oct. 2015 after the mayor suddenly parted ways with his chief spokeswoman, Michelle Young, after less than three months on the job. Low, who previously handled communications for the YMCA of Silicon Valley, also served as the deputy communications director and a longtime policy analyst for former Mayor Chuck Reed.

Low, who worked for Reed for nearly six years, also helped the ex-mayor with his statewide pension reform initiatives.

Low will serve as Destination: Home’s new director of policy and communications. The nonprofit works to end homelessness in Silicon Valley. “I am very excited to bring my skills and experience to helping address this significant challenge facing our community,” Low said in his email.

Liccardo is replacing Low with Mattie Muñoz Zazueta, who will assume the role of chief communications officer later this month. Zazueta has nearly a decade of media relations experience, according to the email, and most recently served as the public affairs manager for Airbnb in San Francisco. Prior to that, Zazueta spent years working in Washington D.C. as a senior communications advisor to former Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, Rep. Linda Sanchez and Rep. Beto O’Rourke.

Zazueta’s first day in the office will be Feb. 11. This week is Low’s final full week at City Hall, he said.

Taking a job in the nonprofit sector is somewhat of a homecoming for Low, who’s bounced between nonprofit and public roles, including stints at the YMCA of Silicon Valley and for Breathe California.

Jennifer Loving, executive director of Destination: Home, said she’s excited to welcome Low to her team. He begins his new role at the end of this month.