A regional homelessness crisis and the local shockwaves of President Donald Trump’s second term dominated discussions at San José Spotlight’s third annual, all-day political festival tackling the future of Silicon Valley.
Hundreds of people converged on the Hammer Theatre in downtown San Jose last week to learn about how the region is dealing with critical issues at PolitiBeat. In addition to hearing from experts about a looming older adult population boom and transportation solutions, guests took part in an outdoor food and cultural festival showcasing a handful of local businesses highlighted in San José Spotlight’s The Biz Beat series.
Attendees also got up-close with two candidates for California governor — as well as San Jose’s District 3 City Council special election candidates for an audience Q&A.
During a discussion on homelessness solutions, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley Directing Attorney Trista Bauman told San Jose Housing Director Erik Soliván the “Responsibility to Shelter” initiative will fail to help homeless residents.
“It’s an example of a punitive approach to homelessness that has failed and will fail — and that is well documented. It is a poor public policy choice that is made for political reasons,” Bauman said. “It is harmful, expensive and ineffective.”
Soliván said the discussion around Mayor Matt Mahan’s proposal has evolved.
“We’re bringing on more and more investments into both shelter expansion as well as affordable housing,” he said.
Former state Controller Betty Yee tackled this same question in a fireside chat with San José Spotlight Editor Moryt Milo on her candidacy to become California’s “affordability governor.”
“If we’re actually able to help a family with a month’s rent if they fall behind than actually seeing them fall into the spiral of homelessness — just that basic kind of assistance at that point in time, you could really (affect) … the experience that they’re going to have.”
Mental health has become intrinsic with issues around homelessness and the cost of living. But Yee said the state’s various mental health care mandates — such as the CARE program — can’t be successful if local governments are left to seek out funding.
“These systems are already so stressed that the whole idea that we could do more with less is just impossible. We talked about the mental health provider shortage … but have not addressed that in any significant way,” Yee said.
Gubernatorial Candidate and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond also took the stage to share his vision for the Golden State if elected. He said schools can be part of the solution to California’s housing crisis — and that he’s working on a proposal to build millions of homes on surplus school properties throughout the state.
“Education is a great equalizer and we have to protect it,” Thurmond said. “That means we need senators to vote against any proposal to get rid of the Department of Education. You cannot (do that) through executive order, just get rid of the U.S. Department of Education. That act alone would mean the loss of $8 million for our programs in special education, which is a nonpartisan issue.”
Asked if he’ll drop out of the race if former Vice President Kamala Harris jumps in, Thurmond said he doesn’t make decisions based on who else is running.
“I’m all in … I’m not going to run for any down ballot office,” he said.
Yee also said she’ll stay in the race.
“I will be a candidate for governor regardless of who is in the race,” she said.
Massive federal immigration enforcement crackdowns punctuated a discussion about the Trump effect in Silicon Valley.
“We actually have families who are considering and actively talking about self-deportation because what they’re dealing with right now is just too intense,” Huy Tran, executive director for the Services, Immigrant Rights & Education Network, said during the discussion.
Santa Clara County Executive James Williams emphasized the impact of federal cuts to critical health care and safety net programs in the county budget that is juggling a deficit.
“People will die,” he said. “We have to collectively do everything we can as a community to try to mitigate that impact.”
A conversation about transportation solutions introduced Silicon Valley to public transit equity experiments going on in Los Angeles.
One panelist, Rebel Managing Director Lily Shoup, hailed the rollout of “mobility wallets” in Southern California, where a sample of 2,000 low income residents received $150 per month to use on commuter rail, Uber and Lyft.
If the idea takes off, Shoup said mobility wallets could expand transit options for low-income residents in Silicon Valley.
“We can power people to have more choices on how they get around,” Shoup said.
Fewer births and longer life expectancies will have Americans age 65 and up outnumbering children by 2030, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But a panel on aging at the festival showed how Silicon Valley will feel the effects much sooner.
Even faster than the rise in older adults is the rise in older adults experiencing homelessness, according to Margot Kushel, director of UCSF’s Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative.
“In the early 1990s, about 11% of single adults experiencing homelessness … were 50 and older. By 2003, 32% were 50 and older. And now 48% are 50 and older,” Kushel said.
Sujatha Venkatraman, executive director of West Valley Community Services, shared how her organization tackles food insecurity among seniors.
“What happens if these seniors deciding to age in place are not able to come to us? There are mobility issues. Should we be looking into food delivery? We are trying to create a system where we are changing as the need in the community changes,” Venkatraman told the audience.
In a unique format, Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley Executive Director Gabby Chavez-Lopez and San Jose Planning Commissioner Anthony Tordillos each sat down with San José Spotlight Editor Nick Preciado — taking turns to field audience queries about their positions on District 3. Chavez-Lopez and Tordillos are running in a special election set for June 24.
Chavez-Lopez was questioned about a PG&E executive’s involvement with her campaign after San José Spotlight revealed the company’s regional vice president, Teresa Alvarado, was running campaign meetings.
The downtown candidate said Alvarado — who founded the Latina Coalition that Chavez-Lopez now leads — has been a professional mentor and friend.
“(I’ve) obviously gone to her for guidance, mentorship and leadership … Obviously there’s a lot of professional connection there,” Chavez-Lopez said.
But she argued that doesn’t mean PG&E as a corporation has been involved in her campaign.
“Although people have been trying to make those connections, there’s no truth to that,” she said.
Tordillos, who is openly gay, grappled with healing of the LGBTQ+ community after the arrest of disgraced former District 3 Councilmember Omar Torres.
“It was very disappointing and heartbreaking to see the damage to our community that was done with the recent scandal,” Tordillos said. “I even had members of the queer community in San Jose who cautioned me against running at all … but I decided to run anyway and that meant I placed a huge focus throughout this campaign on building trust and direct relationships with the people of District 3.”
A critical subject for both candidates was Mayor Mahan’s controversial proposal to arrest homeless people who repeatedly refuse shelter or services.
“I don’t think it should be criminal to be unhoused,” Chavez-Lopez told the audience.
Tordillos agreed.
“I do not support criminalization of homelessness. I do not support this policy in its current form,” he said.
Contact Brandon Pho at [email protected] or @brandonphooo on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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