Batra: Jail diversion proposal is a dangerous betrayal of trust

The residents of South San Jose deserve transparency, trust and respect from their government officials and agencies. Unfortunately, recent events have demonstrated that these fundamental principles have been neglected.

The shocking revelation that Santa Clara County intends to transform the emergency interim housing site located at Monterey and Bernal into a jail diversion facility — a plan hidden from both our community and me as your representative — has left our neighborhoods in disbelief and outrage.

The idea of placing a facility that serves as an alternative to incarceration — bringing individuals with criminal backgrounds into a community setting — near our children and families is completely unacceptable.

For far too long, South San Jose has shouldered an unfair share of the city’s homelessness burdens, including an increasing homeless population, more encampments and interim housing units. These issues have brought with them concerns about safety, fires, criminal activity, cleanliness and quality of life, yet the city’s promises to make our neighborhoods safer and more livable have fallen short. The county’s plan to impose yet another challenge upon us, a jail diversion site, is a step too far and a betrayal of trust.

Within 24 hours of learning of the county’s intentions, Councilmember Bien Doan and I worked with the City Manager’s Office to remove this ill-conceived proposal from the agenda indefinitely. Our neighborhoods should not bear the brunt of decisions made behind closed doors, and I will continue fighting to ensure that the proposal which got deferred is permanently shelved.

I want to be clear: I oppose placing a jail diversion site in our community.

I urge all of you to stand with me in opposing the establishment of a jail diversion site in our South San Jose neighborhoods. We must protect the safety and security of our families and ensure our voices are heard in decisions that affect our community. Together, we are sending a clear message that our neighborhoods are not dumping grounds for policies or projects that put our residents at risk.

Let’s stand together and say no to jail diversion in South San Jose.

Arjun Batra represents District 10 on the San Jose City Council.