Tell The Mayor And The City Council:
It's Time to Find Real Solutions
Open Letter To Mayor Mahan and San Jose City Council
[Your Name]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Date]
Mayor Mahan and San Jose City Council Members
200 East Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA 95113
Dear Mayor Mahan and San Jose City Council Members,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed conversion of the Vermont Street buildings at 1072-1082 — or any other structure in San Jose—into a jail diversion facility. While I wholeheartedly support efforts to reform the criminal justice system and promote alternatives to incarceration, I believe this approach would be detrimental to both the community and those it is meant to serve.
First, the location on Vermont Street, like many other residential and community-based areas in San Jose, is ill-suited for a facility of this nature. The surrounding neighborhood is home to families, businesses, schools, and community spaces that could be negatively impacted by the increased presence of individuals diverted from the criminal justice system. While we must find humane solutions for those involved in the justice system, we must also ensure the safety and quality of life for all San Jose residents.
Second, the focus on jail diversion in the form of repurposing buildings like this diverts critical resources away from addressing the root causes of the criminal behavior we seek to reduce—namely, homelessness, mental health issues, and substance abuse. San Jose has numerous vulnerable populations in desperate need of services, including affordable housing, mental health care, and drug rehabilitation. Redirecting public resources toward such facilities rather than preventive solutions merely treats the symptoms, not the underlying problems.
Moreover, community-based organizations that are already doing essential work to support at-risk individuals are in dire need of funding. Rather than investing in structures that may further stigmatize those involved in diversion programs, we should prioritize expanding wraparound services, affordable housing, and employment opportunities that keep people out of the criminal justice system in the first place.
In light of these concerns, I urge you and the City Council to reconsider this approach. Instead, I advocate for working with the county and invest in long-term solutions that promote community well-being, mental health care, homelessness prevention, and economic opportunities. By working together on sustainable programs, we can create a safer, healthier, and more compassionate San Jose for everyone.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I hope that as our city’s leader, you will consider the broader impacts of these decisions on our community and ensure that any policy implemented promotes both public safety and social justice.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
San Jose Resident