"We are about 400 officers shy of where we were at the high point, and we need to get back to that, but it's gonna take time. The San Jose Police Department has one of highest vacancy rates since voters approved Measure B in 2012, which reduced benefits for existing and new city workers and led to years of fallout and controversy - including numerous lawsuits and an exodus of police officers."
"Without having a safe city for us to live in, all the other things don't fall into place. Altwer, who previously worked in law enforcement, concurred and emphasized that a safe city is essential for addressing other issues like homelessness and housing affordability."
Five candidates competed for San Jose's District 9 City Council seat in a March 9 forum hosted by San José Spotlight and the League of Women Voters. The candidates—Scott Hughes, Mike Hennessy, Gordon Chester, Genny Altwer, and Rick Ator—addressed key issues including homelessness, housing affordability, police staffing, and budget balancing. Public safety emerged as a central concern, with multiple candidates highlighting the San Jose Police Department's staffing crisis stemming from Measure B's 2012 passage, which reduced city worker benefits and triggered officer departures. Hughes emphasized the need to restore approximately 400 police positions lost since the department's peak. Altwer, with law enforcement background, stressed that public safety is foundational for addressing other municipal challenges.
#public-safety #police-staffing #san-jose-city-council-election #housing-affordability #municipal-budget
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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