Measure V Will Keep Schools Open, Not Close Them
In recent years, San Jose has lost too many of its teachers, mechanics, firefighters, nurses, and other hard-working middle-class families, pushed out by high housing costs. Our schools, in turn, have felt the painful consequences, leaving many school districts dealing with the challenges of declining enrollment, and diminishing ability to retain or attract qualified teachers and staff.
With a broad community coalition, I proposed putting Measure V on the ballot for a simple reason: to retain many of the people who make our city work, and who make our community a special place to live. By doing so, I also believed that keeping families in San Jose would help sustain our cherished schools by stemming the outflow of students and teachers.
Recently, the San José Unified School District announced it was considering options at nine of its school properties, stirring strong community opposition to potential changes that could include relocation of some campuses and closures. The District’s announcement suggested that it might redevelop some of those sites for housing, and it sought community input before any final decisions by its Board. Understandably, thousands of community members have urged the importance of preserving high-achieving and treasured community assets like Leland High and Bret Hart Middle School, views shared by many.
Through social media and media reports, some concerned residents have conflated the District’s proposal with the City’s Measure V. Allow me to squarely address those concerns: We’re seeking to pass Measure V to keep schools open, not to close them. We’re seeking to keep families here that will support enrollment in our vital local schools, and we’re pushing to build affordable housing for teachers and other educational staff. Like every other city in California, the City of San Jose has no authority nor involvement in school decisions like closures — our city’s 19 school districts operate completely independently of City Hall. Under state law, it is those 19 school boards and 19 superintendents who are tasked with such decisions, in consultation with the communities they serve. Nonetheless, I will state publicly and unequivocally that I will oppose the use of Measure V funding on the site of any school campus closed over any significant community opposition. If school districts wish to participate in building affordable housing on district land, we can work with them and the community to identify development sites that do not compel school closures.
We have broad and bipartisan support for Measure V from the League of Women Voters, the Mercury News, from business groups such as the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and the Silicon Valley Organization (formerly Chamber of Commerce), to neighborhood organizations like the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association and the District 8 Roundtable, to labor organizations like the Laborers Local 270 and San Jose Police Officers Association, to environmental organizations like the Sierra Club and the Greenbelt Alliance, to community-serving non-profits like Habitat for Humanity, Asian Americans for Community Involvement, The Hispanic Foundation, Catholic Charities, and Housing Trust of Silicon Valley.
All of these people and organizations share a common belief: too many San Jose families hold down two jobs without being able to afford one home. We can do better, and we must take action to do so.
Sam Liccardo
Mayor, City of San Jose
