San Jose's New Google Development Advisory Group

Recently, the Law Foundation, along with 38 other organizations, was appointed to the newly created Station Area Advisory Group (SAAG) formed by San Jose City Council to provide input on the Google development project near the Diridon Station. The SAAG has representation from various parts of our community, including the business sector, school districts, neighborhood associations, and community groups.

The Law Foundation hopes our participation will lead to outcomes that prevent the displacement of low-income communities in San Jose from the place they call home. We will continue to be a leader in advocating for an inclusive Silicon Valley and to bring front and center the crisis of unmanaged gentrification and the displacement of low-income families in Silicon Valley.

Advocating for Stronger Rent Protections

Photo by Ramona Giwargis, Bay Area News Group

Earlier this week, the San Jose City Council voted on whether or not to tie rent increases for rent-controlled units to the cost of living, capped at 5%. The Law Foundation, along with partners at the Silicon Valley Renters' Rights Coalition, packed into City Hall to defend past rent and tenant protection victories and urged City Council to vote "yes" on the measure to help stabilize rents for families in San Jose. 

The vote was close, but unfortunately, the City Council did not move forward with a measure to tie rent increases for rent-controlled apartments to the cost of living. However, tenants and community members successfully organized against landlords' attempts to water down San Jose's Apartment Rent Ordinance and Tenant Protection Ordinance, crucial housing protections for over 400,000 tenants in San Jose.

Many thanks to Council Members Sergio Jimenez, Raul Peralez, Don Rocha, Magdalena Carrasco, Tam Nguyen, and Sylvia Arenas for their support. The fight to preserve renter protections in San Jose continues next Spring 2018, when the Apartment Rent Ordinance returns to Council. See you there!  

Learn more about San Jose City Council's vote from The Mercury News.