Story Archive
San Jose can adopt 'no-cuts' FY 2012-13 budget (2-3-12).
The City of San Jose is now just $3 million short of a no-cuts budget for the coming fiscal year, a number almost certain to shrink to zero based on the city's improving finances. In the Mid-Year Budget Review for FY 2011-12 released last month (you can download the full report from the city's website here), City Manager Debra Figone acknowledges that the city's financial situation has so significantly improved that the Future Deficit Reserve should be increased from $12 million to $22 million. The specific purpose of the Future Deficit Reserve is to address the budget shortfall for FY 2012-13. Since the entire projected shortfall for FY 2012-13 is estimated to be $25 million, only $3 million remains to be found for the city to be able to avoid any budget cuts next year. Other information in the Mid-Year Budget Review, including higher sales tax receipts and increased revenues from construction taxes and from tax increment in Redevelopment Project Areas, suggests it is extraordinarily likely the remaining $3 million will become available.
Students want to raise San Jose's minimum wage (2-2-12).
A class of San Jose State University sociology students are launching a petition campaign this week to create a $10 minimum wage in San Jose, making it the fourth city in the United States to set an hourly pay minimum. If the students succeed in collecting 19,161 signatures, their minimum wage proposal -- $2 higher than the California standard -- would be placed on the November ballot. Scott Myers-Lipton, professor of the Social Action class that developed the campaign after finding strong support through public polling, said 80 percent of his sociology students work at least 30 hours a week but those earning minimum wage struggled to survive.
Teen Interfaith Leadership Council formed, recruiting members (1-26-12).
The Interfaith Council on Economics and Justice has approved the creation of a Teen Interfaith Leadership Council of Santa Clara County and has begun recruiting members. The council will consist of high school sophomores, juniors and seniors from various religious traditions who will engage in meaningful service, interfaith dialogue and advocacy activities that address issues of poverty, social injustice and promote the common good in Santa Clara County. The emphasis will be on mutual respect and understanding and interfaith dialogue, not conversion. "Teenagers have the ability and power to be agents of social change," said Interfaith Council board member Steve Herrera. "The Teen Interfaith Leadership Council will be a catalyst powered by young people from diverse religious traditions to create a more compassionate, just and peaceful community in Santa Clara County." Interested sophomores and juniors from Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Catholic/Christian or other religious backgrounds can download an information sheet and application form here. The council will meet monthly and membership terms will run from July through April-May. The council's 10-member Core Team will participate in an annual retreat and immersive experience July 26-30 in New Mexico in partnership with the Shinnyo-en Buddhist Temple, Shinnyo-en Foundation, Working Partnerships USA and the Interfaith Council. The retreat is intended to create community and foster interfaith understanding while performing meaningful service. It will focus on the Native American culture in New Mexico with special emphasis on service, interfaith dialogue and discovering shared religious values regarding faith and justice.
Supervisors' President Shirakawa backs Working Partnerships' anti-obesity project (1-24-12).
Calling for bold action to confront Santa Clara County's obesity epidemic, Board of Supervisors President George Shirakawa called Jan. 24 for a Healthy Corner Store policy to encourage the availability of nutritious foods in the corner stores that serve low-income residents. "By collaborating with Working Partnerships and other community groups, we can design a program that promotes good health and increased shopping at local businesses -- a win-win for families and the economy," Shirakawa said in his State of the County speech. Working Partnerships -- supported by funding from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation -- is currently researching and developing a policy proposal that would improve the marketing and availability of foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables in low-income areas. Additional funding for this project is also being sought. "It's exciting to bring business and community leaders together to promote health and economic development," said Cindy Chavez, Working Partnerships' executive director. The project is part of Working Partnerships' larger work on food justice (read about it here). In its proposal to develop a Healthy Corner Store policy, Working Partnerships noted that while 55 percent of county adults are overweight or obese, obesity is concentrated in low-income areas where there are few convenient alternatives to fast-food outlets. Only 17 percent of the county's low-income families live within walking distance of a farmers' market, community garden or Community-Supported Agriculture drop-off point. Sixty percent of the county's 201 corner stores are located within high poverty census tracts.
Interfaith Council supports airport workers (1-23-12).
San Jose airport workers seeking their first contract with the Hudson Group got support from the Interfaith Council on Economics and Justice in their Jan. 23 rally at Terminal A. Interim Director Elisa Koff-Ginsborg participated in the rally at which the workers -- who joined Unite Here Local 19 last August -- called for competitive wages and good health benefits in the contract now being negotiated. "We name the injustice when workers who improve the quality of others' lives must struggle themselves to obtain basic needs such as health care and face crippling medical bills," she said. "This is no way to work; no way to live." Hudson workers say their health coverage is substandard yet costs hundreds of dollars more than plans for workers of other concessionaires. Hudson, which operates concessions at 74 airports and railroad stations, is negotiating its first contract with San Jose workers.
Bringing young people of color onto voting rolls (1-1-12).
Government represents those who vote, which is why Working Partnerships will be involved in a unique voter registration project this spring as part of its ongoing civic engagement focus. We have received funding from the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters for a non-partisan voter registration project designed to register 3,500 young Hispanic and Vietnamese voters through partnerships with local community colleges and high schools. The project also includes educating these new voters about the importance of voting, how the state's new top-two primary system works and mobilizing them to vote on election day. Our project is one of several being funded by the registrar designed to increase voter participation in the June 5 elections among five "traditionally underrepresented groups" including immigrant communities, low-income communities, 18-24 year-olds, seniors and the disabled.
Food justice in Silicon Valley (1-1-12).
Whether it concerns those who produce our food, those who sell it or those who eat it, the issue of food justice involves us all. Working Partnerships has begun working on this huge issue from many angles with the help of multiple funders. The Interfaith Council on Economics and Justice, a project of Working Partnerships, brought the concept of food justice to the attention of tens of thousands of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Unitarians last Labor Day weekend by speaking at dozens of worship services. That led to a Just Food Summit, and participants will begin work later this month on a variety of projects.
- In the fields where our food is grown, food justice means that farm workers are treated with respect and dignity. They must work in conditions in which their health and safety is protected and for wages and benefits that allow them and their families to live, work and play in economic security. In our Workers' Health and Safety Project, funded by the Public Welfare and California Wellness foundations, we are working with labor partners to strengthen California's ability to adequately enforce workplace safety law, to develop and advocate for safety reforms and to build a coalition of labor, faith, community and business groups to support this effort.
- Retail grocery employees labor in one of the most injury- and illness-plagued of all service industry occupations in the nation. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is funding a pilot project in which Working Partnerships, along with the Labor Occupational Health Program at UC Berkeley and the United Food and Commercial Workers, are creating a workplace safety curriculum and training 180 grocery workers in health and safety standards and their rights at the workplace. Once proven, Working Partnerships plans to add workplace safety to its menu of ongoing training programs.
- The national obesity epidemic is a significant public health concern here in Silicon Valley where 55 percent of adults are overweight. Our local obesity is concentrated among lower income groups. Sixty-eight percent of adults in households with incomes less than $20,000 are overweight. This same demographic group lives in areas where nutritious foods are difficult to obtain because the convenient food sources are often unhealthy fast-food outlets or neighborhood stores that don't stock fresh fruits and vegetables. With funding from the Nathan Cummings and Silicon Valley Community foundations and Santa Clara County, we are researching and developing policy proposals to discourage consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and to encourage availability and marketing of nutritious foods in corner stores located in low-income areas. George Shirakawa, new president of the county's board of supervisors, called for a Healthy Corner Store policy in his Jan. 24 State of the County speech and praised our work.
San Jose Police Chief Chris Moore sees 2012 as recovery from 'terrible' 2011 (1-12-12).
Staffing cuts and a rise in violent crime made 2011 "terrible year," San Jose Police Chief Chris Moore said Jan 12. But with an improved city budget situation in 2012, he believes his department will be able to hold its own in the battle to provide public safety in the nation's 10th largest city. "I need a stable police department to protect the city, and I think this year we finally get it," he told an audience at the first Working Partnerships USA Social Innovators Speaker Series event of the year. After a long run as the safest large city in the United States, San Jose has fallen in the rankings in the last two years as its police department has struggled with staffing cuts caused by large budget shortfalls. "All hell broke loose in 2011," Moore said, noting that the 41 homicides more than double the 2010 total of 21. Sixty-six police officers were laid off and the 2010-2011 department budget was cut by $30 million. Moore said he will be able to cover his department's projected budget shortfall of $2.5 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1 without layoffs by simply not opening a police substation, which has been built but not staffed up. He also said the department will cut back on the use of its helicopter and its mounted horse patrols. The Social Innovators Speaker Series is in its fourth year and is generously sponsored by PG&E.
Program seeks to help formerly incarcerated women enter construction careers (1-12-12).
Working Partnerships is recruiting participants for a special session of the Apprentice Readiness Program. Women who were formerly incarcerated and are looking for a new start can apply to participate in this intensive 160-hour training program offered jointly by the Roofers and Waterproofers Local 95 Apprenticeship Program and Working Partnerships. Eligible participants should be 18 or older, formerly incarcerated, a Santa Clara County resident, interested in a construction trades career and able to attend intensive weekday training beginning in January. Graduates will have the opportunity to be hired directly by participating construction employers and begin a 3.5-year paid apprenticeship. The class is made possible by the Santa Clara County Office of Women's Policy through the Skills to Succeed program. There is no cost to participants and supportive services may be available during training. Interested participants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as there are limited training spots available. To apply or for more information, contact Steve Preminger at (408) 266-3790 or email steve@wpusa.org.
UCR Holiday Party helps thousands of kids (12-18-11).
The 25th Anniversary Union Community Resources Holiday Party on Dec. 18 provided food, fun and gifts for about 8,000 children of working families in the South Bay. For many children it provided the only toy they receive during the holiday season. Enjoy a slideshow of all the fun here. To donate to the 26th annual UCR Holiday Party in 2012, go here. Working Partnerships and Steve Preminger, director of Union Community Resources, would like to thank the nearly 450 volunteers and those who donated money and toys for making the holidays brighter for working families.
Celebrating 10 years of the Children's Health Initiative (11-30-11).
Santa Clara County's Children's Health Initiative (CHI) -- the nation's first universal health care program for children -- marked its 10th anniversary Nov. 30 with a fun and festive celebration at San Jose's First Unitarian Church. Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen, Council- member Sam Liccardo, Council- member Ash Kalra and leaders of the health, business, faith, labor and education communities, and families enrolled in the Healthy Kids program joined the celebration. Before CHI, which Working Partnerships developed and advocated for, one in eight children in the county was without health insurance. Today, 96 percent of county children have medical, dental and vision coverage. Watch the video below and see a slideshow of all the fun here.
Occupy Movement inspires Silicon Valley organizations to Occupy the Streets (11-9-11).
Inspired by the massive occupations across the country denouncing the corporate greed of the nation's wealthiest 1 percent, a group of Silicon Valley organizations sponsored Occupy the Streets -- a series of daily demonstrations beginning Wednesday, Nov. 9 and running through Friday, Nov. 18, to highlight local examples of rising inequality and poverty in Silicon Valley. The initial action was at Chase Bank in downtown San Jose in support of Gloria Takla, a victim of predatory lending who demanded Chase give her an affordable loan modification. Other actions will target banks, big corporations and wealthy landlords and press demands for taxing the rich, demands for jobs and more. "Working people remain in a state of crisis -- escalating levels of foreclosures, long-term unemployment, loss of retirement security, erosion of our rights at work, devastating cuts to our safety net services and an infrastructure system on the verge of collapse," the sponsoring group of labor, community and advocacy organizations said in a statement. "It's time for the rich, the banks and the big corporations in this country to pay for the damage they have done. The 99 percent have already paid enough." Sponsoring organizations include: American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 6157, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), California Faculty Association (CFA), Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 9423, Next Gen Bay Area, Sacred Heart Community Service Leaders, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Locals 521 and USWW, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center, South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council, UNITE HERE Local 19, United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 5 and Working Partnerships USA.
WPUSA study: San Jose's prevailing wage has increased employment, taxes and local economic activity (5-13-11).
Over the past five years San Jose's prevailing wage policy added $164 million in economic activity, produced $1.9 million in local taxes and generated more than 1,500 local construction jobs without raising construction costs, a 14-page study published May 13 by Working Partnerships USA reveals. The study reaffirms the purpose for which the prevailing wage policy was adopted in 1988, which was to ensure equitable and sufficient wages, protect local job opportunities and stimulate the local economy. Two recent library projects in Santa Clara County – the Mitchell Park Library in Palo Alto built without prevailing wage and the Gilroy Public Library built with prevailing wage – provide a paired case study for the impacts of prevailing wage. Gilroy's library cost less per square foot, $326 to $430. And 71.2 percent of the total project value of Gilroy's library went to local contractors while only 11.7 percent of Palo Alto's expenditures remained in the local community. Download a full report in PDF format here.
Social Innovators speaker touts prevailing wage as powerful economic development tool (4-25-11).
Nationally recognized economist Peter Philips of the University of Utah described prevailing wage laws as powerful economic development tools for the communities that use them in an April 25 speech in San Jose. Philips' appearance launched the 2011 Working Partnerships Leadership Network's Social Innovators Speaker Series, hosted by the WPUSA Leadership Network and generously sponsored by PG&E. The annual Social Innovators Speaker Series, which has drawn such distinguished speakers as Civil Rights pioneer John Lewis, Congressman from Georgia, Betty Yee, member of the State Board of Equalization and Amy Dean, former WPUSA executive director, allows alumni of the WPUSA Leadership Institute and the public to hear from experts and leaders in various fields on topics of importance. You can view a slideshow of the event here.
Interfaith Council holds service for Hyatt workers (4-21-11).
Housekeepers at the Hyatt Santa Clara have been struggling for better conditions in the workplace, including lower room quotas and fitted sheets to avoid injuries from lifting heavy mattresses. They are being supported in their efforts to form a union by the Interfaith Council on Economics and Justice, a project of Working Partnerships USA. The Interfaith Council held a Passover / Holy Week service April 21, which included stories from and about the Hyatt workers. You can see an online slideshow of the service, conducted by leaders of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faith communities, here. Green 960 AM radio interviewed Council member Rev. Debbie Weatherspoon about the service and the overall campaign. You can listen to that report here.
WPUSA's Chavez praises restoration of Children's Health funding (3-15-11).
Saying the "health of our children is too important to be allowed to drift in the economic and political winds inside City Hall," WPUSA Executive Director Cindy Chavez thanked San Jose city officials for preserving funding for the Children's Health Initiative (CHI). Working Partnerships pioneered CHI, a first-in-the-nation effort to achieve universal health insurance for children on a county-wide level, nearly a decade ago. It is the reason virtually every child in Santa Clara County has health insurance and it is the model for similar programs in a majority of California counties. CHI's funding was targeted for elimination by city budget cuts earlier this year but it is now back in the budget.
WPUSA's Bob Brownstein challenges Tea Party's American vision (2-1-11).
The Tea Party's narrative of the American Revolution as an object lesson in "excessive" taxes and government spending misses the lesson of Valley Forge, says Bob Brownstein, WPUSA's research and policy director. George Washington's Continental Army was nearly wiped out at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-78 because Congress' poor financial support left it vulnerable to hunger, disease and a harsh winter. "A free society is not assured by a government with low taxes and budgets inadequate to face the critical tasks at hand," Brownstein wrote in The Huffington Post. "When the next viral pandemic strikes, it will not be confronted by the employees of EBay or Google but by the staff of federal agencies, county health units and city fire departments. A competitive American economy depends on teachers who struggle daily in tough urban schools. Who will regulate the financial firms whose excesses have wreaked havoc on our economy – the same private sector auditors and rating agencies who failed so outrageously in the last decade? No, the public needs its own personnel with experience and ability."
Vigil honors Congresswoman Giffords and other Arizona shooting victims (1-13-11).
Congressman Mike Honda, Cindy Chavez of Working Partnerships USA and Silicon Valley faith leaders joined in a vigil for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the other wounded and murdered members of the Tucson community. The vigil – sponsored by the Interfaith Council on Economics and Justice of WPUSA, the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council and the Santa Clara County Democratic Party – was held at San Jose's First Unitarian Church. In addition to sending prayers and condolences, participants called upon all community and political leaders to tone down the vitriolic political rhetoric that has overwhelmed the rational discourse necessary for leaders to find solutions to our pressing problems. View a slideshow of the vigil here.
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