How to spend approximately $1.5 billion in 2023-24 will be the first big test of political power for the mayor.

Tiny homes from the state will help the City of San Jose reach Mayor Matt Mahan’s ambitious goal of sheltering 1,000 unhoused residents by the end of the year.

The board approved more funds for senior housing, a land swap for supportive housing in Cupertino, an investment into rental assistance with seven non-profits, a new housing development in Milpitas and more affordable housing in Mountain View, some specifically for foster youth. 

The political debate over California’s highest-in-the-nation homelessness has boiled down to money with Gov. Gavin Newsom and local officials at odds.

Building more emergency housing, adding more cops on the streets, expanding neighborhood cleanups and speeding up the permit process are key recommendations from advisory committees created last month by San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. The mayor’s office today announced the recommendations released by the five “transition committees” he launched in January identifying approaches to solve what he calls the city’s most significant challenges. They are to be presented to the City Council Tuesday.

The city’s shifting demographics, a continuing affordable housing shortage, endemic homelessness, a looming budget deficit and the reality of five council elections – plus another mayoral ballot – in just two years create additional uncertainties.

Liccardo, a former city councilman, led the Bay Area city through a pandemic, a mass shooting, a homelessness crisis, a horrific flood and more.

Mahan’s new committees including council members, staff and community representatives will center around key issues raised by his mayoral campaign.

After years of record California budget surpluses, Gov. Newsom outlined a plan to deal with a deficit he projects at $22.5 billion and said he can keep his big promises despite the shortfalls.

Mayor Sam Liccardo announced Saturday that San Jose will receive $2.5 million for the SureStay Hotel in San José to provide transitional housing for individuals experiencing homelessness and another $750,000 for Marbury Bridge Housing.

Mayor-elect Matt Mahan's emphasis on unhoused residents resonated with respondents in the latest San Jose Inside Power Poll.

The Silicon Valley Guaranteed Income Project will give 150 Santa Clara County families who are experiencing homelessness or unstable housing $1,000 per month in no-strings-attached cash assistance for 24 months.

The governor threw communities into disarray two weeks ago by withholding $1 billion in homelessness funding for plans he saw as unambitious. Local officials said this discouraged ambitious programs. Now Newsom is yielding.

Chavez is the architect of many of our city and county’s key policies on crime, homelessness, housing and government accountability. The problem is those policies are failing. They don’t need to be defended; they need to be changed.

Abortion, guns, Covid, housing, nursing homes, criminal justice, unions, environment and internet are some of the top issues the Legislature will be tackling in August.

The City Council voted Tuesday to build 400 more emergency interim housing units, buy Arena Hotel with state funds and finance 561 new affordable housing units.