June 7, 2024
To: Mayor Matt Mahan and San Jose City Council,
Re: Support for Mayor Mahan’s June Budget Message to address the critical environmental challenges caused by homeless encampments in creek corridors (Item 3.4 on June 11 Agenda).
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
The Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society (SCVAS), the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter (SCLP), Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful (KCCB), South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition (SBCCC) and the Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge (CCCR) submit this letter for your consideration to support the Mayor’s June Budget Message that addresses the critical environmental challenges caused by homeless encampments in creek corridors. Through his June Budget Message, the Mayor proposes a balanced approach that addresses the immediate need to mitigate environmental harm while continuing to support permanent affordable housing development.
Our organizations have a strong interest in the protection of waterways, riparian ecosystems, wetlands and the San Francisco Bay. For over a decade, we have been advocating for measures that would distance homeless encampments from creeks, and create shelter that houses people without polluting our creeks and our bay. Additionally, our groups have collaborated to clean up creeks, where KCCB has removed 545,000 pounds of trash just in the past eight years with nearly 10,000 volunteers and SBCCC in the past 11 years, has removed 1,448,000 pounds of trash with the generosity of 30,250 volunteer hours.
To comply with the environmental mandates required for the Stormwater Permit, the City Manager has proposed the relocation of some Measure E funds to provide basic shelter for individuals living along the creeks, clean up the encampments, enforce no re-encampment zones near waterways, and reduce biowaste entering storm drains.
The City estimates that 88% of pollutants entering San Jose’s rivers and creeks stem from more than 1,000 people living in encampments along these waterways. This pollution severely impacts our local environment and degrades water quality in the creeks and the San Francisco Bay.
The accumulation of trash, toxic refuse, and human excrement in the creeks poses serious threats to both our environment and public health. Furthermore, the City of San José faces the potential non-renewal of its Stormwater Permit, which could lead to substantial fines and civil penalties.
Supporting the Mayor’s June Budget Message is crucial for several reasons:
- Balanced Approach: While affordable housing remains a critical need, the immediate environmental threats posed by these encampments require urgent attention. A balanced approach addressing both housing and environmental concerns is essential for the well-being of our community.
- Environmental Protection: Pollution from encampments near waterways harms local wildlife, disrupts ecosystems, and contaminates water sources, posing serious risks to public health and the environment.
- Historical Context: San José previously faced a $100 million lawsuit settlement with the conservation group Baykeeper due to Clean Water Act violations, necessitating extensive corrective measures. The city continues to struggle with compliance, risking further legal and financial consequences.
- Proactive Measures: Redirecting Measure E funds to clean up encampments is a proactive step to mitigate environmental harm and fulfill the city's legal obligations. Addressing these issues now can prevent severe penalties and higher costs in the future.
SCVAS, SCLP, KCCB, SBCCC, and CCCR support the Mayor’s June Budget Message proposal, recognizing it as a necessary and balanced solution to San Jose's intertwined environmental and homelessness challenges.
We urge you to join us in supporting this crucial initiative for the betterment of San José.
Respectfully,
Shani Kleinhaus, Ph.D.,
Environmental Advocate
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
Deb Kramer
Founder and Executive Director
Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful
Katja Irvin, AICP
Guadalupe Group Conservation Chair
Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
Steve Holmes
Founder and Executive Director
South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition
Carin High, Co-Chair
Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge