6/1/2009 Second Chair's View

On May 5, 2009, Bobby Lopez and I attended a city council meeting at City Hall to watch how the Mayor and Council members were going to vote on two agenda items, which we felt would have a direct impact on the morale of you, the hard-working men and women of the San Jose Police Department.  When the smoke cleared, the Mayor and the Council had voted in our favor on these issues.  However, it was their silence that left me wondering if and how much they truly do support us.

Many of you may remember that prior to and during contract negotiations, councilmembers Nancy Pyle, Sam Liccardo, and Pierluigi Oliverio came into our home at the POA hall, to profess their undying support for us.  Councilmembers Rose Herrera and Madison Nguyen were our staunchest allies when running for their positions.  When the Mayor and Council approved our wages and benefits contract, they espoused your dedication and hard work.  As recently as April 30, 2009, at the San Jose Police Department's Major Awards Banquet, Mayor Reed was championing our work efforts.  He went to great lengths to explain to all attendees how San Jose police officers have done a tremendous job of policing the city, despite the fact that we are severely understaffed for the population we serve.

It is obvious to me that the Mayor and Council members seem to be our best friends and pay tribute to our sacrifices when they are speaking to us in our own backyard, at police-sponsored functions, at council meetings when they think the hate-America or anti-police crowd is not in attendance, or when they want our endorsement during election campaigns.  Yet the minute they are threatened by any vocal, anti-police organizations, just like those present during the May 5th Council meeting, they quickly forget that they were elected into office by law-abiding citizens who overwhelmingly support San Jose police officers.

Following Council debate on the agenda item requesting that a new Drunk in Public Task Force be created, in addition to the review of the police department by the Consortium for Police Leadership in Equity (CPLE), audience members were allowed to voice their opinions and concerns to the Mayor and Council.  Among those wishing to speak were a representative from the ACLU (go figure), Bobby Lopez, and myself.  There was also a street agitator representing an anti-police group. Neither he (for the purpose of this article, we will give him the pseudonym of "The Person") nor his organization are worthy of being mentioned because they do not deserve notoriety.  However, his message to Council should alarm any law-abiding citizen.

The Person went to the podium to address the Mayor and Council.  He identified himself and the organization he represents.  He informed the council he had just left an anti-police demonstration which was taking place in front of City Hall.  He called on the Council to support an amendment to the CPLE resolution from Councilmember Nguyen and Ash Kalra that would allow for the formation of a new Drunk in Public Task Force.  Then, The Person said the following:

"There has not been a street response to all the news about racial profiling and the alarming arrest rates in San Jose since news broke in October of 2008.  What that signals is the community has been very patient.  The public has been overwhelmingly patient in hoping that City leadership would step forward and offer a way for us to collectively problem-solve.  But, I can tell you right now after having just left a rally outside... that their patience is running thin".

After concluding his remarks The Person exited the auditorium.

We live in a nation where grievances against elected officials or unpopular legal decisions are settled via a democratic process which includes listening to all sides of an argument or disagreement.  A resolution to the problem is implemented after a committee or group of officials have listened to both sides of the argument and render a majority opinion.  Despite the fact that many persons may disagree with the outcome, the decision is binding and final.  In my lifetime I do not recall "street response" being part of the democratic process.  To me it means rioting or threatening physical harm to others.  In my opinion, when an individual threatens elected officials with violence if they do not get the outcome they so desire, that is criminal and outrageous behavior.

The most disturbing part of this episode is that the Mayor and Council sat there silently after The Person threatened them!  Pete Constant was the only councilmember to speak up on our behalf.   He told the audience that he supports our police officers 100% and so do 999,999 of San Jose's citizens.  I commend Councilmember Constant for his courage to vocalize his support for us in the presence of a hostile, anti-police group.  On the other hand, I would like to condemn Councilman Chu's behavior for giving a warm welcome to The Person's group of thugs, several of whom continued to make threatening comments to the Mayor and Council.  Councilman Chu, with friends like The Person, you won't need enemies.

I believe now is the time for Mayor Reed and the Council to decide just exactly whose side they are on.  Are they on the side of us, the protectors of the weak and vulnerable?  Or are they on the side of the thugs, who attempt to get their way by threatening anyone who opposes them with physical violence. Regardless of how they decide, they can no longer remain a silent majority during these type of incidents.

As always and most importantly, be safe out there.

George

NOTE:  If anyone is interested in watching this or any City Council meeting, you can view it on the City of San Jose's website at http://www.sanjoseca.gov/.  On the home page, on the right hand side, you will see a box labeled "News Room".  Click on "Meeting Broadcasts".  On the right hand side of the next page, you will see "Complete Archives".  Click on City Council and Redevelopment Agency Archives.  Click on "City Council Meeting, May 5, 2009".

This Council meeting lasts for 6 or 7 hours.  The portion of the meeting I reference begins with Bobby Lopez speaking at 5 hours, 49 minutes, and 40 seconds.  I recommend you watch through the meeting's conclusion.