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Intergovernmental Relations

IGR Photo 080923

The City of San Jose’s Intergovernmental Relations Team (Sarah Zarate, Zane Barnes, Kailyn Kenney, and Steve Stamos), with the City’s lobbyists from Cruz Strategies and Holland & Knight.
 

Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) advances San José's priorities through legislative advocacy at the state and federal level while also engaging in regional coordination aligned with City Council approved legislative priorities. This includes advocating for new funding sources for City priorities. IGR maintains staff in the Office of the City Manager and works with advocacy firms to represent the City in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento.

Letters of Support

To request a letter of support from San José Mayor Matt Mahan or the San José City Administration regarding legislation, policy, funding, or a grant application, please submit a request form at the link below. Completing this form does not guarantee that a letter will be provided, and each request will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Note that if the request is approved, a draft letter will be requested by email.

Request a Letter of Support

Key Functions

  1. Engagement with City Departments: Maintain close working relationships with departments to understand funding and legislative priorities.

  2. Identify Legislative and Funding Opportunities: Work with City departments and partners to provide support in identifying legislative and funding opportunities.

  3. Legislative and Funding Advocacy: Take positions on key legislation that impacts City priorities. Influence how State and Federal funding is prioritized and allocated, including grants and earmarks.

Council Reports

The IGR team reports to the City Council 3 times per year to provide progress updates on advocacy priorities to the City Council and yearly seeks City Council direction to approve the legislative program and legislative priorities.

Legislative Program

The Legislative Program directs the IGR team’s work and is re-evaluated annually. The 2024 Legislative Program was approved on November 28, 2023.

2024 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

The Citywide top legislative and regulatory priorities that align with positions in the Legislative Program are listed below:

  • Reduce Unsheltered Homelessness, Support Unhoused Residents, and Increase Affordable Housing Supply: Support flexibility in homelessness funding, and pursue opportunities to fund the interim housing system and encampment services, including environmental remediation. Support increased supply and funding for permanent affordable housing, and associated operating, safety net, and services funding. Support legislation that furthers affordable housing while maintaining local control of land use. This work will be executed with an equity lens aiming to remedy past government actions that have historically destabilized San José’s communities of color and low-income communities, and excluded these residents from accessing safe and stable housing.

  • Enhance Community Safety and Promote Vision Zero Initiatives: Support funding and policy change that helps reduce crime and makes residents feel safe in their neighborhoods and downtown. Seek to further initiatives and funding to reduce violence and harm from firearms. This work will be pursued with an equity lens to ensure all residents of San José’s diverse communities have their rights and well-being protected. Advocate for legislation and local authority for cities to implement traffic safety measures and pilot initiatives to advance the City’s Vision Zero goals. Support expanded funding for pedestrian and bicyclist safety infrastructure projects and to keep public right of way accessible and clear. This work will be prioritized for the City’s most vulnerable residents and in areas that disproportionately suffer from fatal and severe traffic injury collisions.

  • Advocate for Educational and Employment Opportunities that Foster Equitable Outcomes for San José Families: Advocate for increased economic mobility opportunities and job creation citywide to solve for the impacts of inequality and poverty. Work with regional partners to further educational opportunities for San José residents and ensure equitable access to jobs in tech and advanced manufacturing. Further workforce development programs and mental health programing for youth in conjunction with regional partners. Through a coordinated regional approach, advocate for sustainable and meaningful funding and legislation that advance social, economic, environmental, educational, health, and political equity to eliminate persistent disadvantages and cycles of poverty produced by structural racism and systemic inequalities.

  • Catalyze Downtown Revitalization and Cultivate Equitable Investment in our Neighborhoods: Advocate for tools, resources, and policies to address blight and ensure City streets, sidewalks, and parks remain accessible and available for all. Promote funding and regulatory support for small businesses and vendors to thrive in the downtown core, including attracting private investment, and increased access to public spaces. Ensure equitable distribution of funding throughout the City’s neighborhoods, including investment in recreational areas and open space.

  • Pursue Funding for Equitable, Sustainable, and Resilient Infrastructure and Advance San José's Climate Smart Goals: Advocate for new infrastructure and climate funding to prepare for the City’s current and future demographic needs and build resilience against future environmental disasters. Support the modernization of infrastructure, including stormwater and wastewater, and environmental policies and regulations to expedite cost-effective project delivery. Support legislation and policy that furthers San José’s 2030 Climate Smart goals and provides resources for the City’s residents and businesses to reduce their carbon footprint. This work will be approached with an environmental justice framework to ensure infrastructure investments are targeted in areas that have a deficit in service and where investments make the whole system more sustainable and resilient for everyone.

Program and Priorities do not alter City’s obligation to remain in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION

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