15 Arrested in San Jose Mayor's Office During Sit-in for Affordable Housing

"It is shameful that in the heart of Silicon Valley, surrounded by such riches, that we have so little help for homeless people on our
Streets."— Rev. Scott Wagers
by Robert Norse & Becky Johnson
R
v.   Scott   Wagers   of   the 'ommunity Homeless Alliance linistry (CHAM) led a group f 50 people to occupy the outer offices of Mayor Ron Gonzales in downtown San Jose on Wednesday night, January 26. The group waited two hours for the mayor to arrive, but he declined to meet with them. Fifteen people subsequently were arrested for waiting after working hours to see the no-show mayor. Lt. Ruben Gazar, in civilian clothes, coordinated the arrests. The arrests were peaceful as participants fervently sang, "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "We Shall Not be Moved." Wagers has called for Mayor Gonzales to open shelters and housing for people who now must live on

the streets.	his policies towards the homeless. The
A mayoral assistant later announced	assistant refused to commit the mayor's
that Mayor Gonzales was at a non-emer-	office to halting raids against homeless
gency medical appointment and praised	people on the streets, expanding homeless

services, establishing a clear policy for affordable housing — or even securing a future meeting.
Wagers, who says he is inspired by the words and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., has been petitioning Mayor Gonzales to provide leadership in easing the crisis created by nearly 20,000 homeless people on the streets of San Jose.
He voiced a blunt message for Mayor Gonzales: "Make something happen. No more words. G» before the City Council. Get us on the agenda. We'll ask for $5 million and make it happen. Let's not put it off ten years. I saw how it happened over the last ten years — nothing happened. Next time tell him it's not going to be here in his office; it's going to be in City Council chambers with at least three times the numbers willing to go to jail. We'll be back."
CHAM wants $5 million for an expansion of the successful CHAP program and other homeless services. The CHAP program, initiated under former Mayor Susan Hammer, helped move 50 families from the floor of the First Christian Church into housing in the last two years. Hammer
See Sit-in at Silicon Valley page 14