Issues - Juvenile Justice

One of the main reasons I’m running for Supervisor is my life long passion to help our young people, and one of my top priorities is working to reform the juvenile justice system in Santa Clara County. The current system is nearly overwhelmed and what’s most tragic is that youth violence is on the rise.

As the only candidate who has ever served on a school board, I’ve seen up close how vitally important it is for us to keep kids in school, provide for their safety, encourage their achievements, and be there to mentor them when they falter. If not, we are jeopardizing their futures, and ours.

Supervisors have a direct impact on both the County education system and our juvenile justice structure. If elected to the Board, I’ll work closely with my colleagues to build a consensus that the way our children are incarcerated needs an overhaul. I’d like to see the juvenile justice system reformed to the point where Juvenile Hall as we know it now would not exist.

It is not just a dream. The East Side Union High School District, which is the largest in Northern California, did well when I was a trustee for eight years. In collaboration with teachers, parents, volunteers, counselors and administrators, we provided after-school services, and an alternative high school, to divert children from crime. My wife Pattie and I have been honored to be mentors and volunteers for highly acclaimed programs for at-risk youth.

While on the school board I was able to forge important partnerships with the county, the Building Trades Council and community based agencies that decreased dropouts, and increased graduation rates. I lead the community’s effort to build the first new high school in Silicon Valley in over 25 years, Evergreen Valley High School. In other San Jose schools we instituted tough new curriculum standards, lowered the dropout rate and created innovative new programs and partnerships for our most at-risk students.

I’ve experienced the hard work it takes to lower youth crime and increase academic success. But, it is possible. Now, there are new frustrations about impacted schools and youth crime that is suddenly on the rise again in various parts of the County. We can do better, together.

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