Irene vs. Omar
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Irene
Supports increasing sworn police officers to “safest big city” levels
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Omar
Supports recommendations that would de-professionalize and de-centralize San Jose public safety
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Irene
Supports more parking and vehicle abatement in neighborhoods
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Omar
Opposes new parking throughout D3
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Irene
Opposes new taxes that increase the cost of housing for renters
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Omar
Favors onerous taxes on new housing development
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Irene
Irene supports Laura's Law out-patient mental health treatment which was signed into California law in 2002 and finally adopted by Santa Clara County in 2021
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Omar
"Not sold on Laura's Law. That's been inhumane." (10/29/22, Sacred Heart Forum)
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Irene
Irene wants immediate action for those living on the streets – Shelter-Stabilization 1st, Rental Vouchers 1st, Placement 1st
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Omar
Omar supports current ineffective strategies: housing 1st, continual abatements, and drive-by services to each encampment
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Irene
Serious financial expertise in large and small businesses — managed $80M budgets at IBM and started/operated two small businesses in San Jose
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Omar
Never started a business, never worked in a business, never managed big teams, never had to balance the books to keep a business afloat
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Irene
Hands-on experience with providing housing, owned and managed rent controlled units in D3 and never had an eviction with over 1K tenants in over 30 years
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Omar
No leadership, executive, ownership or direct management roles in delivering housing
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Irene
Hands-on counseling experience working with children suffering from severe mental illness. Understands treatments, traumas, and how this plays a role in current unhoused population
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Omar
No academic experience in psychology, no clinical experience in counseling, no hands-on experience with diagnoses or treatment plans
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Irene
Managed large teams of people at IBM and employees at her small businesses
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Omar
Never managed big teams — only nonprofit and government experience
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Irene
Established ‘Incremental Housing Ladder for Success Plan’ in May 2021 — over 18 months ago
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Omar
Published his Homelessness/Housing for All ‘Blueprint’ in September 2022 which continues the same failed policies of his predecessors
What experience does D3 need?
If you’re going to manage a huge budget, you need in-depth corporate financial experience.
If you’re going to work with businesses, you need small business experience to understand what it’s like to balance the books and keep your business afloat.
If you’re going to help those with mental illness and addiction, you need counseling experience from a psychiatric hospital and psychology education.
If you’re going to need more housing, you need hands-on experience actually providing housing.
We need solutions based on bona-fide experiences.