“Take Back D3” We need change with a business mind and experience like Irene Smith…

This time, it’s different.

When I ran for D3 councilmember in 2022 against Omar Torres, I think it’s fair to say that the race was fundamentally a contest between:

•  More of the same: Omar’s alignment with (what I consider to be the slow, expensive, lumbering) City Hall status quo, and

• Change (my calls for quicker, less expensive, more accountable reform to homelessness, housing, and fiscal oversight).  

More of the same–won.

But as we kick off the D3 special election, I’m predicting a much more favorable landscape for reform candidates like me. Here’s why:

1.) The situation on the ground for residents in D3 has not improved.  No fair-minded person can deny that blight, environmental degradation, crime, business failures, sideshows, traffic & parking problems–all remain at unacceptable levels in D3. And let’s be frank: whatever strategies local gov’t are implementing to fix these problems, aren’t getting it done in D3.  Residents are hip to the excuses and prevarications from elected officials and are eager to see real change. 

2.) Homelessness is only a little bit better–and is improving way too slowly.  While the City and County have done some good things (SJ RV parking site, SCC rapid re-housing program, tiny homes, continued efforts on Homekey solutions) they’re small-ball answers to our big problems. A shelter here, safe parking there, a few more beds down the street–this won’t get it done. The significant solution missing from this strategy is large-scale congregate housing, much like the Salvation Army housing solutions, which I support 100%.  And until we implement that kind of solution, we will be facing decades and decades of decay in D3. 

3.) Democracy still under siege at City Hall.  I remain floored that there were voices on the SJ Council calling for appointments instead of elections for D3. And whether it’s bond measures or increased taxes or eliminating public comment for infill housing, it’s as clear as Mt. Hamilton on a sunny day that City Council and Staff neither seek nor respond to popular will on important issues. We need a radical reimagining (with an Office of Public Outreach: Improving citizen input and trust in government such as I have advocated) of how the city identifies and responds to residents on key issues. 

This time, the landscape has changed.

The wind’s at our back.

And this time, we can bring real change.

Irene