Step Up Through Public Works
In Santa Clara County, nearly 1 in 5 of our population cannot afford basic necessities each month without financial assistance (according to the Supplemental Poverty Measure).
Today, Silicon Valley is a region of “haves” and “have-nots” with a hallowed out middle class. Too many middle class people have been forced into poverty and too many residents struggle with the high costs of housing, transportation, and health care.
On April 20, 2015, leaders of Step Up partner organizations convened with Professor Scott Myers-Lipton. The discussion centered upon which of the economic rights we should take on as a campaign here locally in our community. At this meeting, it was decided to focus on the first two rights of the Economic Bill of Rights—the right to a job and living wage—through public works.
THREE MAJOR NEEDS
- The growing inequality in Silicon Valley
- The lack of living wage jobs in the valley
- The five non-transportation infrastructure programs that have a $70 million of annual ongoing unfunded needs, as well as a $400 million backlog.
THE SOLUTION
Hire local residents at living wages to rebuild San Jose.
The principles guiding San Jose Public Works are:
- To create living wage jobs to reduce inequality and to approach full employment
- To develop apprentice and training programs, so the unemployed and underemployed have access to the public works jobs
- To create both city-operated and public-private public works jobs
- To devise a funding strategy to raise $100 million annually (e.g., through a gross receipts tax, something that more than 30 California cities have)
THE GOAL
To create 2,500 living wage jobs through public works in San Jose.
If all jobs were awarded to San Jose residents, it would reduce the city’s unemployment rate by 1/2 of a percentage point.
For more information on Step Up Through Public Works, please contact Angela Silveira
