Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Climate Smart topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Youth and climate groups urge San Jose to restore Climate Smart funding after cuts
Summary
Students, climate advocates and the Climate Advisory Commission asked the council to restore non‑personnel funding for Climate Smart San Jose to roughly 2022–23 levels so the program can maintain community grants, partnerships and outreach tied to the city’s 2030 carbon‑neutrality goals.
San Jose — Climate advocacy groups, youth activists and members of the Climate Advisory Commission urged the City Council at the budget hearing to restore non‑personnel funding for Climate Smart San Jose.
Speakers said incremental cuts have reduced the program’s ability to partner with community‑based organizations and to carry out outreach and programs that make electrification, clean‑energy rebates and building‑code updates effective for residents. Manny Bacala, youth representative to the Climate Advisory Commission, said the commission recommends restoring funding to "approximately $625,000 in total" and establishing a permanent base level of non‑personnel funding.
Student speakers from Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action said Climate Smart funding supports community education and helps the city meet its stated goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. "Without adequate funding, climate change will have devastating impacts," one student said, urging the council to protect community grants and the program’s partnerships.
Other speakers including Sierra Club and conservation coordinators urged the council to make the funding permanent and to ensure the energy department can use allocated funds effectively for community partnerships.
Ending
The testimony requested restoring Climate Smart non‑personnel funding to prior levels and ensuring any reorganization of the program does not prevent community grants and partnerships from continuing. No vote on the funding line occurred at the hearing.
