2024 Climate Climate CandidateQuestionnaires
San Jose Questionnaire
Considering San Jose’s Climate SMART Goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, which specific actions would you take to reduce our city’s carbon footprint?
Pamela Campos (D2): Nationally, 20% of greenhouse gas emissions are from cars and most car trips are under 3 miles. We need to increase VTA and Caltrain service to bring more ridership to public transit. San Jose has a transit-first policy and we need leaders who will truly implement that policy into practice. This means working to advocate for more funding into operations and service, to reach a 15-minute wait for transit 7 days a week. We must also ensure a strong regional network manager who is ensuring our increased service is also taking into consideration commuters who make transfers, so their public transit experience is seamless from start to finish. Additionally, we must invest in transit-oriented developments and affordable housing. High housing costs means that you often live further away from where you work, and thus are more likely to drive for your daily commute. The solutions for our housing crisis must be rooted in protection, reservation, and production. I will strengthen tenant’s rights and support anti-displacement strategies; I will ensure public lands are maintained by the government to guarantee affordability; and I will support and champion progressive corporate taxation to generate funds for these proposals, prioritizing local hire and labor friendly practices for all our development projects.
Olivia Navarro (D6): I am deeply committed to helping San José meet its carbon neutrality goals by 2030. As someone who has worked extensively with community organizations, including during the San José floods, I’ve seen how critical it is to act swiftly and collaboratively to meet challenges. Climate change is no different—we need bold but practical solutions. I will support the expansion of San José Clean Energy, which already provides 90% carbon-free electricity, and advocate for incentives to help residents and businesses adopt heat pumps, rooftop solar, and electric appliances. I know that by working with nonprofits and government partners, we can secure additional funding to accelerate these efforts. Investing in sustainability benefits the planet and improves residents' quality of life by reducing energy costs and promoting cleaner air.
George Casey (D10): I support the plan and our overall push to make sure San José is working towards an environmentally sustainable future. We need to work harder to make sure it is funded equitably so that all of our neighborhoods – and neighbors – benefit from the important improvements we make, especially around our transportation infrastructure, including our bike paths. They should be laid out in a way that makes them safe, accessible and logical to make it easy for bike riders to get from neighborhoods to stores and jobs.
We should be focused on building houses where public transit exists and in our downtown corridors.Public transportation must be safe, clean, accessible and affordable for everyone in order to increaseridership and help reduce our carbon footprint. We should be creating buildings that are energyefficient and take the entire built environment into consideration, creating more green spaces for usall to enjoy.
To achieve our Climate SMART goal, San José must significantly and quickly reduce vehicle miles traveled in combustion engine vehicles. What are your plans for this?
Pamela Campos (D2): San Jose’s funding of transit-oriented development needs to improve. Currently, 80% of our federal transportation funding is directed towards maintaining highways and roads, with roughly 20% being dedicated to public transit. However, the majority of this funding is allocated to capital projects, with only a limited portion dedicated to transit operations. As a city, we need to shift our commitment away from over-funding highways and towards expanding public and transit operations. This is necessary to meet our climate change goals, support green union jobs, and create the communities our families want and deserve. Underfunding public transit results in low-quality service and low ridership, which in turn forces people with low incomes to buy cars and encourages increased carbon emissions. To improve our community's access to public transportation, we should support a regional transportation measure in 2024 and advocate for increased funding at the federal level.
Olivia Navarro (D6): Transportation emissions are the most significant contributor to San José’s carbon footprint, and reducing vehicle miles traveled is crucial. I have spent time engaging with community organizations and residents, and I know that reliable public transportation is critical to achieving our climate goals. I support extending BART to downtown San José, electrifying Caltrain, and improving access to cleaner transit options. I also believe we must continue to invest in bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure through programs like Complete Streets to make non-vehicular travel safer and more appealing. Expanding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure will help ease the transition to zero-emission vehicles. I will advocate for increased public EV charging stations, especially in residential and high-traffic areas. I know that reducing car dependency is not just a climate issue—it’s about improving mobility, affordability, and quality of life for everyone in the community.
George Casey (D10): We need to focus on building in areas that have existing public transit infrastructure and ensure we provide reliable public transportation so people can get where they need to go in a safe and timely manner. We should be building in our downtown corridor where access to public transit is already inplace.
San Jose has a shrinking and unequal tree cover, yet trees and other forms of urban greening are recognized as important carbon sinks and as mitigators of extreme heat, which San Jose has seen increasingly due to climate change. What would you do to recover and add to San Jose’s urban canopy and green spaces?
Pamela Campos (D2): Solutions that build resilient, sustainable communities are necessary for addressing the threats of climate change. I will work to fund green spaces, which are essential to our city infrastructure, through private, public, and philanthropic partnerships. I will also support continuing the work to plant denser tree canopies, prioritizing neighborhoods through an equitable lens to ensure trees are planted where they are most needed for improving the social vibrancy of our neighborhoods while providing residents with cleaner air and cooler temperatures. In District 2, we are home to Coyote Valley, a critical wildlife corridor that generations of residents have fought to protect, and I will remain steadfast in my dedication to land stewardship that protects cherished Tribal and Indigenous lands as well as regenerative biodiverse growth.
Olivia Navarro (D6): San José’s urban canopy is critical in mitigating extreme heat, improving air quality, and enhancing community well-being. I’ve seen how much these green spaces contribute to our neighborhoods through my involvement in city-wide cleanups and beautification efforts. However, one challenge is that many homeowners are unaware of their responsibility to maintain trees on their properties. When neglected, trees can die, leading to a loss of shade and the benefits they provide. It's crucial that we explore strategies to engage homeowners in tree care through education campaigns, technical assistance, and incentives. This proactive approach will be more cost-effective than waiting decades for replacement trees to mature and will preserve the existing canopy’s value.
I will also prioritize planting and maintaining trees in underserved communities where green infrastructure can make the most significant impact. These areas often experience higher temperatures and environmental challenges, and investing in their urban canopy will help address these disparities. Expanding green spaces isn’t just an environmental goal—it’s an investment in public health, safety, and community connection.
George Casey (D10): Planting trees and creating an urban canopy has many benefits: cooling the surrounding temperature, cleaning the air and creating a beautiful environment when the right tree is planted in the right place. We should be working more closely with the community and engaging them in tree planting beautification projects. Outreach and education about the importance of trees and their care. It is important to properly care for the trees we already have in our City. There are often State and Federal grants for tree planting and care, these should be sought out and applied for. Creating a healthy and robust tree canopy and green spaces benefits all of us.
This year, a federal court overturned Berkeley’s ban on natural gas installations in new buildings. A similar reach code exists in San José, and there is a current moratorium on its enforcement. What strategies would you support to keep fossil fuel infrastructure out of all new buildings?
Pamela Campos (D2): While I support a ban on fossil fuel infrastructure in new buildings, in the absence of the ability to enforce a ban, I would prioritize other strategies to reduce our community’s reliance on fossil fuels and overall energy consumption. Some examples would include; Expanded free & reduced public transit pass program for low-income residents, building affordable housing in Transit-Oriented Developments, Promoting programs that assist low-income renters to reduce energy use in their homes (ex black-out curtains, removable window treatments to reduce heating/cooling needs, free or reduced cost energy efficient light bulbs and small appliances) and programs that assist low-income and fixed income homeowners make improvements to their homes to reduce energy use and increase the efficiency of the home (ex grant program to install upgraded insulation, energy-friendly windows, incentives to replace appliances with energy efficient options like fridges, stoves, and washers and dryers) and other incentives to switch to electric.
Olivia Navarro (D6): As a licensed property casualty agent with over 20 years of experience working with homeowners and businesses, I understand people's concerns when switching from gas to electric appliances. I will advocate for expanding financial incentives and educational resources to make these transitions easier. Additionally, aligning local policies with state and federal incentives for building electrification is essential. Educating residents and developers about the long-term benefits of electric buildings—such as lower utility costs, cleaner air, and improved public health—will be a crucial part of my approach.
George Casey (D10): It is important to first address the reasoning behind the federal court’s ruling in their overturning of the Berkeley law, because that will allow us to have the information needed to understand what truly can be done in San José at this time, as well as how something can be done in the future. The issue came to court after the California Restaurant Association (CRA) filed a lawsuit, citing the 1975 Energy and Policy Conservation Act, arguing that only the federal government has the authority to regulate energy standards for appliances. Although the main goal is to regulate the type of energy, rather than the standards for appliances, the court’s decision, as well as the moratorium, shows that a simple piece of legislation is not enough. Rather, alternative methods must be employed to ensure that San José continues to progress down a greener path. One method that can be done is to introduce rules that focus on a building’s energy usage. More specifically, by requiring buildings to lower their energy usage without providing an exact blueprint to follow, it will give building owners the freedom to experiment with different methods of lowering their usage. This will create the incentive to switch from gas towards electric or solar appliances. Moving forward, there also needs to be an emphasis on cutting the cost of electricity. The truth of the matter is that, despite being more environmentally conscious, electricity is expensive. This is why I believe that steps need to be taken to bring down the cost of electricity, be it through working together with PG&E or by taking after our neighbor, Santa Clara, and working towards a privatized electrical grid for San José. Furthermore, I believe that our infrastructure needs to be strengthened in order to successfully enact these greener methods, which is why I support our Mayor, Matt Mahan, in his efforts alongside other California mayors in calling upon Governor Newsom to pursue a statewide zero-emission building code.
Extreme weather events— including fires, smoke, extreme heat, and flooding — are becoming more common due to climate change. What steps would you take to prepare for extreme weather events? How would you make these preparations equitable and accessible?
Pamela Campos (D2): I am interested in residents having access to more options for utility services—especially considering the blackouts we've experienced in recent years. While creating local solutions to address our community's energy needs, I believe it is equally important to ensure workers rights are protected under any new public sector opportunities. Many residents have been closely watching PG&E, and the possibility of a publicly-owned utility that does not work for the profit of shareholders is a path worth exploring; however, the conversation must also ensure the new jobs that are created employ fair labor practices, including the right to organize. Additionally, I would ensure new developments (both affordable and market-rate) take into account our changing climate and proactively plan for more extreme weather events such as floods, high winds, and smoke from wildfires.
Olivia Navarro (D6): I will advocate for developing accessible cooling centers, emergency shelters, and additional flood prevention systems, focusing on ensuring these resources are equitably distributed. We must prioritize underserved neighborhoods, which often face the most significant risks, and our plans include targeted outreach to non-English speakers and residents with disabilities. No one should be left behind during a crisis. I commit to ensuring that every resident, regardless of their background or where they live, has access to the resources and support they need to stay safe during extreme weather events. Together, we can build a more resilient and prepared San José, ready to protect all its communities in the face of a changing climate.
These priorities reflect my deep belief that bold climate action must be accompanied by equity, community engagement, and public education. We can build a sustainable future for San José that benefits ALL residents.
George Casey (D10): As our climate continues to change and extreme weather events become more common, it requires a comprehensive and equitable approach from our City to protect our communities. The City of San José has an Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and we must ensure that they have the resources they need and that our communities and elected officials know how to deploy them when a need arises.
Within San José we also have a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program that is all volunteers that could be grown and better utilized by OEM for our communities in the event of an extreme weather event or natural disaster. The CERT members could be activated to help notify neighbors in a flood prone area during creek rise events, for example. Education is also a key component to keeping our communities safe. In flood prone areas or in areas of high fire danger we should have a plan to educate those neighbors on how best to
mitigate risk and where to turn for help in an emergency. During extreme heat we must ensure that we have a way to communicate with our communities on where cooling centers are located and how to get help if needed.
We must ensure that our Climate Action Plan is current and accessible to all. The CAP should include a map of neighborhoods and populations most at risk from extreme weather events. It must include low-income communities, elderly residents, and areas with less infrastructure. The Non-profits that the City works with are excellent resources for understanding where our most vulnerable residents are and what sorts of help they might need in an extreme weather event.
State and Federal grants should be explored to help provide the funding resources needed to ensure we are ready for extreme weather events and natural disasters. By implementing these strategies with a focus on equity and accessibility, San José can enhance its resilience to extreme weather events and ensure that all residents are prepared and protected.