HomeMy WebLinkAbout06 15 2026 - Item 9.4 - Diane Ortiz1
Stefan Mercer
From:Diane Ortiz <diane@youthall.org>
Sent:Monday, June 15, 2026 11:20 AM
To:Public Comments; Mayor Greg Bozzo; Council Member Dion Bracco; Council Member
Tom Cline; Council Member Terence Fugazzi; Council Member Zachary Hilton; Council
Member Carol Marques; Council Member Kelly Ramirez
Cc:Kim Mancera; Matt Morley
Subject:EXTERNAL - Public Comment: Amicus Brief, No Staging Policy, Emergency Plan
Dear Mayor, Mayor Pro Tempore, and City Councilmembers,
My name is Diane Ortiz, the CEO of Youth Alliance. I'd like to thank you for unanimously
approving the resolution opposing the proposed ICE facility on unincorporated County land
near Gilroy. I'm writing to ask you to build on your resolution with three actions to provide
critical protections.
1. Before the end of June, join the amicus brief being filed by the County of Monterey with
the Public Rights Project. The brief supports the lawsuit filed jointly by Santa Clara County and
the California Attorney General on June 10. The counties of Monterey and Alameda and the
cities of San Jose and Alameda have already signed on, with more in process. Gilroy belongs
in this coalition.
2. Agendize a "No-Staging Zone" policy for your next Council meeting, prohibiting the use of
City property such as parking lots, parks, and other City-owned or City-controlled land for civil
immigration enforcement staging and operations. City property should be used for City and
community purposes. Gilroy can move quickly, as Campbell, Sunnyvale, and Mountain View
did, by adapting the policies adopted by San Jose (1/13/26) and Santa Clara (2/3/26). These
were developed with thorough review by County Counsel and the San Jose City Attorney, and
have also been adopted by VTA and the Counties of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo,
San Francisco, and Alameda. Gilroy benefits from that legal groundwork.
3. Establish an emergency response plan so the City is prepared to protect public safety
and support residents in the event of a large-scale enforcement operation, using the models
from the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County to strengthen Gilroy's existing protocols.
Your actions have a direct impact on the hundreds of children, youth, and families that Youth
Alliance serves each day, as well as on the dedicated staff, board members, community partners,
business owners, and residents throughout Gilroy and South County. Your proactive leadership
continues to demonstrate your commitment to the safety and well-being of everyone in our
community. Through your actions, you send a clear message that every member of our
community matters and deserves to feel supported, valued, and protected.
Beyond the immense human cost of families torn apart, children losing parents, and neighbors
living in fear, these protections matter for our economy as well as our safety. A March 2026
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report from the Bay Area Council Economic Institute found that mass deportation could reduce
regional economic output by as much as $67 billion annually. Gilroy's businesses depend on
workers and customers who will be driven away by fear and detention.
Gilroy has been and continues to be built by diverse immigrant and farmworker communities.
Thank you for your consideration and leadership.
Respectfully,
Diane Ortiz
Youth Alliance
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Diane Ortiz, MSW
Chief Executive Officer
(831) 636.2853 Ext 123
diane@youthall.org
Youthall.org
310 4th St., Ste 101 Hollister, CA
95023
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