HomeMy WebLinkAbout06 15 2026 - Public Comment - Clarita Cupa1
Stefan Mercer
From:Clarita Cupa <clarita@youthall.org>
Sent:Monday, June 15, 2026 12:51 PM
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 Clarita, and I am a Resident, Community Organizer. 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 concrete 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
— 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.
This issue matters deeply to me because I was born and raised in Gilroy. I love my community and the
family members who still live here. Their safety and well-being are important to me, especially at a time
when many members of our community feel targeted and under attack.
I am the proud daughter of immigrant parents. Through their sacrifices, hard work, and determination, I
became the first person in my family to earn both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Business
Project Management. For many years, I was content working in the corporate sector.
However, the more involved I became in my community, the more I realized I needed to pivot my career
and become a voice for those who often go unheard. Today, I work with Youth Alliance and coordinate
the San Benito County Solidarity Network.
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Every day, I witness the fear and uncertainty affecting our community. Families are afraid to leave their
homes. Parents worry about being separated from their children. Households are left vulnerable when
one or more family members are detained or removed. The emotional, financial, stress, and social
impacts are devastating.
History has shown us the harm that occurs when communities are dehumanized, marginalized, and
stripped of their rights. The question before us is this: Will we allow fear and division to define our city, or
will we stand together in solidarity and protect the dignity, safety, and humanity of our neighbors?
I urge you to stand with our community and take action to ensure that all families feel safe, supported,
and valued.
Beyond the immense human cost — families torn apart, children losing parents, neighbors living in fear
— these protections matter for our economy as well as our safety. A March 2026 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 built by diverse immigrant and farmworker communities. Thank you for your leadership,
and for taking these next steps for the safety and well-being of our community.
Respectfully,
To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.
Clarita Cupa
Community Organizer, South
County
(831) 636.2853︱Fax: (831) 636.2850
clarita@youthall.org
Youthall.org
310 4th St., Ste 101 Hollister, CA
95023
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