Statement at San Jose City Council Meeting 3/2/2021 in response to the COVID-19 Response report

To quote an article from Aubrie Lee: “How much do I and my Disabled comrades have to educate, to struggle, to die, before your ignorance counts as willful? When does “I just didn’t know” become “I just didn’t care”?

The response from the City of San Jose for a large section of the Access and Functional Needs community has been inadequate. No matter what program, people with disabilities are the population that is not heard about or from. We are relegated to behind closed doors and conversations that go unanswered.

I have been involved with the AFN working groups through this city, county, and even state from early in the COVID response. I continue to see the burden of educating still carried by those most IMPACTED and consequently most VULNERABLE. This is unacceptable and the City of San Jose must do better.

I am a person at high risk due to disability and chronic health conditions, I am also a nonprofit executive, an elected Green Party County Council Member, a resident, a friend, an advocate, a daughter and more. Unfortunately, because of the stigmatized word and overall ableism, I have been left behind.