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What's It Like To Be Homeless in Mahan's San Jose?
Editor's Note: For five years, Deborah and her disabled son struggled to find secure housing here in San Jose after a divorce, car accident and job loss uprooted their lives. They lived out of their car in a church-run safe parking program before moving to a permanent supportive housing program which was mismanaged and did not offer reliable security. Mayor Mahan and the City of San Jose are attempting to clean up the city’s image by boasting how they have “solved” the homel
Featured Story
De-Bug’s story-telling highlights those closest to the issues who can share the most powerful, captivating, and insightful story.
The Common Racism of the Special Circumstance: Mr. William’s Fight Against Racial Bias and Life Without the Possibility of Parole
De-Bug organizers, Yolanda and Cynthia, joined Pillars of the Community Participatory Defense Hub in San Diego in support of Anthony Williams and his family. Anthony had a Racial Justice Act (RJA) evidentiary hearing challenging the racial disparities of Special Circumstance and Life Without the Possibility of Parole sentences. Below is Yolanda and Cynthia's court reporting from the 3 day RJA hearing.
Yolanda Gomez & Cynthia Dalcourt
Apr 245 min read
AB 1958 is Vital to Make the RJA as Consistent as Possible Throughout California
The Racial Justice Act prohibits bias or discrimination in charging, conviction, and sentencing based on a defendant's race, ethnicity, or national origin, but its implementation has been slow going. Many District Attorneys are refusing to hand over the data necessary to file statistical claims. Judges are interpreting the RJA according to their own understanding of race, the law, and what they think the proper remedy is. AB 1958 (Kalra) seeks to clarify the RJA.
Cecilia Chavez
Apr 102 min read
Straight Outta The Gang Database: Challenging Gang Allegations through the RJA
San Mateo County Participatory Defense Organizer Jamilah Rosales-Webb writes about a major prima facie win in her hometown of East Palo Alto and East Menlo Park. A breakthrough for CRJA claims, Chris Echols, through his attorney Roscoe Elliot, won a major hurdle to challenge the entire infrastructure of the Menlo Park Police gang database that has criminalized Black and Brown individuals in the community for years.
Jamilah Rosales-Webb
Feb 254 min read
RJA Violation Found Against a Prosecutor’s Expert Witness
Xavier España detail a recent RJA violation found against a District Attorney Office expert witness who tried to associate the Latinx community with domestic violence to prove the defendant was guilty.
Xavier España
Feb 25 min read
Protect Your People Public Safety & Justice Committee Community Report: A Sharing of Direct Experience, Analysis, and Critique of the Santa Clara County Criminal Legal System from January-August 2025
Editor's Note: The Protect Your People Public Safety & Justice Committee Community Report was assembled by De-Bug families and organizers...
SV De-Bug staff
Sep 18, 20251 min read
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