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California Supreme Court Ruling Dramatically Reduces Who Can Be Jailed in Santa Clara County
The Kowalczyk ruling makes it illegal for judges to keep people in jail on unattainable bail. This decision should lead to thousands of people no longer in jail. At a time of an unprecedented budget crisis, this ruling has impact beyond jails and courts. This dramatic reduction in incarceration can also mean the County can move resources that otherwise were earmarked for an oversized incarceration budget into needed supports and programs the people in the county need now more
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De-Bug’s story-telling highlights those closest to the issues who can share the most powerful, captivating, and insightful story.
What’s It Like to be a Victim of Police Violence in Matt Mahan’s San Jose?
Chandra’s been part of the De-Bug world and police justice families since 2015, when her father, Harpo, was killed by SJPD. She shares how her experience has shaped how she views police and how little they have changed in terms of accountability when they harm.
SV De-Bug
Jun 31 min read
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. My name is Deborah T. and I was homeless for five years in San Jose, living in my car with my son after a divorce, a car accid
Debra T
May 207 min read
De-Bug Letter in Response to Mayor Mahan's 2026 Budget Message
Despite the $56 million shortfall, the Mayor is still calling for a budget that prioritizes policing as a strategy to criminalize, unhouse, and gentrify our community while lining the pockets of housing and tech developers to create a San Jose that belongs to the wealthy. It is a budget that deems those of us who have built San Jose for generations as expendable.
De-Bug Families
Mar 178 min read
Gardner Elementary 5th Grader Testimony to Stop His School From Closing
San Jose Unified School District is considering closing multiple schools including Gardener Elementary School in the Gardener neighborhood in San Jose. Many parents and students are speaking out and demanding the district keep their schools and communities together. One of the students, Ethan, a 5th grader at Gardener Elementary, gave his speech at the hearing.
Ethan
Mar 42 min read
The San Jose Execution: A Tragedy of Systemic Violence
Illustration by: F. Bonowicz On January 21 2026, while Mohamed Husien was fleeing for his life from the SJPD, six shots exploded from San Jose Police Department officers’ firearms. The bullets found their home in Mohamed's back. He fell, and as he lay in the middle of the streets time came to a halt. Silence filled the air. 1 one thousand, 2 one thousand, 3 one thousand 4 one thousand. Then, like an off-road vehicle racing to the finish line, a San Jose Police SUV speeds over
Raymond Goins
Feb 273 min read
Youth Walk Out To Protest Against ICE Across Santa Clara County
Youth across Santa Clara County have been walking out protesting against ICE raids in solidarity with their loved ones, and friends, and community. Below is photos taken from the walk outs by Overfelt High School in East Side San Jose and Macdonald High School in Santa Clara.
Daniel Zapien
Feb 81 min read
Open Letter Regarding San Jose Police Department’s Sweep on January 15th, 2026
Open Letter Regarding San Jose Police Department’s Sweep on January 15th, 2026
SV De-Bug
Feb 54 min read
Hiding Poverty for Imaginary Profits
A Cornerstone of National & International Sporting Events What makes the impossible task of moving hundreds of unhoused people out of sight suddenly an undertaking worth taking? An imagined bounty – for the idea of prosperity for some – the City of San Jose will spend money without a second thought – even in the face of unprecedented budget deficits. That’s what the city of San Jose is once again doing with Superbowl 60 and the FIFA World Cup coming to the Bay Area in 2026.
Liz Gonzalez
Jan 224 min read
The Discrimination Playbook: Hiding and Arresting Poverty in San Jose for the Super Bowl & World Cup
This episode of the De-Bug the System Podcast, "The Discrimination Playbook: Hiding and Arresting Poverty in San Jose for the Super Bowl & World Cup" dives into what the Super Bowl and World Cup coming to the Bay Area means for the most vulnerable in San Jose in 2026. We reflect on San Jose's iteration of the common-used playbook that uses public resources and police to hide and arrest poverty locally for the up-scale appearance for our wealthy guests coming to town. We are i
SV De-Bug staff
Jan 121 min read
Brothers In Arms: How Trump and Mahan's Identical Attacks on the Poor Show They Have The Same Core Values
About a month and a half separated Donald Trump from issuing an executive order that mimicked the “responsibility to shelter” policy of San Jose’s Mayor, Matt Mahan.
The parallels between the policies have been written about locally and can be seen with an objective eye. What is missing from the dialogue is the core value that Matt Mahan and Donald Trump share: scapegoating the most vulnerable.
As San Jose and the country at large grow tired of real issues like cost of li
Andrew Bigelow
Oct 17, 20254 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
Portrait of Strength: A Voice from the Guadalupe Trail
The third feature of "Y ou Are The Art.” This project is a photo journalistic series that features community members in their own words...
Khalilah Ramirez
Jul 24, 20253 min read
On the Right Side of History: Michelle's Fight for Justice and Dignity
The second installment of "Y ou Are The Art.” This project is a photo journalistic series that features community members in their own...
Khalilah Ramirez
Jul 23, 20252 min read
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