Law Foundation Gives Low-income Residents Voice in Google Development

Last year San Jose City entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement with Google to build a new campus in the city's downtown corridor. The development is expected to create 6 million to 8 million square feet of office space that will house at least 20,000 workers. 

For low-income people living in and around San Jose, displacement is all but guaranteed unless preventive measures are put into place. 

Earlier this year, San Jose City Council organized the Station Area Advisory Group, comprised of nearly 40 companies, neighborhood associations, individuals and non-profit organizations tasked with gathering and processing community input on the project, as well as other development in the Diridon Station Area.

As the only legal services provider invited to join the group, the Law Foundation is advocating for measures aimed at protecting low-income residents.

"After learning of Google's plans, we knew how important it was for the Law Foundation to advocate for equitable development in the Diridon corridor, meaning development where everyone has access to this incredible opportunity and no one is displaced," said Supervising Attorney Nadia Aziz.

"Most clients arrive at our office after they've received an eviction notice because their landlord is looking to cash-in on the housing boom. We are advocating to prevent the notice from being issued in the first place."

As part of the SAAG, the Law Foundation has advocated for solutions to the displacement crisis including advocating for affordable housing funding, a set-aside for affordable housing units, stronger tenant protections, and funding for relocation, emergency assistance and legal assistance for people who are displaced.

Q&A with Law Foundation Senior Attorney Kate Manning, Esq.

Kate Manning has worked for the Law Foundation since 2007. She has experience representing children in family and probate court as well as individuals with physical and mental health disabilities. More recently, Kate's work has focused on securing residency for immigrant children who have crossed the U.S. border unaccompanied and who were abused, neglected or abandoned by their parents.

Kate received her undergraduate degree from UC Santa Barbara and attended law school at City University of New York.

Why did you become a legal aid lawyer? 

I was living in New York City after college and volunteering with CASA as a court-appointed special advocate. My role was to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. At the time I wanted to be a social worker. The experience made me realize how important legal aid lawyers are to foster youth and children involved in the child welfare system. The lawyers gave these kids a voice, and it became very clear to me that I wanted to be that voice.

What is most meaningful to you about this work? 

Knowing we are helping kids feel safe. Some of the children I work with have been through such terrible things. They've been very badly abused by family or attacked by gang members. Whether we are giving them an opportunity to live permanently with a stable family member locally or as a legal immigrant in the U.S., we are providing them with a sense of safety they haven't experienced before. I feel really good about that.

What do you see as the greatest strength of the Law Foundation? 

To be able to provide legal services for free to people who otherwise wouldn't be able to access legal services at all. It sounds so simple, but legal aid has the power to transform lives.

What TV shows are you binge-watching these days? 

Stranger Things and Peaky Blinders

What do you enjoy doing when you're not working? 

When I'm not working I'm usually driving my kids around. Otherwise I enjoy hanging out with my kids at the pool, hiking, backpacking and biking.

Law Foundation of Silicon Valley Applauds Court's Decision to Uphold Flores Settlement Agreement

(SAN JOSE, Calif.) – The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley today issued the following statement from CEO Alison Brunner applauding the decision by U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee to uphold the Flores Settlement Agreement and protect the rights of immigrant children and their families.

“As co-counsel in the Flores litigation, the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley applauds the decision by Judge Gee to uphold the settlement agreement and deny the Trump administration’s request to detain children and families in unlicensed facilities for the duration of their immigration proceedings, which in most cases will be years.

“Our work with immigrant children gives us an important perspective into the current family separation crisis at the border, and we share the outrage of many in our community about immigration policies that separate children from their families or place them in detention facilities.

 “As outlined in the Flores Settlement Agreement children should be treated with ‘dignity, respect and special concern for their particular vulnerability as minors.’

 “The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley will continue to fight for the release of immigrant children and families into the community where they can seek protection of their rights.”