Mer Gives Public Comment at Final City of SJ Budget Hearing
Mer gives public comment at the June 8, 2026 San Jose City Council Final Public Hearing on the Proposed Budget and Fees
San Jose, CA -- Yesterday, Mer Curry Nuñez attended the City of San Jose’s Final Public Hearing with the Mayor and City Council. In her 1-minute public comment, Mer advocated to ensure that education, immigrant defense, and healthcare were prioritized.
Watch Mer’s public comment below.
TRANSCRIPT
Good evening, I’m Mer Curry Nuñez, a D5 resident, and I’m here to urge you to fully protect funding for education, immigrant defense, and healthcare in this June budget.
On education: this budget wisely invests in youth through the Children and Youth Services Master Plan, the SVeF’s Elevate Math program, and high-dosage “Ignite” tutoring which improved grade-level reading by nearly 40 percent in target classrooms. Please commit to sustaining and growing these proven, data-driven programs so that our most disadvantaged students do not lose ground.
On immigrant defense: Legal representation, know-your-rights education, and rapid response are what stand between stable families and sudden displacement. Please make the additional $500,000 available now, to protect our neighbors and families before it is too late.
On healthcare: Programs like the Older Adult Health and Wellness Grant Program funds much needed transportation, and legal and healthcare navigation for seniors. Please make these supports more than a one-year patch because the health of our most disenfranchised neighbors, like our elders, is essential.
This tight budget is about funding priorities. We have to prioritize and fund the things that impact our most vulnerable first. Thank you Mayor and Councilmembers for your time.
