Statement by The Senate
On Saturday, State Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) and Assemblymember Ash Kalra (Assembly District 25), along with an exceptional panel, successfully convened a Town Hall on Racial Justice and Poverty at the Silicon Valley Career Technical Education Auditorium. This event, attended by community members and leaders, shed light on the pressing racial inequity and economic disparity issues in Santa Clara County.
“Too often, our system conflates detention with safety, especially for young girls, women, and gender-expansive youth of color, detaining them for nonviolent offenses linked to basic survival. At the Young Women’s Freedom Center, we challenge this narrative by providing alternatives that empower and support self-determination,” said Alexis Roman, Director of the Young Women’s Freedom Center of Santa Clara County.