Genny Altwer
Candidate for City Council Member, San Jose, District 9 · Business Owner/Mother
Genny Altwer grew up in the Pinehurst area of San Jose. She went to Archbishop Mitty High School. She got a criminal justice degree from San Jose State University. Like her dad, she became a police officer. She worked tough cases first as a sex-crimes detective, then as a hostage talker. She won a police award for her work on a big case. After she saw her co-workers struggle, she got a master's degree in psychology. She opened a clinic that helps first responders with mental health. She now runs a small firm. She lives with her husband, a police officer, and their two daughters. She sits on the city's board that oversees blight cleanup. She also helps special-needs families and sits on a high school PTA board.
Positions in brief
Altwer wants real plans on public safety, housing, and homelessness. She points to her time in law and mental health work.
On housing, she wants a city that is more open to new homes and shops. She wants more affordable homes downtown and near transit. She says City Hall insiders block progress. On homelessness, she wants to use Measure E funds for short-term housing, with checks to make sure it works. On safety, she wants more police officers, paired with mental health workers who respond with them. On City Hall, she wants to cut the sway that insiders and special interests hold.
On the issues
- Housing & Homelessness
Wants a more business- and housing-friendly climate, including affordable housing downtown and near transit, and opposes what she describes as insiders blocking new development.
“City Hall insiders and special interests block progress”
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Wants to use Measure E funds for interim housing paired with accountability measures to end street homelessness.
“Our streets are for everybody, but they shouldn't be anybody's home”
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Wants to increase police staffing and pair officers with mental-health professionals through a co-response model.
“we still have work to do until everyone feels safe on our streets”
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Wants to reduce what she calls the influence of City Hall insiders and special interests on development and policy decisions.
“City Hall insiders and special interests block progress”
Source →
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