“He wasn’t at that time mayor of the 10th biggest city,” Berger said, “just Sam our neighbor.”But Liccardo also had his detractors, chiefly labor interests with whom he sparred as both a two-term downtown city councilmember and as mayor. He also said the mayor didn’t work with council colleagues effectively to deal with homelessness, affordability and poverty in immigrant communities. “Sam Liccardo was a lackluster mayor who failed to meet the challenges of his times,” said Brownstein, a onetime top aide to Mayor Hammer. San Jose also has piloted what Liccardo calls “quick build” housing, often referred to as “tiny homes,” as temporary shelter for the unhoused. Liccardo was first elected mayor in 2014 in a close race, promising to defend voter-approved pension reforms that city unions were fighting in court.

Source: Ethiopian News December 23, 2022 22:10 UTC