Santa Clara County scoffs at San Jose mayor’s plan to arrest people for refusing shelter

SAN JOSE MAYOR Matt Mahan wants Santa Clara County to scale up shelter and health treatment options in response to the city’s renewed crackdown on homelessness.

During the City Council’s March 18 discussion on Mayor Matt Mahan’s 2025-26 March budget message, Councilmembers David Cohen and Domingo Candelas sought to involve county officials in the mayor’s “Responsibility to Shelter” initiative — which would allow for police to arrest homeless residents who refuse shelter after three attempts within 18 months. But county officials continue to scoff at the city’s plan to increase the detainment of homeless residents, leaving San Jose with an uphill battle in putting Mahan’s initiative to work.