Written by: Milpitas City Coucilmember William Lam, in response to the Milpitas Police Officers’ Association letter
The June 8, 2026 letter from the President of the Milpitas Police Officers’ Association has had a chilling effect on the City Council’s ability to openly engage in budget discussions and exercise its oversight responsibilities.
A growing number of residents and community members expressed outrage and concern over the letter’s tone and content. They have questioned why the President of the MPOA chose to insert himself into the City Council’s budget oversight process and publicly attack elected officials for performing their duties.
As elected officials, we have both the right and the duty to ask questions, seek clarification,
challenge assumptions, and carefully review the City’s budget before making decisions on behalf of taxpayers. Yet the tone and content of the letter left many of us concerned that routine questions and legitimate oversight could result in public ridicule, personal attacks, or further escalation.
In the weeks following its release, councilmembers became concerned about responding
publicly to the letter out of fear that their words could be misconstrued, further escalated, or potentially lead to legal challenges against the City. Rather than encouraging open dialogue and constructive discussion, the letter created an atmosphere in which elected officials felt apprehensive about exercising their responsibility to ask questions, seek clarification, and provide oversight of the City’s budget. Attempts to discourage or silence such democratic process through intimidation, bullying, or personal attacks are inappropriate and inconsistent with the principles of open and transparent government.
No councilmember should feel hesitant to ask questions or seek information out of concern that they may become the target of personal criticism. Whether one agrees or disagrees with a councilmember’s views, questioning staff, examining budget assumptions, and seeking accountability are fundamental responsibilities of elected office. When those responsibilities become overshadowed by personal attacks, the public’s confidence in the democratic process suffers.
The residents of Milpitas deserve a government in which elected officials can engage in
thoughtful debate, ask difficult questions, and exercise independent judgment in the public
interest. No organization or special interest group, regardless of its influence or resources,
should create an environment in which council-members feel reluctant to fulfill the
responsibilities entrusted to them by the people they serve.
“has had a chilling effect on the City Council’s ability to openly engage in budget discussions” Why? You don’t want to share with all of us? It seems that there is a need for *more* openness among the parties so everyone has the same information for making good decisions. Equal cuts may be easy, but the need isn’t equal. I understand the President of the MPOA fighting for union members’ agenda, but there are budget reaities. Along with looking at the number of officers between years, compare numbers and types of calls in that time. What’s the work load like? I’d imagine with the addition of two homeless hotels to the city their workload has increased. Let the numbers do the talking, they don’t have an agenda.
I’ve almost replied to this a few times in harsher language, but will simply say this: The proof of what the Police Union is saying can be found not only in recent budget meetings, but in nearly every council meeting during Carmen Montano’s time as mayor. Lack of preparation, incompetence, and poor treatment of staff have become what the Milpitas City Council is known for around the region.