How are Milpitas tax dollars being spent?

Dear Editor:

I serve on the Milpitas Community Housing Commission, which is an advisory body that weighs in on matters affecting Milpitas residents. At a recent Commission meeting there were funding requests totalling over $3,000,000. Some of the organizations included are Catholic Charities, Lifemoves, Project Sentinel, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center, Hope for the Unhoused and others. I asked a number of these organizations how much money was going to be used for Milpitas residents and whether the money is going to be used for residents who are here legally in the United States. I believe that our tax dollars should be used for residents who are here legally first, then we can serve residents who are not here legally. 

A number of the organizations would not answer how much money would be used for Milpitas residents. I got frustrated and used the term, “illegal immigrants.”  At this point, Commissioners Oscar Leon and  Commissioner Suraj Viswanathan interrupted the meeting and forced a vote to censor that term in future meetings. The Commission never returned to my question as to where Milpitas tax dollars are being spent.

Within 24 hours, without ever having spoken with me, I received a text from Mayor Carmen Montano threatening me with legal actions from the City Attorney. What is the basis of this threat?  

A few days later, Assistant City Manager Matt Cano called and told me I needed to resign from the Commission because my verbal use of the term “illegal immigrants” was “insensitive” and “derogatory.” I was shocked because I didn’t know why City Staff was getting involved in a political appointment, and I was also confused about what authority he had. I suspected he was ordered to do this by either Mayor Montano or Councilmember Evelyn Chua, who is the Council liaison to the Commission. I was further confused since in an interview just last week, the US. Attorney in Los Angeles used the term “illegal immigrants/aliens” multiple times. So how can this phrase be the basis of legal action or a request for resignation?

Governor Newsom, multiple mayors in California are asking the same questions as I did.  Where has money been spent, and where and for whom are we spending tax dollars on?  I later asked Cano what term would be appropriate, and he could not answer me. The Commission never suggested what might be an acceptable term. I believe that my right to free speech was violated. 

I am not sure what might happen with my Commission appointment but I am ready to fight to put the legal residents of Milpitas and other cities first and to protect my first amendment rights. 

Tien H. Mai 

Milpitas resident serving on the Community Housing Commission