Jan Bernstein Chargin
Gilroy City Council Candidate Jan Bernstein Chargin
Jan Bernstein Chargin
I have lived in Gilroy since 2002, serving as Director of Public Information at Gavilan College until retiring last year. I raised my three children, engaged with the community, and fell in love with my adopted home.
Like many, I am troubled by the growth of our unhoused population, both in Gilroy and regionally. I have led the Gilroy Homeless Outreach Task Force, helped found the Gilroy Compassion Center, and co-founded PitStop Outreach. My commitment goes beyond serving meals: I’ve served as a board member for Destination: Home and on the Santa Clara County Continuum of Care, and developed proposals for tent villages, safe parking, and tiny home communities in different parts of our county. We need appropriate housing with the services needed to manage long-term mental health, addiction, and healthcare needs.
Homelessness is not my only concern: I believe a city and its residents need the arts and culture to thrive. I have served on the boards of the Gilroy Arts Alliance, Leadership Gilroy, and STAR Arts Education, and event committees at Gavilan College.
As Gilroy continues to grow we must grow smarter, with attention to our environment and quality of life. We must address inequality, both in incomes and in access to services. Although our new neighborhoods are beautiful, we have older neighborhoods without parks, and streets without sufficient lighting. We are largely segregated by income and ethnicity. We have roads in need of repair. New developments don’t have good access to the freeway or train station, or neighborhood commercial areas. Every neighborhood in Gilroy must have a voice, and the services needed for a good quality of life.
Gilroy has many strengths along with great challenges. Let’s work together to solve problems, despite our differences. I hope to serve ALL of Gilroy on our City Council.
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