San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo declared Wednesday that Santa Clara County's policy to keep the jail population low for health reason is putting the city at risk.
In a news briefing, the mayor said such policy has created a revolving door for repeat criminals and is calling for the county to change it.
Santa Clara County executive Jeff Smith explained that the county releases low level offenders from its jails to prevent COVID outbreaks. He also said there's no evidence the program is creating a pipeline for repeat offenders.
But the mayor disagrees. He believes the policy in place is sending too many dangerous criminals back onto the streets.
Liccardo referenced Frankie Pollesel as a specific example.
Pollesel was released several times on zero bail for non-violent crimes and is now accused of committing two murders.
"It's certainly not helping that we have a system that is pushing more people back on the street after they've committed repeat offenses and violent offenses," the mayor said.
Several business owners also said they've seen the same faces over and over again, including the owner of Mezcal restaurant in downtown San Jose.
"The same repeat offenders break my windows, my planter boxes and graffiti," said restaurant owner Adolfo Gomez.
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County executive Smith said they have no plans to change its inmate reduction policy and told NBC Bay Area the release of low level offenders is still necessary because COVID is a real concern.
"I think the mayor has a misunderstanding and lack of information about the issue," Smith said. "There are multiple offenders and there is no evidence that the repeat offenders are the ones being released in order to protect the population."
He also accused the mayor of playing politics, saying this is a move to bolster a colleague's mayoral campaign.
"I think he's trying to play a law and order game for his friend Matt Mahan," Smith said.
Mayor Liccardo also argued the decisions on who to release are being made by county staff, when they should be made by judges.
Smith said that's not true.
