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<h4>"As a small business owner, hostage negotiator, special needs mom, and sexual assault detective, I've gotten tough jobs done. Now, I'm running to make city government get the job done for you."</h4><h4>-Genny Altwer</h4>

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<h3>Genny gets the challenges San José families face because she’s lived them. She's running for City Council to make city government get the job done for you on housing, homelessness, and public safety. </h3><img src="https://run.imgix.net/91d565ae-c606-4956-bc4b-bc8f5806dd3f/1b14eac6-cd03-4a77-ad9d-2a9e3ddbbf9a/1b14eac6-cd03-4a77-ad9d-2a9e3ddbbf9a.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1536%2C2048&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="25" variant="base"><h3>Raised in District 9, Genny followed in her dad’s footsteps, working in law enforcement as a sexual assault detective and hostage negotiator. Today, she runs a successful small business and is raising her family on the same streets she grew up on.&nbsp;</h3><img src="https://run.imgix.net/91d565ae-c606-4956-bc4b-bc8f5806dd3f/0b7c65cf-40e8-4e49-a970-454abdd0ad86/0b7c65cf-40e8-4e49-a970-454abdd0ad86.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1124%2C1501&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="25" variant="base">Genny grew up in the Pinehurst neighborhood.&nbsp; After high school at Archbishop Mitty, she followed in her dad’s footsteps—earning a degree in criminal justice from San José State and becoming a police officer.&nbsp; As an officer, she took on the toughest cases, first as a detective in the sexual assault unit, and then as a hostage negotiator. And on one tragic case, Genny’s work in the line of duty earned her a police heroism award.&nbsp; She learned firsthand the importance of government getting the job done for people in their hour of crisis.&nbsp; At work, Genny saw how her fellow officers struggled with their health and mental health. So, Genny earned a master’s degree in psychology and opened a therapy practice, providing mental health support to first responders just like her.&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="https://run.imgix.net/91d565ae-c606-4956-bc4b-bc8f5806dd3f/6862fae9-1124-46a4-806d-febabe383ce5/6862fae9-1124-46a4-806d-febabe383ce5.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C7008%2C4672&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="32" variant="base">Today, Genny lives in the Dartmouth neighborhood, raising her two daughters with her husband Marcelo, who still works as a police officer. She’s heavily involved in the community. Genny serves as a commissioner on the City’s Appeals Hearing Board, overseeing blight cleanup in our neighborhoods. She is also a parent mentor for special needs families like hers and serves as a board member on the Branham High School PTA.&nbsp; Genny sees how families like hers are struggling in San José with unaffordable housing, crime, and a homelessness crisis. Mayor Matt Mahan is making real progress on these issues. But he needs a partner on the City Council who will stand up to City Hall insiders and special interests to do the work for our neighborhoods.&nbsp; As a special needs mom, small business owner, therapist, and former police officer, Genny’s gotten tough jobs done. Now she’s ready to get the job done for you on City Council.

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Raised in District 9, Genny followed in her dad’s footsteps, working in law enforcement as a sexual assault detective and hostage negotiator. Today, she runs a successful small business and is raising her family on the same streets she grew up on. 

Genny Altwer for San José City Council

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Genny gets the challenges San José families face because she’s lived them. She's running for City Council to make city government get the job done for you on housing, homelessness, and public safety.

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Too often, City Hall insiders and special interests prevent progress. They’re distracted by old ideological battles and aren’t focused on results. As a hostage negotiator, therapist, and small business owner, you learn to cut through the BS and get the job done.<h3>I’ve got a plan to do that on the City Council:&nbsp;</h3><ul><li>Pay for Performance&nbsp;<ul><li>I believe that City Hall politicians and insiders should not get their automatic pay raises unless they make progress on the issues that matter most: housing, homelessness, and crime. That’s why I’m an advocate for Mayor Mahan’s Pay for Performance Plan.&nbsp;</li></ul></li><li>Expand Dashboards&nbsp;<ul><li>Residents are the customers of city government, and you should be able to see the progress we’re making. San José currently has dashboards for homelessness and housing. I’ll work to expand these dashboards so you can see the status of top District 9 constituent concerns like the city’s speed in addressing blight and potholes.&nbsp;</li></ul></li></ul>

Too often, City Hall insiders and special interests block progress. They’re distracted by old ideological battles and aren’t focused on results. As a hostage negotiator, therapist, and small business owner, you learn to cut through the BS and get the job done. I’ve got a plan to do that on City Council.

A City Hall That Works For You

San José, CA — Genny Altwer, a small business owner and former hostage negotiator, raised over $70,000 from over 200 individual donors including teachers, police officers, small business owners, and working families across District 9 in 2025. Those contributions totaled more than the sum of all other campaign fundraising combined for the District 9 race. Altwer’s support places her in a uniquely strong position entering 2026.“I’m honored to have received support from so many of my neighbors,” Altwer said. “Whether I’m knocking on doors or on the phones, I hear the same thing: We’re ready for a City Hall that gets tough jobs done. City Hall insiders haven’t delivered for our communities, and this support clearly shows that our neighbors have had enough.”Altwer has received endorsements from the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility, and various local elected officials.To view campaign fundraising reports, click <a href="https://anthonyforsanjose.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=783579e45878b8179d56a3a27&amp;id=9d2b45e852&amp;e=eb3ad03691" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. Learn more about Altwer’s campaign at<a href="https://anthonyforsanjose.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=783579e45878b8179d56a3a27&amp;id=9b76f4af1b&amp;e=eb3ad03691" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> </a><a href="http://GennyAltwer.com">GennyAltwer.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Altwer in Strong Position Beginning ‘26, Raised More Than All Her Opponents Combined

Genny Altwer Outraises All Opponents Combined

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Lifelong District 9 resident Genny Altwer, a licensed marriage and family therapist and former police hostage negotiator, is making the case that her professional background and outsider status will position her well to represent the district, which covers southwest San Jose.

Political newcomer enters District 9 San Jose council race

<h4>The Small Business Owner and Former Hostage Negotiator Received Over 200 Individual Contributions.</h4>San José, CA — Today, Genny Altwer announced that her campaign had raised over $70k in its first weeks before the December 31st deadline. The fundraising haul includes donations from hundreds of teachers, police officers, small business owners, and working families across District 9.“If we want City Government to get tough jobs done for our families and neighborhoods, we must build a campaign that includes everyone, from every corner of our community. I’m proud that we’re already doing that,” Genny Altwer said. “The insider status quo isn’t going to solve our housing, homelessness, and public safety challenges. It’s going to take all of us to deliver real change. This first fundraising number reflects that desire.”Altwer has already received endorsements from the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility, and various local elected officials.

The Small Business Owner and Former Hostage Negotiator Received Over 200 Individual Contributions.

Genny Altwer Raises $70k+ In First Weeks of Council Race

When you’re the victim of a crime, it doesn’t matter that San José was just named America’s Safest Big City. That’s an important title, but we still have work to do until everyone feels safe on our streets.<h3>As the only candidate in this race who’s walked the beat, I have a common-sense plan for a safer San José:&nbsp;</h3><ul><li>Hire 100+ More Officers&nbsp;<ul><li>San Jose’s police department is one of the most short-staffed in the country, and we still have too many unfilled positions. I’ll work with SJPD to recruit and retain 100 more of the best officers who understand our community. We need to address officer attrition through programs like down payment assistance and invest in recruiting more qualified cadets to the academy.</li></ul></li><li>Address Root Causes&nbsp;<ul><li>As an officer, I saw it too often: kids with nowhere to go but gangs. That’s why we must continue to invest in summer job and after-school programs like <a href="https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/office-of-the-city-manager/economic-development/san-jos-works">San José Works</a> to give our young people a shot and keep them off the streets.&nbsp;</li></ul></li><li>Alternative Policing Programs&nbsp;<ul><li>While we work to hire more police, I’ll lessen the strain on officers with alternative responder programs like<a href="https://bhsd.santaclaracounty.gov/get-help-now/get-mobile-response"> Santa Clara County’s TRUST program </a>and<a href="https://www.sjpd.org/community/community-services/community-service-officers"> San José’s Community Service Officer program</a> for calls that don’t require an armed response. That way, we can speed up response times and have the police respond to calls only they can address.&nbsp;</li></ul></li><li>Implement Prop 36&nbsp;<ul><li>Voters in District 9 and across California gave Prop 36 a mandate. But too many special interests and insiders in Sacramento <a href="https://www.counties.org/news-and-media-article/unacceptable-state-budget-proposal-falls-short-on-homelessness-prop-36/">refuse to fund it.</a> The measure fights retail crime and mandates drug and alcohol treatment after a third conviction. As an officer and therapist, I’ve seen firsthand what the data shows: treatment reduces crime. That’s why I’ll work with state and local leaders to ensure Prop 36 gets the funding it deserves.</li></ul></li><li>Prevent Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence&nbsp;<ul><li>I was a sexual assault detective for several years. It’s one of the toughest jobs because you're investigating, working with kids and domestic violence victims, who are in their hour of crisis. Too often, victims would be afraid to come forward. We must work to make it easier for every survivor to report these horrific and chronically underreported crimes.&nbsp;</li></ul></li><li>Blight Clean Up&nbsp;<ul><li>I serve as a commissioner on the City’s Appeals Hearing Board, and it’s too common for bureaucracy and red tape to stand in the way of cleaning up blighted property. I’ll cut red tape and stage more neighborhood clean-ups so we can build a brighter, more welcoming, more vibrant District 9. I’ll also ensure we continue to fund programs like <a href="https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/parks-recreation-neighborhood-services/beautifysj">BeautifySJ</a>, which do critical work in our neighborhoods.&nbsp;</li></ul></li></ul>

When you’re the victim of a crime, it doesn’t matter that San José was just named America’s Safest Big City. That’s an important title, but we still have work to do until everyone feels safe on our streets. As the only candidate in this race who’s walked the beat, I have a common-sense plan for a safer San José.

A Safer San José

Join Team Altwer for a pancake social followed by a neighborhood canvas with friends and neighborhood leaders!

Pancake Social with Team Altwer

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Based on the state of play across all government levels, Genny Altwer’s career arc from former hostage negotiator to therapist to now-aspiring San Jose politician seems less implausible and more logical every day.

Hostage negotiator turned therapist eyes spot on San Jose City Council

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Our streets are for everybody, but they shouldn’t be anybody's home. San José is facing a homelessness crisis, and I bring the right experience to address it. As a mental-health professional and former police officer, I know that real progress requires compassion and accountability.<h3>That’s why I’ll work with Mayor Matt Mahan and help him implement a plan that gets the job done:&nbsp; </h3><ul><li>Build Basic Shelter, Fast<ul><li>Spending a million dollars for every unit of shelter is never going to solve this crisis. I believe we need to utilize every available tool to build shelter quickly—such as tiny homes, hotels converted to housing, safe sleeping sites, and designated RV parking areas. </li></ul></li><li>Make <a href="https://backtobasicssj.com/fair-share/">Every Neighborhood Do Its Fair Share</a><ul><li>Every council district and town in Santa Clara County must do its fair share to solve this crisis. District 9 will step up to do our part to take care of our neighbors, but communities across our city and region must do the same.&nbsp;</li></ul></li><li>More Treatment Beds and Mental Healthcare&nbsp;<ul><li>San José is turning the corner on building the shelter we so desperately need. But the State and County need to do their job and provide meaningful mental healthcare and treatment beds for addiction. As a mental health professional, I get this need firsthand and will push regional and state partners to do their fair share.&nbsp;</li></ul></li><li>Implement <a href="https://backtobasicssj.com/responsibility-to-shelter/">Responsibility To Shelter</a><ul><li>If shelter is available, we should work with our unhoused neighbors to ensure they use it. I have the skills to improve city processes in doing that. But if a counselor or police officer offers shelter multiple times and it’s refused, I believe accountability is necessary to keep our unhoused community safe and our streets clean.</li></ul></li><li>Expand No-Encampment Zones&nbsp;<ul><li>We must approach this crisis with compassion, but we can’t allow encampments to stop us from accessing our public parks, playgrounds, and sidewalks. And we shouldn’t let folks live in unauthorized RVs or other vehicles on our residential streets, either.&nbsp;</li></ul></li><li>Use Proven Prevention Programs&nbsp;<ul><li>We can stop homelessness by working to prevent it from happening in the first place. That means using proven programs like emergency rental assistance to keep families in their homes. These <a href="https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/emergency-financial-assistance-reduces-homelessness-risk-california/689431/#:~:text=This%20new%20research%20shows%20that,City%2C%20Chicago%20and%20San%20Francisco.">programs keep families safe and sheltered, and they’ve been shown to save cities money.</a></li></ul></li></ul>

Our streets are for everybody, but they shouldn’t be anybody's home. San José is facing a homelessness crisis, and I bring the right experience to address it. As a mental-health professional and former police officer, I know that real progress requires compassion and accountability.

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An End To Street Homelessness

San José, CA — Today, Genny Altwer launched her campaign to represent the southwest corner of San José, which includes the area between Willow Glen and the Almaden Valley, on the City Council. Altwer, a special needs mom and lifelong public servant, has served in law enforcement as a sexual assault detective and hostage negotiator. Today, she’s a mental health professional and small business owner supporting first responders like her.&nbsp;“We deserve a City Hall that gets tough jobs done. Making our streets safe and clean, lowering costs, and ending street homelessness isn’t easy, but I’ve gotten tough jobs done before,” Genny Altwer said. “The insider status quo isn’t working for families like mine. Housing has gotten further and further out of reach, forcing our young people to move away. Our city is facing a homelessness crisis that demands urgent action. And our police department remains one of the most understaffed in the country. I’m running for City Council to get tough jobs done and make city government work for our families.”Learn more about Altwer’s campaign at <a href="http://gennyaltwer.com">GennyAltwer.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;About Genny AltwerGenny Altwer is a small business owner and former law enforcement professional who is raising her family in the Dartmouth Neighborhood. A mom to two daughters, one of whom has special needs, Genny is running for City Council to tackle the toughest issues facing San José families. She’s focused on building housing that’s actually affordable, creating safe neighborhoods, and addressing San José’s street homelessness crisis. Genny was raised in District 9 and is a graduate of San José State. She also holds masters degrees in criminal justice and psychology.&nbsp;###&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Small Business Owner and Former Hostage Negotiator and Detective is Running to Get Tough Jobs Done.

Genny Altwer Launches Campaign for San José City Council District 9

Come meet the Genny Altwer and Neighbors for a friendly meet &amp; greet, hosted by one of your neighbors in the Carson Neighborhood.

Meet and Greet: Carson Neighborhood

Come meet Genny Altwer and neighbors for a friendly meet &amp; greet, hosted by one of your neighbors in the Carson Neighborhood (near Pinehurst Neighborhood).

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My husband Marcelo and I stretched to buy our home. Today, that just isn’t possible for too many working families like ours. And the way things are headed, it probably won’t be possible for our kids, either. For far too long, City Hall insiders and special interests have stood in the way of making housing more affordable. I’ll stand up to them so we can build a more affordable San José.&nbsp;<h3>I know we can solve our affordability crisis without changing the character of our neighborhoods, and I have a plan to get it done:&nbsp; </h3><ul><li>Homes Near Jobs and Transit<ul><li>We can build new housing without demolishing our single-family neighborhoods, like the one I live in. I’ll push to build housing near jobs and transit, so San José can continue to attract the best and brightest young professionals and companies that want to hire them.</li></ul></li><li>New Housing At Every Affordability Level&nbsp;<ul><li>All our teachers, first responders, and neighbors deserve an affordable place to call home. I’ll push for more affordable housing where it makes sense, as well as housing for those with complex needs like disabilities or mental health issues.</li></ul></li><li>Build Backyard Cottages<ul><li>Backyard cottages, or accessory dwelling units (ADUs), are an affordable way to address our housing shortage. They provide a path for homeowners to earn extra income or a place for an aging parent or recent graduate to live.&nbsp; I’ll make it easier for you to build ADUs on your property. And I’ll push for Mayor Mahan’s <a href="https://backtobasicssj.com/cottages/">plan</a> to have the state help build these cottages at no upfront cost to you.&nbsp;</li></ul></li><li>Cut Through Red Tape&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Too often, City Hall gets in the way of what we need to thrive. Permitting delays, unclear rules, and a decades-old bureaucracy make affordable housing harder to build and more expensive. I will work to streamline development and reduce unnecessary regulation so we can build homes faster and cheaper.&nbsp;</li></ul></li></ul>

My husband Marcelo and I stretched to buy our home. Today, that just isn’t possible for too many working families like ours. And the way things are headed, it probably won’t be possible for our kids, either. For far too long, City Hall insiders and special interests have stood in the way of making housing more affordable. I’ll stand up to them so we can build a more affordable San José.