Pressure on San Jose City Councilmember Omar Torres to resign is increasing, with new calls for his resignation from two influential business groups – the San Jose Chamber of Commerce and the San Jose Downtown Association.
The business groups’ letters follow similar pleas from Torres’ nine council colleagues and Mayor Matt Mahan and the city police officers’ union that the 3rd District council member resign immediately, based on revelations in an Oct. 1 police affidavit of sexually explicit comments by Torres about young boys.
Police said they are continuing a criminal investigation of the often lurid messages between Torres and a Chicago man over a multi-year period. Torres’ attorney confirmed that the messages were authentic but do not constitute any crime. The council member has not been arrested or charged with any crime.
Business leaders are concerned that an absent council member under police investigation could jeopardize ongoing downtown development issues. Torres’ 3rd District includes most of downtown San Jose.
Torres has not attended any City Council or committee meetings or public events since the revelations.
Alex Stettinski, CEO of the San Jose Downtown Association, emailed a letter today to Mahan and the city Council “on behalf of the San Jose Downtown Association, and [the] 2,000-plus businesses and property owners it represents… to express our support for the mayor and city council’s call for the resignation of Councilmember Omar Torres.”
“The allegations against him are both shocking and serious, and we believe they make it impossible for him to effectively serve the constituents of Downtown San Jose,” Stettinski wrote. “In light of this crisis, it is essential that the needs of our vibrant downtown community remain a priority.
Leah Toeniskoetter, president and CEO of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, wrote in a letter emailed Thursday to Mahan and the council that “while we respect the due process of justice and the legal proceedings that may follow, it is clear that the council member [Torres] can no longer effectively serve the residents and business of District 3 or the broader city.”
She said the chamber wanted to express its strong support for the council’s joint request calling for Torres’ resignation, and for its “efforts in safeguarding the principles of good governance for our city.”.
“The challenges faced by businesses in District 3 often resonate throughout the city, and effective representation is essential in addressing them,” Toeniskoetter wrote. “With mounting concerns over the council member’s ability to lead, we believe that this decision reflects the council’s commitment to transparency and upholding the public’s confidence in their elected officials.”
Stettinski announced the creation of a “D3 Downtown Leadership Work Group” that will meet regularly with Torres’ district staff, the mayor ‘s staff and city departments, to “focus on addressing the most pressing issues facing our downtown area and ensure that our community continues to receive the attention and support it deserves during this difficult time.”
“By joining forces with city leaders, we can maintain the momentum of growth and prosperity for Downtown San Jose,” he wrote.
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