Contrast Of Haves, Have-Nots Demonstrated In 3-Day Silicon Valley March
SAN JOSE (KCBS) — More than 50 people were taking part in a three-day march focusing on the polarization of wealth in Silicon Valley. March to Heal the Valley is organized by Community Homeless Alliance Ministry (CHAM) a San Jose-based Christian group.
CHAM's Pastor Scott Wagers said the march is to dramatize the gap between the haves and have nots.
"We've got 7,000 homeless still in Santa Clara County and we've got some of the wealthiest corporations in the world in our back yards. What we're trying to do is bring attention to the fact that 22,000 people from the sequester cuts are on the brink of homelessness and up in the North Valley we've got all this money," he said.
Wagers hopes to bridge that divide, not by just bringing in money, but by bringing attention to the issue.
Contrast Of Haves And Have Nots Demonstrated In 3-Day Silicon Valley March
San Jose City Councilman Ash Kalra said giant tech companies headquartered in the area need to do more for the homeless.
"Bring tech CEO's, bring educators, bring labor, bring business, bring everyone to the table and say, 'You know what? This is not acceptable in our valley. Kids should not go hungry in Silicon Valley. People should not go without a roof over their head, here in the most innovative and one of the most wealthy places in the world'," he said.
Kalra said with the high cost of living in the area, and with the sequester cuts, that the need is exacerbated because any kind of federal cuts could potentially leave people without homes.
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