San José Mayor, Council Colleagues and City Manager Stand with Survivors Amid Allegations Concerning Cesar Chavez
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2026
Media Contact:
Seamus Gann, Acting Chief Communications Officer, Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
SAN JOSÉ, CA - Mayor Matt Mahan issued the following statement today in light of recent allegations of abuse involving the late Cesar Chavez:
“I am deeply troubled by the serious and disturbing allegations that have come to light regarding Cesar Chavez, and my thoughts are with the survivors who have carried this pain for decades,” said Mayor Matt Mahan. “As the full scope of these allegations is investigated, we recognize that Chavez’s ties to San José come with a responsibility to ensure we are not further traumatizing survivors. We have cancelled City events associated with the state holiday and will identify ways to honor the legacy of the farmworker movement without celebrating individuals who caused such profound harm to the community.”
Given Chavez’s longstanding ties to San José, Mayor Mahan, along with Councilmembers Campos, Tordillos, Ortiz, and Candelas, will initiate a process to identify locations, monuments, and other sites bearing Chavez’s name or likeness and drive a community-driven initiative that appropriately honors the broader farmworker justice movement without causing further harm to survivors.
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About the City of San José
With nearly one million residents, San José is the largest city in the Bay Area and one of the nation's most diverse and creative. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center in the heart of Silicon Valley has resulted in the world's greatest concentration of technology talent and development.