San Jose-Google advisory group is years away

A community advisory group will oversee how to spend millions of dollars allocated to education, affordable housing and rent stabilization as part of Google’s Downtown West development.

But selecting advisors will take a couple years, and distributing funds could take up to a decade.

Community-centered organizations such as SOMOS Mayfair, Amigos de Guadalupe and Working Partnerships USA brokered a $155 million community stabilization fund as part of San Jose’s agreement with Google approved on May 25.

Amigos de Guadalupe Executive Director Maritza Maldonado said nonprofits involved in drafting the fund spoke with a consultant from Google who took down ideas for consideration. Maintaining quality jobs and affordable housing was at the top of the list.

The tech giant’s Downtown West development is conditioned on the company combatting housing and work displacement of San Jose natives. The community advisory committee can decide which of its fights to fund in the form of giving grants to nonprofits specializing in these areas.

San Jose Office of Economic Development spokesperson Elisabeth Handler said the city clerk, City Attorney’s Office and Office of Racial Equity will nominate candidates for the 13-member advisory committee—which will then go to the City Council for final approval.

Candidates can apply for a spot on the committee when applications go online and are shared through city newsletters. Plans for the process have yet to be finalized, Handler…

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