De Anza students, staff and Santa Clara residents expressed excitement and concern about the economic impact, homelessness and ICE activity surrounding the Super Bowl LX in Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8.
Some of the locals’ said their main concern surrounding the Super Bowl is the displacement of unhoused people in Santa Clara County.
“It’s essentially trying to make the city look more clean, and hide it from the real issues going on in our city,” said Daisy Castillo, 20, photography major and a Vasconcellos Institute for Democracy in Action intern at De Anza. “They’d rather kick people out than find a solution to where these people can go.”
Matthew Voitk, a food clerk at the Safeway in Rivermark Plaza, shared the similar concerns.
“They are trying to clean the streets to get a better image, so tourists don’t get a bad vibe,” Votik said. “There’s been a lot of patrolling by Levi’s Stadium, and they are pushing everybody out.”
Votik said he experienced homelessness himself a few months ago and sympathizes with those in that position.
The mayor of San Francisco, where Super Bowl- related events will take place, said no changes will be made to existing homelessness procedures. San Jose police swept a homeless encampment Jan. 15, leaving several unhoused people arrested and personal belongings behind.
Some De Anza students said the revenue generated by the event will be beneficial and lead to an increase in tourism.
“A lot of people are going to be coming over which is going to be good and bad for pedestrians,” Angel Martinez Fernandez, 22, economics major, said. ”There’s going be lots of traffic, especially in the Levi’s Stadium area.”
Other residents expressed excitement about the Super Bowl being held in Santa Clara.
“It brings in money, visitors, and enriches our economy,” Andy Ponce de Leon, the head track and field coach at De Anza, said. “There’s trade-offs with traffic and amounts of people but I think the trade-off is worth it,”
Isabella Ibarra, 20, sociology major at San Jose State University and a worker at Levi’s Stadium, said she has mixed feelings about the event.
“I’ve seen on the news that ICE is going to be there, but other than that I’m happy that the Bay gets put on the map,” Ibarra said.
Ibarra said she believes homelessness in San Jose has remained unchanged, adding that she still regularly sees people sleeping on the streets.
Aaliyah Hasni, 18, business financial accounting major at San Jose State University, said she is excited Santa Clara will host the Super Bowl.
“San Jose has been struggling with community engagement,” Hasni said “The Super Bowl is going to be a good way to bring all of its citizens together.”
