San Jose councilmembers team up to lobby city - San José Spotlight

San Jose Councilmember Sergio Jimenez and former Councilmember Raul Peralez have partnered to launch a new consulting firm, Brownstone Solutions, aimed at lobbying city officials and public agencies for various clients, including nonprofits and businesses. Jimenez, who will be leaving his council position at the end of the year, emphasizes his commitment to following the city's "revolving door" policy, which prohibits lobbying for a year after leaving office. However, Peralez, having already completed his term in 2022, is not bound by this restriction and has been operating his own consulting business for about a year. The emergence of Brownstone Solutions underscores the growing trend of former San Jose policymakers transitioning into lobbying roles, which has raised ethical concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest. In response to these worries, San Jose has enacted a "cooling off" period that was recently shortened from two years to one for former officials.

Jimenez has secured two clients for his firm, though he has not disclosed their identities. Peralez intends to continue his work as a police officer while maintaining his consulting business on a part-time basis. This development suggests an ongoing evolution in the dynamics of political influence and lobbying within the region.