{"id":1998,"date":"2026-06-13T13:37:32","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T13:37:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=1998"},"modified":"2026-06-13T13:37:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T13:37:32","slug":"good-guys-in-high-heels-continue-ywca-tradition-in-san-jose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=1998","title":{"rendered":"Good guys in high heels continue YWCA tradition in San Jose"},"content":{"rendered":"

Santa Clara County Assistant District Attorney James Gibbons-Shapiro is longtime supporter of \u201cWalk a Mile in Their Shoes,\u201d the YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley\u2019s annual event to raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual abuse. He thinks he might have missed one walk in the past 15 years.<\/p>

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He was at Santana Row again Thursday, rolling up the pant legs of his suit to better show off the block-heel pumps he was wearing. With his hairy legs and black socks, it might not have made much of a fashion statement, but looking good isn\u2019t the reason why the veteran prosecutor of child sex abuse cases is there year after year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fight against child sexual abuse is so important for our community, and every community, and YWCA is an amazing partner with the DA\u2019s office in that fight,\u201d Gibbons-Shapiro said. \u201cAnd if I can walk in these shoes one night to support them, I\u2019m happy to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was among around 600 people who registered, knowing sore toes and aching calves would surely follow after they slipped into their heels and took a lap around the swanky San Jose shopping center, carrying signs and buoyed by cheering onlookers. Lead sponsor Kaiser Permanente brought 120 walkers by itself and also led teams with more than $22,000 in fundraising. UA Local 393, Meriwest Credit Union and Palo Alto law firm Cooley also brought big groups.<\/p>\n

There was a good showing of elected officials, too. Santa Clara County Supervisor Sylvia Arenas took advantage of the situation and wore flats, but San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan had on rope wedge sandals, San Jose Councilmember Bien Doan was in hot-pink, open-toed heels and Councilmember Anthony Tordillos wore a pair of candy-apple red stilettos that were on loan from the YWCA.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think events like this shine an important light on other aspects of safety that don\u2019t always get the light of day that they should,\u201d said Tordillos, who walked in the event for the first time. \u201cSo it\u2019s good to be out here walking in support of domestic abuse awareness and sexual abuse awareness, rounding out what we think of when we think about safety in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n