Hammer, Susanne

Susan Walker Hammer was born in Altadena, California in 1938. She spent her childhood in neighboring Monrovia, where she lived in a house built by her grandparents. Her father, Jim Walker, managed an insurance agency he co-owned with Hammer's maternal grandmother, Prairie Krutzch. Hammer's mother, Katrine Walker, was a stay-at-home mother and community activist. Hammer, an honor student and avid tennis player, attended Santa Barbara College, which later became UC Santa Barbara, but transferred to UC Berkeley in her sophomore year where she majored in Latin American history and earned her B.A. in 1960. In the same year, she married Phil Hammer, a law student at UCB's Boalt Hall and a native of San Jose. In 1960, the Hammers traveled to Washington, DC to work for the Kennedy presidential campaign and worked in positions to promote the "New Frontier". Susan Hammer found a position working for the Peace Corps administration, while Phil Hammer worked for the Human Rights Commission. In 1964 they moved to San Jose, where Phil Hammer established a family law practice and Susan Hammer raised their three children (Phil, 1963; Hali, 1965; and Matt, 1968).

From 1976-1980, Hammer served on the Santa Clara County Juvenile Justice Commission. She was also a founding member of the Board of the San Jose Museum of Art, and she served as Board President from 1978-1980. Hammer was elected to the City Council in 1982 and again in 1986. From 1987-1988, she co-chaired the Housing Task Force and Emergency Task Force on Homelessness. Hammer is perhaps best known for her commitment to community development as Hammer's administration focused on community improvement. . She established the Gang Prevention Task Force, a group that united law enforcement, city officials, community groups, and former gang members to form strategies for preventing gang-related violence. The group's efforts were considered a success, as the violent crime rate dropped dramatically.

A strong supporter of environmental issues, Hammer approved and helped implement the Greenline Initiative. The Initiative was first approved by City Council in 1996 but was stalled in a lawsuit initiated by displeased landowners. The court ruled that the city must conduct an environmental assessment before considering an Urban Growth Boundary (Greenline). In October 1998, the environmental impact assessment was completed and the Initiative was re-approved. Concerned with economic development as well as community development, Mayor Hammer worked hard to bring more jobs and industry to the area, and successfully lured high-tech firms such as Sony, Adobe, and Cisco Systems to San Jose. Cisco soon became the city's largest employer, as well as the greatest contributor to the city's tax revenues.

Hammer retired from public office after her second term ended in 1998. Hammer continues to reside in San Jose, where she has remained active in community organizations. From 1999-2002, she served on the State Board of Education. In 2004, her family's commitment to the arts was recognized when the San Jose Repertory Theater was re-named the Susan and Phil Hammer Theater Center. She also received the 2005 Tower Award from San Jose State University for her role in the creation of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library.

From the description of Susan Hammer papers, 1966-1999 (bulk 1989-1998). (San Jose Public Library). WorldCat record id: 144686062