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On August 7th, 2018, all the hard work that my team and I have been putting in over the past few months for planning our 4th annual National Night Out finally paid off at Emma Prusch Park! It was great to recognize the positive relationships that the police and community can foster. With the help of our sponsors we were able to have free food and give away over 1,000 backpacks full of school supplies to the children that came out. Viva Parks brought back the zip line for the 2nd year in a row and added an inflatable obstacle course and archery! To see all of the fun that was had at the event, keep scrolling down!
Not only was Viva Parks at National Night Out but they will have their family friendly events throughout our San José parks up until the end of August. Your continued support of these community events has helped activate San José parks in new ways and keep children active in the summer. I wonder what Viva Parks will have in store for us next summer!
As schools start to get back in session, it is important to remember that traffic will be more congested compared to the summer months. Our friends from Department of Transportation have a few tips on how to be safe around school areas both as pedestrians and drivers. Going back to school for some high school seniors also means applying to colleges and for scholarships. I have added in information about the Gates scholarship that not only gives financial help, but also gives career guidance. If you are a high school senior or would like to refer a high school senior to the scholarship, scroll down to learn more about it.
This month's newsletter includes a wonderful Business Spotlight by my staffer Jorge Casas. He will be going out to a business in the district each month and interviewing the owners and trying out the business. This month he went to a beauty salon on Alum Rock Ave and ended up with a great haircut! I heard he is thinking about going to a bakery for next month's Business Spotlight, so stay tuned!
Many thanks,
Vice Mayor / Vicealcalde
Magdalena Carrasco
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Estimado vecino,
¡El 7 de agosto de 2018, todo el trabajo que mi equipo y yo hemos estado realizando durante los últimos meses para planear nuestra 4ª National Night Out finalmente se hizo realidad en el parque Emma Prusch! Fue un placer reconocer la relación positiva que la policía y la comunidad pueden fomentar en San José . ¡Con la ayuda de nuestros patrocinadores pudimos tener comida gratis y regalar más de 1,000 mochilas llenas de útiles escolares para los niños que asistieron al evento! ¡Viva Parks nos ayudó a traer la tirolesa por segundo año consecutivo e incluso agregó una pista de obstáculos inflables!
Viva Parks no solo estuvo en National Night Out, sino que también tendrá sus eventos familiares en todos nuestros parques de San José hasta finales de agosto. Su continuo apoyo a estos eventos comunitarios ha ayudado a activar los parques de San José de nuevas maneras y mantener a los niños activos durante el verano. ¡Me pregunto qué que va a tener Viva Parks el próximo verano!
Cuando las escuelas comiencen a volver a la sesión, es importante recordar que el tráfico estará más congestionado en comparación con los meses de verano. Nuestros amigos del Departamento de Transporte tienen algunos consejos sobre cómo estar seguros en las áreas escolares tanto como peatones y conductores. Volver a la escuela para algunos estudiantes del último año de la preparatoria también significa applicar a universidades y a becas. He agregado información sobre una beca que no solo brinda ayuda financiera, sino que también brinda orientación profesional. Si eres un estudiante de último año de la preparatoria o te gustaría recomendar un estudiante de último año de la preparatoria a la beca, sigue leyendo a hacia abajo para obtener más información sobre la beca.
El boletín de este mes incluye un maravilloso Business Spotlight de mi empleado Jorge Casas. Él irá a un negocio en el distrito cada mes y entrevistará a los propietarios y probará el negocio. ¡Este mes fue a un salón de belleza en Alum Rock Ave y terminó con un buen corte de pelo! Escuché que está pensando en ir a una panadería para el Business Spotlight del próximo mes, así que estad atentos.
Muchas gracias,
Vice Mayor /
Vicealcalde
Magdalena Carrasco
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| National Night Out Recap! |
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Our 4th annual National Night Out at Emma Prusch Park was a huge success once again! It is so great to see families come join me at this event and have fun! None of this would have been possible without the support of the community, the sponsors, and the volunteers.
Looks like these kids are ready to go back to school with style and with the tools they need to succeed in their backpacks! Each backpack that we gave out at the event came with a notebook, pens, pencils, a pair of scissors, a sharpener, a glue stick, and a free pass to the skate park at Lake Cunningham!
A special thanks to the awesome moms that volunteered to organize the backpack giveaway and were proud to show off their #TeamCarrasco t shirts! Each year these wonderful ladies come back to organize how the backpacks are given out and ensure that each child gets a backpack.
City Manager Dave Sykes, Chief of Police Eddie Garcia, and Senator Kevin De Leon joined me to take this picture.
I had some wonderful guests come and join me on stage to raffle off some prizes! Thank you Senator Kevin De Leon and Assemblymember Ash Kalra for not only coming to speak at the event, but for helping pass out bikes, pink skate boards, and even a Crockpot! |
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Viva Parks will be in its final month during the month of August! Viva Parks started as a pilot program in District 5 in 2015 to engage neighborhood residents in health and wellness activities, cultural dance, and movie nights. This program has continued to show success in uniting the community and providing fun opportunities like rock climbing and free fitness demos that is has spread out into the rest of the San José districts. Below is calendar of all the Viva Parks events within District 5 for the month of August and I can't wait to see you there!
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Summer seems like the perfect time for kids to enjoy the break from school without learning. However, continuing to read throughout summer vacation is crucial. Children who do not read during the summer may possibly lose up to 3 months of reading progress. Students may find more difficulty when returning to the school year. Reading allows for the children to k
eep their brain active in preparation for the upcoming school year while still learning. Be sure to go to your local library and find a book for your child. You can go to the San José library website
www.sjpl.org/kidsreads
to find booklists for children and programs where they can track their summer progress.
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During the summer, many kids resort to sedentary activities such as playing video games or watching TV. However, staying active during the summer is extremely helpful and important. Exercise helps control weight and lowers the chances for obesity. Exercise also improves the quality of children's sleep. Remaining active helps children to fall asleep much quicker and also allows for a more restful sleep. In addition, exercise helps with cognitive development that can help your child during the school year, such as increased concentration. Fun activities include going to the park, taking family walks, joining a sports team, and even taking a family zumba class!
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San José's Department of Transportation wants to make sure everyone driving, walking, or biking to school is safe. Below are a few tips for parents and students that can help prevent traffic accidents in our city. To learn more about the Vision Zero initiative from San José's Department of Transportation, go to
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| Gates Scholarship Information |
August is a great time for incoming high school seniors to start applying for scholarships if they plan to apply at 4 year universities once school starts. Although there are many scholarships to apply for, a great start would be The Gates Scholarship (TGS). The Gates Scholarship is aimed at helping America's top minority students with a prestigious scholarship. TGS is a highly selective, full scholarship for exceptional, Pell-eligible, minority, high school seniors.
Starting in 2018, the scholarship is being awarded to 300 student leaders each year, with the intent of helping outstanding minority students who come from low-income backgrounds realize their maximum potential. Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance that is not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
One of the unique benefits that this scholarship has compared to other is that it also provides Scholars with various online support services designed to help them excel in their degree programs, graduate, and make a successful transition to their chosen careers. These include mentoring, academic support, career and internship guidance, advice, and job opportunities. Gates Scholars will also be connected to a network of accomplished peers that they can tap into for support and advice.
Here are some important eligibility requirements to know before starting the application process:
- Be a high school senior from at least one of the following ethnicities: African American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian/Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
- Be Pell Grant eligible
- Be a US citizen, national, or permanent resident
- Have and maintain a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale
The deadline is September 16th so get started on it soon!
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| Safe Parking Program - Amigos de Guadalupe |
The housing crisis in Silicon Valley forces families and individuals to make the difficult decision every day and night of where to find a safe place to stay and access services.
Call (408) 509 9221 to learn more about overnight parking for residents living in their vehicles,
and get linked to housing support and wrap around basic need services @
Amigos de Guadalupe: 1897 Alum Rock Ave #35 San Jos
é CA 95116
La crisis de la vivienda en Silicon Valley obliga a las familias e individuos a tomar la difícil decisión todos los días y noches de encontrar un lugar seguro donde quedarse y obtener a los servicios necesarios para sobrevivir. Llame al (408) 509 9221 para obtener más información sobre el estacionamiento durante la noche para los residentes que viven en sus vehículos, y conectarse con el apoyo de vivienda y los servicios básicos para sobrevivir @ Amigos de Guadalupe: 1897 Alum Rock Ave # 35 San José CA 95116
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While summer is coming to an end, we must still remember to protect ourselves from the heat while having fun. You can take actions to protect yourself from the heat. Wear lighter, loose-fitting clothing along with a hat and sunglasses. Remember to consistently keep drinking cool water. San José also has five community centers dedicated as cooling centers to provide a safe space during the heat. Once the temperature exceeds 97 degrees, the cooling centers are opened to the public. The cooling centers are Alum Rock Youth Center, Bascom Community Center, Camden Community Center, Roosevelt Community Center, and the Seven Trees Community Center. The cooling centers will open from Mondays through Saturdays. Be sure to go to your local cooling center.
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Business Spotlight: Braz Beauty Salon
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We may often overlook what it takes to run a successful business, but we would like to take the time to acknowledge people who are doing just that. Putting not only financial investments in terms of loans and personal savings, but also physical and mental time, and even their health to keep the business going strong. Staying motivated, while working long hours, sometimes seven days a week with no vacation time. Making difficult decisions and taking risks, which is not something that comes naturally for everyone. All the while entrepreneurs/business owners must balance family and work, a sacrifice that cannot be taken lightly and one we must acknowledge and appreciate.
One business owner who knows this all too well is Josefina Braz, owner of Braz Beauty Salon located on the corner of 1601 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose, Ca 95116. Josefina migrated here in 1989 from Sinaloa Mexico leaving everything behind in search of hopes and dreams. She first arrived in Santa Maria, Ca, moving to San José with her husband shortly after.
Josefina has been at the same location for 23 years offering full array of services for her clients including but not limited to hair color, highlights, waxing, perms, and extensions. She has a small, but dedicated staff and they are waiting to fulfill your next request. She takes much pride in her work and always treats her clients like family. She has an ample waiting area with a large TV and a vending machine with stores and cafes within walking distance in case you may have to wait. Please stop by and experience for yourself the excellent service that Josefina and her staff has to offer.
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It's Now Easier To Build An ADU In San José
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San José has eased the rules for building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), also called a granny unit or secondary unit. Lots as small as 3,000 square feet with a single-family home qualify.
Using the worksheet, our planners will help with questions such as:
- What if my property is in a Planned Development Zoning District?
- What are the rules for setbacks, height limits, and parking for my project?
- What do I need to do to get a building permit?
Or, find answers to these and other common questions at www.sanjoseca.gov/ADUs.
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| Capitol Park Neighborhood BBQ Recap |
On Saturday July 28th, families and San Jose Police came together to have a fun barbecue at Capitol Park. The Capitol Park Neighborhood Association, led by Sandy Flores, Shannon Miles, and Nina Gomez, organized the event with the help of my office to bring out neighbors and take back a park that has had its fair share of issues. Thank you to Our City Forest, Lake Cunningham Action Park, and the Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force for supporting and providing resources during the event. We had a great time and we were able to brainstorm ways to activate the park, get more art in the neighborhood, and make our community safer.
If you ever want to create an event like this or would like our support, please reach out to my office. We would love to help you create a stronger bond within your community.
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Assemblymember Ash Kalra and Veggielution hosted Veggie Fest on July 28th at Martial Cottle Park.
It was an honor having my office be alongside Ash Kalra while he presented a State Resolution to Veggielution for their 10 years of service to the community. I also wanted to help sponsor this event because it is important to have an event that takes us back to our farming roots while honoring California's rich agriculture and promoting healthy living.
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Measure Q Expenditure Oversight Committee Vacancy
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Do you love nature and numbers? Do you believe open space lands are essential to community health and wellbeing? If so, the Measure Q Expenditure Oversight Committee might be the perfect volunteer role for you!
This seven-member committee provides public oversight for all funds collected and allocated by Measure Q. Each member contributes unique talents including an understanding of budgets and audit reports.
Annually, the committee only meets up to four times to review:
1) the plan expenditures
2) the annual audit and report prepared by an independent auditor
3) submits an annual oversight report.
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Are you in the process of moving? Do you have a lot of large items you need to throw away? It's FREE and easy to get rid of your large trash! This includes mattresses, sofas, refrigerators, tires and more!
To view the list of acceptable items, follow
the link HERE.
Note: This is only available to the City of San José residents.
Getting rid of your trash can be done in just three easy steps:
1. Make an appointment
2. Place your trash outside
3. We'll pick it up
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