Dear neighbors,
San Jose residents -- like myself -- who drive along the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) train tracks every day on Monterey Road see graffiti, trash, trespass, and much more. This problem has persisted for years.
UPRR has received hundreds of complaints from District 2 residents about the Monterey Road tracks, which shares walls with multiple residential neighborhoods. The City has contacted UPRR countless times about a
Memorandum of Understanding
and shared responsibility, but UPRR has not been responsive or receptive to working together.
We as a City must prioritize the health and safety of our community, and we have been asking UPRR to partner with us in cleaning up the area surrounding their tracks. Unfortunately, UPRR’s lack of cooperation has left frustrated residents and City leaders no other recourse but to explore legal action.
On June 5, I held a
press conference
to share my efforts in finding resources and solutions to this issue, as well as my goals to work collaboratively with UPRR. I invited the following speakers to join me and share how the blighted railroad tracks have impacted them:
Greg Peck - Chair of the District 2 Neighborhood Leadership Council and President of the Los Paseos Neighborhood Association, Erasmo Zuniga - Vice President of Mercado California, and Linda Read - Team Member with Downtown Streets Team.
Our
memorandum
was approved at the June 5 Rules and Open Government Committee Meeting.
District 2 City Councilman Sergio Jimenez stood before a South San Jose track side soundwall covered in graffiti and called the Union Pacific railroad to clean up its act. "We really want Union Pacific to be a good partner, come to the table and work with the city to try and address some of these issues… We've been hearing promises for years on end that something was going to happen, but still nothing has happened.”
“We feel Union Pacific hasn’t been a good partner,” Jimenez said. “The city’s willing to help do some of the work. We’ve gotten funding to help paint over the wall of graffiti. Unfortunately, we haven’t had a willing partner on the other side. And that’s what we hope to change with the litigation.”
“The reality is that Union Pacific has not been a good neighbor,” Councilman Sergio Jimenez — whose district encompasses a chunk of blighted Union Pacific track along the city’s southern gateway — said at a press conference Wednesday morning. “Quite frankly, we’re tired of it.”
San Jose Councilman Sergio Jimenez, who represents the neighborhood, says this area has become a dumping ground. "Furniture, construction debris and piles of garbage [on the] tracks, all the way to Morgan Hill," he said.
“What we do every day by allowing this to exist is telling the residents, the residents on the other side of the tracks, that they don’t matter as much. Right? And we want to change that,” said
Councilmember
Jimenez.
"It's been going on long before I was elected, I hope it doesn't go on after I [leave]," Councilmember Sergio Jimenez said at a news conference next to graffiti-covered tracks at Monterey Road and Edenview Drive Wednesday morning. "It's just become extremely frustrating."
Let's continue working together as a community to make San Jose a better place to live, work, and play.
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In community,
Sergio Jimenez
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CONNECT, ENGAGE AND BE INFORMED.
#SJD2
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D2 News: Updates & Accomplishments
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Grocery Outlet finds new home at Santa Teresa Village Shopping Center
My team invested a significant amount of time in pushing for a new tenant in Santa Teresa Village Shopping Center because it was important to both residents and me that we: 1. Brought back safety and cleanliness to the area and 2. Filled this space with another grocer to rejuvenate the building.
“An abandoned San Jose building that attracted rats, crime and blight will finally reopen after residents piled pressure on the landlord and City Hall… The growing problem spurred a response from Councilmember Sergio Jimenez, whose district includes the former Nob Hill store, to explore measures to compel businesses to either give up their leases on vacant buildings or sublease to other retailers. In Nov. 2017, Jimenez supported the Vacant Storefront Initiative, which requires any property owners in the downtown area not actively trying to sell their vacant property to pay a quarterly inspection fee of $202. Still, the initiative is restricted to vacant buildings located in the downtown area. Jimenez is still exploring ways to reach companies who renew leases on empty buildings to prevent such situations.”
I look forward to welcoming Grocery Outlet to Santa Teresa Boulevard, and will keep residents updated about its opening day.
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Transforming our parks by bringing free games & activities to the community all summer long
We know many of you look forward to the weekend and getting a chance to head outdoors. Good news: My office is extending the fun into the weekdays this summer as we transform our local City parks!
Join us for FREE movies (select dates), games, and other events focused on health and wellness resources, physical activity, and community engagement as we unite our neighbors. Our activities include: resource fairs, inflatable obstacle courses, jumpers, soccer zorbs, climbing walls, giant lawn games, arts and crafts, and more.
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Free community Dumpster Days help keep our streets clean
My office has the capacity to fund a Dumpster Day for each District 2 neighborhood once every other year. In May and June, we had the pleasure of working with they Hayes Neighborhood, the Santa Teresa Bernal Neighborhood, and City staff to make this event a hit! I am happy to plan and sponsor this service for residents to get rid of their large junk items and to further deter people from illegally dumping on our streets.
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Meeting with youth is just as important as meeting with adults in the community!
These Martin Murphy Middle School students are rocking sunglasses from their favorite (don’t mind that I’m their only) District 2 Councilmember!
One of the Career Day topics was the importance of voting — when they turn 18 in a few years — and speaking up about issues they care about (safe parks, clean streets, an affordable place to live, etc.)
Students asked my staff about their background, what brought them to work for an elected official, and what interests them about the public sector. Fun fact: Anyone with a drive to make their community better can be in this role! We always welcome people with different experiences to bring diversity to the decision making process at City Hall. For example, I hold a B.A. in Political Science. My staff also studied law, communication, marketing, English, journalism, Chicano studies, fashion merchandising, and music!
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Watch my "District News" update in CreaTV's Valley Politics segment
CreaTV
invited me to share my goals, initiatives, accomplishments, and more -- everything you read about and see in my
monthly newsletters
-- as San Jose's District 2 representative.
My team and I have a clear mission to increase access to public safety, be visible and responsive to our community, advocate for equitable housing policies, and protect open space. We are achieving this mission by: working hand in hand with residents to clean our streets through my #D2CleanStreets Initative, strengthening community engagement, bringing affordable housing and homeless solutions, preserving Coyote Valley, partnering with local businesses, and increasing traffic safety.
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D2 Business Spotlight: Ch
ampa Kitchen in Monterey Plaza
Champa Kitchen
is the newest Halal Champa Vietnamese cuisine in the Monterey Plaza! The owners are local San Jose residents who are proud of their Champa Vietnamese roots. From Chicken Curry to Champa Lamb, this upcoming restaurant is looking forward to making District 2 their home. I encourage all residents to support this local establishment and enjoy some food while you’re at it!
5560 Monterey Road, San Jose, CA 95138
(408) 912-5419
Open Monday-Sunday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Closed 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.)
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A Look at More Community Stories
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I thanked Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (CIFE) for their collaboration with other community partners to combat wage theft in Silicon Valley. CIFE has provided evidence to aid local government agencies in implementing worker protection policies, and was crucial to the passage of a strong wage theft policy in San Jose. We commend them for their commitment to social justice.
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Congratulations to our San Jose Recreation Preschool Class of 2019! We are thrilled to see you beaming with pride. We also applaud the teachers, as well as Ray and Angela from Southside Community Center, for creating and bringing to life quality programs for kids at our local community center. Little graduates, I hope this is just one of many stages you will walk in South San Jose’s District 2!
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Some representatives from the League of Women Voters visited my office to talk about how the City's General plan includes District 2's Coyote Valley.
We specifically recommended along with additional direction for the scope of the General Plan to include “analysis of the potential redistribution of job growth from North Coyote Valley, allow for Task Force discussion on the long-term future of North Coyote Valley and the Mid-Coyote Urban Reserve to achieve key city objectives including the preservation of open space and wildlife habitat, flood and groundwater protection, agriculture, climate change resilience, and passive recreation."
I am committed to the continued preservation of San Jose’s most prized natural treasure, Coyote Valley. Additionally, we moved forward efforts to spur increased housing and affordable housing. The Envision San Jose 2040 General Plan (General Plan) is a comprehensive and forward thinking policy document that lays the framework for becoming a fiscally-sound and environmentally sustainable city, I encourage residents to stay engaged on this issue as it will impact San Jose for years to come.
In addition, the State Assembly passed
AB 948
to establish a Coyote Valley Conservation program and acknowledge Coyote Valley as an area of statewide significance in local planning documents developed or updated on or after January 1, 2020 affecting land use within Coyote Valley.
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You're looking at the firs
t “Expression Swing”
of its kind in San Jose, and I'm stoked that it's in our very own District 2!
Swing face to face and eye to eye with your toddler at Danna Rock Park, at Houndshaven Way & Valleyhaven Way, San Jose, CA 95111.
Show your fellow residents how much you enjoy your local park -- our community's backyard -- and post photos of you on the swing to spread the joy!
This park innovation and upgrade are courtesy of our San José Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Capital Team.
Thank you!
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D2 and You: Upcoming Events
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The San José Public Library is gearing up to kick-off some exciting summer programs. Learn more below!
Summer Learning
By participating, you’ll also get to be a part of San José’s goal of registering at least
500,000 hours
of reading throughout the city. There are educational programs, fun events, and so much more for all ages to enjoy, completely FREE! Register today by visiting your nearest SJPL location or
www.sjpl.org/summer
SJPL Bound
The San José Public Library is celebrating the 5
th
anniversary of their official magazine,
SJPL Bound
! The new summer issue covers June – August, 2019 and features the Library’s Summer Learning program, Graphic Novel Making Contest, fun events for people of all ages to enjoy, a list of their most popular and new titles, and so much more! Download the digital copy at
www.sjpl.org/bound
, or pick up a copy at any
San José Public Library
location.
Graphic Novel Making Contest
If you have a talent for creating comic/Manga-style illustrated short stories, you are invited to enter
San José Public Library
’s Graphic Novel Making Contest for a chance to win a prize! The contest is open to people of all ages! For details, including guidelines for the contest, please visit:
www.sjpl.org/graphicnovelcontest
Free Summer Food Program at the Library
To help fuel San José's children and teens' (ages 2-18) futures through healthy meals and fun activities, the
San José Public Library
will offer FREE lunch at seven San José Public Library locations from June 10 – August 9, 2019. For a complete list of participating library branches and schedules, please visit:
www.sjpl.org/summerfood
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The San José Fire Department emphasizes that fireworks are illegal, dangerous, and can result in fires and injuries that are easily preventable.
1. Snap: Safely take a photo of video of the person participating in illegal activity.
3. Report: Complete the online form with accurate information regarding the illegal firework activity. Include as much information as possible. The more information reported, the more likely action will be taken. Reporting parties can upload up to five separate photos or videos as evidence of illegal activity.
The City also offers a 24 hour hotline, (408) 535-5600, to assist residents that do not have internet access and wish to report violators. All reports will be reviewed for sufficient evidence during this reporting period. If the report includes sufficient information and evidence, the City’s Code Enforcement Division will issue citations.
The online reporting tool will be activated on June 1, 2019 and will remain available through the duration of the reporting period which ends July 8, 2019.
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City offers scholarships to increase access to Summer Camp programs that keep children engaged
The City of San Jose’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) is a premier summer camp provider. Hosted at community centers and parks, summer camps offer an exciting mix of recreational and educational fun to meet the needs of all ages, abilities, and interests.
The City offers multiple scholarships for select programs. Its goal is to ensure that qualifying San Jose residents have affordable access to these programs, classes, and activities.
For more information about recreation scholarships and how to apply, visit
bit.ly/CSJPRNSPA
or contact your local park or community center.
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Safe Parking Pilot Program provides a safe place to sleep for people living in their vehicles
People deserve a safe environment to sleep in. On May 15, 2019, the City of San Jose opened a Safe & Supportive Parking program at Southside Community Center to provide a space where homeless families living in their vehicles can park and sleep overnight. The program is overseen by the nonprofit
Life Moves, which is responsible for providing services, security, trash disposal, and more at the designated Safe Parking sites. The organization will also help families find jobs and housing.
Through this program, we are taking steps to ensure a sense of stability for families and individuals living in their cars as we address our city’s homeless crisis.
If you know anyone who could benefit from the Safe & Supportive Parking program, please email
safeparking@lifemoves.org or call 669-238-6193 for more information about resources and program eligibility.
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San Jose's Broadband Strategy and Small Cell Deployment
The San Jose City Council approved the deployment of AT&T small cells on
June 26, 2018.
The San Jose City Council approved the deployment of T-Mobile new/updated macro sites on
January 29, 2019.
On
February 12, 2019, the San Jose City Council approved an agreement between the City and the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) to manage small cell usage fee revenue and matching fundraising revenue allocations (from the City to CETF), subject to appropriation of funds, to implement a Digital Inclusion Fund.
Additionally, you may contact AT&T for information for small cell projects:
1-800-678-1169 Ext. 2084
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Funding opportunities for 2020 Census related work
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
The Silicon Valley Community Foundation – in partnership with the Northern California Grantmakers, Sobrato Family Foundation, and other local grantors – is accepting proposals to support #2020Census education and outreach efforts to hard-to-count communities.
Proposals will be accepted until May 31, 2019,
through their online portal
Apply SVCF
. Additional details are available on their
website
. You can also
view a Zoom online
from an earlier information session.
We are highly recommending Complete Count Committee members submit a proposal for this funding.
United Way of the Bay Area
In March of 2019, the California Complete Count Office announced that United Way of the Bay Area will be the regional Administrative Community Based Organization (ACBO) for Region 3. Region 3 is inclusive of the City and County of San Francisco and the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Solano. Through the State Budget, the United Way of the Bay Area has received $2.8 million to support Census efforts in Region 3. They plan on issuing their RFP in May-June 2019, with awards being decided in August 2019. Questions? Contact Kelly Batson at
kbatson@uwba.org
.
County of Santa Clara
The County Board of Supervisors has made a significant local investment in #2020Census efforts in Santa Clara County. The County provide additional information about local funding opportunities as it becomes available. In the meantime, please be sure to submit a proposal for the Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s funding on their online portal
Apply SVCF
.
City of San Jose
The City will also be providing funding to qualified non-profit organizations to conduct census education and outreach activities in San Jose. Details will be provided as soon as they become available. In the meantime, please be sure to submit a proposal for the Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s funding on their online portal
Apply SVCF
.
California’s Hard-to-Count Communities
As a refresher, below are the 14 variables that comprise California’s Hard to Count index:
- Households without broadband
- Non-family households (ex. Roommates)
- Renter-occupied households
- Vacant households
- Crowded households (more than 1.5 persons per room)
- Foreign-born
- Adults who are not high-school graduates
- Households with income below 150% of poverty level
- Households receiving public assistance income
- Unemployed individuals
- Limited-English households
- New County residents (within the last year)
- Children under 5 years old
- Multi-unit housing (ex. Gated communities)
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VTA's 2019 New Transit Service Plan
The VTA Board of Directors unanimously approved, at its May 2 Board meeting, the final recommendations outlined in the
2019 New Transit Service Plan
.
The Final Plan proposes to reroute
Route 42
to the northern/eastern side of US 101 along Silver Creek Valley Road, Hellyer Avenue, Silicon Valley Boulevard, Bernal Road and San Ignacio Avenue to serve community-oriented destinations.
Route 42
will serve the VA Clinic and the Mexican Consulate, both of which had been seeking transit service for a long time. Residents are encouraged to use this route, or else it will likely be reduced or eliminated in the future.
The approved changes will be implemented when BART service to Santa Clara County begins late this year.
Test Drive the Redesigned VTA.org Launching in June
A message from VTA:
We’re nearly ready to launch the new VTA.org by mid-June. Thank you to everyone who has provided input and feedback on the design.
We’re making improvements based on feedback from users like you as we add more content every day.
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How you can help keep our community safe and clean
See blight or homelessness in your neighborhood or around San José? Report it to the appropriate agency. All reporting is tracked at each agency and forwarded to the appropriate response team for action.
Union Pacific
(usually the property around the railroad tracks)
1-888-877-7267
Submit complaints regarding the Union Pacific Railroad to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Complaints regarding train noise or encampments can be submitted to their office directly by constituents either by sending an email to
r7_gx@dot.gov
or by phone to 916-414-2315.
Caltrans
(usually property surrounding / adjacent to freeways and highways)
Fill out a Maintenance Service Request (MSR): https://csr.dot.ca.gov/
Homeless Concerns
(on City of San Jose property)
408-975-1440
MySanJose App
- request services on City property
408-535-3500
Download the app to your smartphone!
Schedule a FREE Large Item pick up
, right in front of your home
Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office for support in contacting these agencies and departments:
(408) 535-4902 | District2@sanjoseca.gov
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Styrofoam & pizza boxes go in the garbage! More garbage/recycling tips:
For your information: Pizza boxes should go into garbage cart, not the recycling bin. They are cardboard materials; however, most of the time the pizza boxes are greasy which contaminates the recycling process. Example of other nonrecyclable items that residents often place in recycling cart are soiled napkins, tissue paper, to-go containers, etc.
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Need to report abandoned vehicles, street light outages, and more? Use
MySanJose: Our quick & easy tool to request City services
Want to get that pothole or street light fixed? Need to report graffiti, illegal dumping or an abandoned vehicle? Have a different question for the City? With the new state-of-the-art MySanJose
app
and
website
, it is now a breeze to file and track a City service request or reach one of our customer representatives. It is super easy to use – see our zippy
tutorial
.
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Please don't leave your large items on the side of the road. It's easy &
FREE
to get rid of your junk!
San José residents can
schedule FREE appointments
to have large items (such as mattresses, sofas, refrigerators, tires, and
more
) picked up by their recycling collection company.
Thank you for keeping our City clean and combating illegal dumping!
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Students, get involved! My District 2 Team is looking for interns!
Join our team and make a difference in the community! The Office of Councilmember Sergio Jimenez welcomes college or graduate school students interested community engagement, public service, policy research, and local government to apply for our District 2 Internship.
This unpaid internship provides students with an immersive experience in day-to-day operations of a City Council office that serves about 100,000 residents.
Student interns are expected to:
Communicate effectively with others
Adapt and work in a fast-paced environment
Have a willingness to learn and apply academic training to required job assignments
Commit a minimum of 15 hours per week
How to apply:
To be considered for the District 2 Internship, please:
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Have a D2 question or concern? Contact my team!
You may have met them at City Hall, Neighborhood Meetings, or just out and about in our community! In addition to supporting me at meetings and events -- or attending on my behalf -- my team members follow specific policy areas and have other responsibilities. They are happy to speak or meet with you regarding your questions or concerns!
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Get involved: District 2 Neighborhood Associations
Neighborhood Associations (N.A.s) are groups of community members who meet and collaborate to work towards common goals such as: beautification/clean-up efforts, safety enhancements, and social events. N.A.s serve as a connection between the community and City Hall. We are here to support N.A.'s by providing direction, resources, grants, help with outreach, models for success, and more.
Reserving meeting space as an N.A.
As an established Neighborhood Association, you may reserve space for community use directly with Libraries and Community Centers in our District. As long as the meeting takes place during regular hours of operation, there is no charge to to your N.A.
If your event goes beyond the hours of operation, there is a charge for staffing. Our office is happy to accommodate
2 uses per N.A. per year for N.A.’s by paying for the staff time. Any additional uses outside of this would require your N.A. to cover the cost.
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Beyond San Jose: Get the latest news from your other elected officials
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Sergio's Office Hours
Office Hours are a time to come ask questions, share concerns, or simply have a conversation.
Meetings are first come first serve
, and time may be limited to 15 minutes per person depending on the number of attendees.
Upcoming Office Hours:
Monday, June 17
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Santa Teresa Library, Study Room B
July 2019: There will be
NO Office Hours during the entire month of July
due to Council recess.
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City Resources
Speak with a live Customer Service Representative (408) 535-3500
Additional Resources:
(408) 975-1440
(408) 535-7770
(408) 534-2900
(408) 793-5510
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JOIN US IN THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND TO
CONNECT, ENGAGE AND BE INFORMED.
#SJD2
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San José District 2 | Office of Councilmember Sergio Jimenez
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