Please join me in welcoming our new Southern Division Police Captain, Elle Washburn!
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Dear District 2 neighbors,
Keeping our community safe and healthy is a priority for my District 2 Team, and the best way we can do that right now is by providing you with important information and resources.
Our nation finds itself in very trying times as we navigate the unprecedented Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Our local government resources are being dedicated to the well-being and public health of all San Joseans. During this difficult moment in our nation’s history, it is important to remain calm, stay informed, and follow all precautionary measures mandated by health experts.
As we stay safe we must also remain a strong community. Now is the time to lend a hand to a neighbor, check in on the seniors and those who are physically challenged in your community, and be patient and caring towards one another. Let us not forget the sacrifices others are making to keep us healthy: the first responders, medical professionals, and those working to keep essential services running. We must unite together to not exacerbate this crisis, but rather to ease it by each playing our part. We will get through this and be better for it.
My team and I are working remotely to keep you informed and updated. Below my opening message, please find the remainder of my April 2020 Newsletter dedicated to providing you with the resources and information you need to help navigate all aspects and changes in life during this time.
Have questions for my office? Email me and I will answer them during Virtual Office Hours!
To stay connected to my District 2 neighbors during this time of social distancing, I will be conducting Virtual Office Hours. I welcome you to ask questions or share concerns / suggestions for your neighborhood. Please send your questions and comments to
District2@sanjoseca.gov
, and I will address them during a
Facebook Live video on Wednesday, April 8, 2020
.
Welcome to South San Jose, Captain Washburn!
Captain Elle Washburn #3538 is a 25+ year veteran of the San Jose Police Department. She was born in San Jose and raised in nearby Milpitas where her family still resides. Elle started with the SJPD in May 1994 as a Police Dispatcher. After 4 years, she became a police officer and attended the San Jose Police Academy at Evergreen College. As an officer, Elle worked Patrol, the Metro Unit, and Narcotic Covert Investigations. Promoted to Sergeant in 2008, Elle worked Patrol, the Administrative Unit, and Research and Development where she implemented and deployed the Body Worn Camera Project for the SJPD. Promoted to Lieutenant in 2015, Elle worked Patrol and Special Operations where she oversaw the Metro Unit, Violent Crime Enforcement Team (VCET), the Street Crimes Unit, and the DEA Taskforce. Elle was recently promoted to Captain and assigned to the Southern Division where she is looking forward to community engagement and continuing effective deployment strategies.
Elle participated in SVO’s Leadership San Jose Program, Class of 2017, and is a Graduate of Saint Mary’s College of California. She is currently enrolled in Graduate School at Saint Mary’s and working toward her master’s degree in Leadership. She is a native to the Bay Area, enjoys adventure sports, and is enthusiastic about her chosen profession of law enforcement.
Captain Elle Washburn #3538
Southern Division
Bureau of Field Operations
(408) 277-4631
San Jose Police Department
201 West Mission Street
San Jose CA 95110
Learn more about our City and neighborhoods in my past monthly
newsletters from 2017, 2018, 2019, and this year
, which include resources and information, policy and community updates, upcoming events, and a visual, in-depth recap of the work we've done together.
My goal has always been to empower the community and make City Hall accessible to you -- to give you a voice in local government. I invite you to join me as I advocate for a more equitable San José and make our home a better place to live, work, and play.
In community,
Sergio Jimenez
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CONNECT. ENGAGE. BE INFORMED.
#SJD2
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Everyone counts! Don’t forget to complete the 2020 Census by Friday, August 14!
While sheltering in place, please take 10 minutes to complete your
2020 Census
! You can respond online, by phone, or by mail.
Visit
my2020census.gov
or make a toll-free call to 844-330-2020 to complete your Census. Get all the information you need at
2020census.gov
.
Who counts on
2020 Census
?
Everyone Counts
, regardless of immigration status! This includes everyone in your home -- children, roommates, friends, and family members -- even if they are only living with you temporarily.
Your participation will have an impact on federal funding for vital services and programs such as:
emergency preparedness, schools, roads, and public safety in your community for the next 10 years! Critical health services like our Coronavirus responses -- not to mention childcare, housing, and education programs -- depend on Census funding.
Your participation is also about fair representation.
Data from the Census impacts each state’s representation in Congress. These programs are important for LGBTQ communities, and especially those with multiple intersecting identities that are underserved.
For every one (1) person not counted in the Census, we can lose $20,000 over the 10 years. The census shapes many different aspects of your community!
Your privacy matters.
Every employee takes an oath to protect your personal information for life. When you respond to the census, your answers are kept anonymous. They are used only to produce statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to protect your answers and keep them strictly confidential. The law ensures that your private information is never published and that your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court.
I, along with San Jose Councilmember Raul Peralez, co-authored a
2020 Census Resolution
to monitor, protect, and defend the confidentiality of resident information
provided to the Federal Government through the 2020 Census from breach and misuse, and to support outreach activities to ensure a complete count and broad participation in the Census as a way to guarantee that marginalized and hard-to-count communities participate in the Census without fear. Our memorandum will be heard by the San Jose City Council on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.
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COVID-19 (coronavirus): Information & resources for the community
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Thank you for saving lives by sheltering at home, social distancing & washing your hands!
Please view the graphics for a reminder about why it is imperative that every single resident in our community must
shelter at home, practice social distancing, and wash their hands!
For more information about the latest coronavirus (COVID-19) developments, please visit:
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Bay Area 'Shelter at Home' Order extended through May 3, 2020
On Tuesday, March 31, 2020, the County of Santa Clara Health Officer issued a new Shelter in Place Order, now extending through May 3, 2020. The new order is more restrictive than the previous one and includes changes to outdoor activities and what is defined as an essential business and what is not.
Sheltering in place is proven to slow the spread of the virus if everyone decreases the number of people they come into contact with because it decreases the number who might get sick from someone who is infected. It is absolutely necessary that everyone follows the rules listed out in the Order.
The order clarifies essential businesses and activities, as well as some new restrictions, such as:
• Use of playgrounds, dog parks, public picnic areas, and similar recreational areas is prohibited.
• Use of shared public recreational facilities such as golf courses, tennis and basketball courts, pools, and rock walls is prohibited
• Sports requiring people to share a ball or other equipment must be limited to people in the same household
• Requires essential businesses to develop a social distancing protocol by April 3
• Most construction—residential and commercial—is now prohibited
• Funerals are limited to no more than 10 attendees
• Essential businesses expanded to include service providers that enable residential transactions (notaries, title companies, Realtors, etc.); funeral homes and cemeteries; moving companies, rental car companies and rideshare services that specifically enable essential activities
• Essential businesses that continue to operate facilities must scale down operations to their essential components only
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SiliconValleyStrong.org is the Bay Area's resource hub & c
ommunity response to COVID-19
As the response to this public health emergency escalates, many residents will feel direct economic impacts from business closures, event cancellations, and layoffs.
We’re doubling down on mitigation to protect our community–slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and reducing the number of people infected.
Silicon Valley Strong calls on the community to stay informed and look out for each other. This landing page serves as a hub with critical updates and resources for vulnerable neighbors–accepting tips for additional information at
mayoremail@sanjoseca.gov
.
- How to volunteer
- How to donate
- Employment opportunities
- Resources for schools and businesses
- Resources for workers
- Financial resources
- Community organization resources
- Digital resources
- Faith-based resources
- Mental health resources
- Bay Area free meal pickups at school sites
- Senior meal sites
- Changes to public transportation, meetings, facilities, and programs
- How to keep yourself and your neighbors healthy and safe
- COVID-19 testing
- and more!
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The San José City Council has enacted a temporary eviction moratorium in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The moratorium is in effect through April 17, and the City Council may extend it. Please visit
sanjoseca.gov/evictionmoratorium
, where information is updated regularly.
The moratorium applies to all residential properties in San José, including single-family homes, rooms rented in single-family homes, duplexes, condominiums, income-restricted apartments (i.e., affordable housing), rent-stabilized apartments, market-rate apartments, and mobilehomes.
Please note the moratorium only applies to residential evictions for nonpayment of rent due to impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak. There is no moratorium on lawful evictions for other just causes.
If you are a renter, you must demonstrate two things to stop an eviction under the eviction moratorium:
1. You have been impacted by COVID-19. Examples of being impacted by COVID-19 include:
- job loss
- reduction in hours of work
- store, restaurant or office closure
- furlough or layoff
- the need to miss work to care for a home-bound, school-age child
- State or local emergency actions that prevent you from working
2. You have suffered a substantial loss of income due to COVID-19 or related emergency declarations by County, State or federal agencies. You must provide documentation to your landlord showing you have experienced a substantial loss of income. Examples of documentation include:
- letter from an employer citing COVID-19 as a reason for reduced work hours or termination
- paycheck stubs from before and after the COVID-19 outbreak
- bank statements showing your financial situation before and after the outbreak
If your landlord initiates an eviction for nonpayment of rent during the moratorium, you should notify your landlord that your income has been reduced substantially due to COVID-19. You should begin collecting documentation as soon as possible.
To begin the eviction process while the moratorium is in effect, the landlord must provide you with a written notice of the moratorium, and the amount of rent due, in addition to a notice of termination.
When the moratorium ends, your landlord may seek unpaid rent – i.e., past due rent that was not paid during the moratorium – from you.
Please note the moratorium does not apply to pre-existing back rent you may have owed prior to the moratorium. If you already owe back rent, you may still be evicted for failure to pay that rent.
While the moratorium is in effect, tenants living in single-family homes, rooms rented in single-family homes, duplexes, condominiums, income-restricted apartments (i.e., affordable housing) and mobilehomes will be provided with
Just Cause eviction protections
that are similar to protections provided to many renters under the Tenant Protection Ordinance.
For more information about the urgency eviction moratorium, please read our list of
frequently asked questions
. If you have additional questions, please email
RSP@sanjoseca.gov
or call the Rent Stabilization Program at 408-975-4480.
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The $11 million Rental Assistance Fund, launched with Destination: Home on Monday, March 23, 2020 is pausing its acceptance of new applications until further notice. The fund has already received thousands of applications, representing financial need that exceeds the fund’s capacity. To learn more about the fund and contribute, visit
SiliconValleyStrong.org
.
(A message from Sacred Heart Community Service)
Dear friends – We regret to inform you that we have already reached the maximum capacity of households that we will be able to serve with the initial $11 million in contributions collected for this initiative. As a result, we are no longer accepting applications for financial assistance. If you meet the eligibility criteria listed on our website, please consider adding your name to the following Interest List. Please note: there is no guarantee that we will be able to provide assistance to any households on the Interest List. However, when/If additional funding becomes available, we will contact eligible households on the Interest List with information on how they can complete an application.
For those who already submitted an application: Please note: due to the extremely high rate of submissions, it is taking us longer than initially expected to process and respond to all applications. We are doing our best to process applications as quickly as we can, but it will likely take up to 14 days before we can respond to your application. To help our staff work as quickly as possible, we ask that you please wait until 7 days have passed before you call/email us to check the status of your application. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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Financial Assistance, Tax Assistance and Technical Support
SBA Disaster Assistance Loans: If your business or not-for-profit has suffered substantial economic injury in a declared disaster area, you may be eligible to apply for a Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan. These loans generally offer up to $2 million in assistance to businesses experiencing temporary loss of revenue.
We’re here to help! Businessownerspace.com partners
SBDC
,
AnewAmerica
,
MBDA
, and
SCORE
are available to help prepare loan paperwork, and speak your language.
Deferred Business Taxes for San Jose businesses: The City Council has extended the City’s existing
Business Tax Amnesty program
through June 30, 2020, for any business that wants to extend the time period to pay.
Delayed State Payroll and Income Taxes: Employers experiencing a hardship as a result of COVID-19 may request up to a 60-day extension to file their state payroll reports without penalty or interest. Call the EDD’s helpline for more info: 1-888-745-3886
Delayed Federal Tax Deadlines: The
IRS has announced
tax deadline changes for 2019 federal tax submissions and business tax payments have been deferred as well.
Rapid Response: work2future’s Rapid Response teams will meet with you to discuss your needs, help avert potential layoffs, and provide immediate services to assist workers facing job losses. To discuss options, please contact work2future.
Help With Your Lease:
BusinessOwnerSpace.com
is a City of San Jose-led team of more than 30 programs that help small businesses. Partners offer free or low-cost mentoring, classes, and other support on many topics including access to capital, business planning, marketing, and legal issues including commercial leases.
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Unemployment: Employees who have reduced hours or have been laid off due to COVID-19 can
file an Unemployment Insurance claim
through EDD to get partial wage replacement and benefit payments. Parents having to stay at home with their children due to school closures may qualify.
Disability: Employees who are unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) may file a
Disability Insurance (DI) claim
for short-term partial wage replacement payments.
Homeless Prevention Fund: Low-income Santa Clara County residents may now apply to this fund for direct financial assistance, based on documented loss of income as a result of COVID-19 impacts (maximum of $4,000 per month). Eligibility requirements apply. More information is
HERE
. Apply
HERE
.
Caring for Others: Those employees who are staying home to care for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional), can file a
Paid Family Leave (PFL) claim
which provides up to six weeks of partial wage replacement benefit payments.
Temporary Eviction Protections: The San José City Council has enacted a temporary residential eviction moratorium in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The moratorium will be in effect at least until April 17. Documentation of COVID-related impacts (loss of income) are required. For more information, email RSP@sanjoseca.gov, or call the Rent Stabilization Program at (408) 975-4480.
“Slow” Foreclosures: Borrowers who are experiencing financial challenges due to COVID-19 are strongly encouraged to contact their mortgage servicer to explore their options as some banks and financial institutions may be offering relaxed requirements.
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Help keep our parks open by following these guidelines
Your health is our highest priority. When going out for some fresh air, you can keep local parks open by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from others at all times, and follow all County and State guidance and orders.
Overcrowding at parks will lead to closures. We must all do our part to protect ourselves, our family, friends, community, and park staff.
Visit the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority’s Facebook at f
acebook.com/openspaceauthority
for awesome (and entertaining) interactive livestream hikes. There are more virtual open space experiences planned for you - check them out at
openspaceauthority.org/visitors/events.html
!
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San Jose Overnight Warming Locations (OWLs) are still operating, but at capacities that allow program participants to observe social distancing. Learn more about the steps our Housing Department and our partners are taking to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on homeless families and individuals
here
.
Helping the homeless
At the City of San Jose, we are collaborating with the County on extraordinary measures to help keep our unhoused neighbors safe during the COVID-19 crisis. We are opening temporary shelters in public buildings and spaces, expanding current programs for the homeless to 24/7 operation, installing hygiene stations and portable toilets near homeless encampments, working with the County and our healthcare partners to quarantine vulnerable individuals, and educating unhoused residents on how they can stay safe during the pandemic. Learn more and get updates at:
sanjoseca.gov/news-stories/news/how-we-help
From Santa Clara County:
Read this March 28 update
on our community's collective efforts to protect and assist our homeless neighbors during this crisis, including recent efforts to secure 172 hotel/motel rooms for sick and vulnerable homeless individuals and ongoing progress towards standing up thousands of temporary shelter beds in the weeks ahead.
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Access the library online 24/7 with your SJ Library Card
Although all San Jose Public Libraries are temporarily closed, you can still become an SJPL member and get a library card. Apply for our NEW and FREE
eLibrary Card
to start accessing our online collection, resources and learning tools! You can also stream and download books, movies, music, and more. Get started at
sjpl.org/eLibraryCard
.
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Updates from the City's Environmental Services Department
Our Environmental Services Department crews continue to provide core essential services during the shelter-in-place order. Help them stay safe and focus on critical needs by
keeping all wipes, fats, oils, and grease out of the sewer system. Throw these in the trash to prevent clogs that can create hazardous sewage backups.
ESD also continues delivering a safe and reliable water supply, treating wastewater, and ensuring garbage and recycling collection.
For the safety of drivers picking up your recyclables, please fit all recyclable items, including cardboard, in your recycling cart or save any extra for next week's collection.
More information:
SanJoseRecycles.org
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Free meals & other resources from local schools
In San José and Santa Clara County no child, senior, or person in need will go hungry during this COVID-19 health crisis. The City of San José is taking the lead in coordinating a countywide food distribution system in response to County and State orders to shelter-in-place.
In collaboration with County of Santa Clara, California, neighboring cities, Santa Clara County school districts, food delivery companies, and community partners in Meals on Wheels, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, United Way Bay Area, and Santa Clara County Office of Education -- there are now 100 schools from 21 school districts serving youth Monday through Friday to:
- Deliver nutritious meals to seniors and those with medical conditions
- Provide nutritious grab-and-go meals for the youth
- Ensure food security for those in need
For more information on how to access food resources or to volunteer, visit
siliconvalleystrong.org
, call 2-1-1 (a 24-hour multi-lingual service), or text your zip code to 898211.
For residents in San Jose’s District 2, please refer to the flyers above for more information as well as our local school districts’ websites:
Morgan Hill Unified School District:
mhusd.org
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Transportation service interruptions
For community safety, the following services have new safety parameters and ask the community to practice social distancing. Please visit their websites below for the most up-to-date service changes and information.
- Caltrain
- Valley Transportation Authority
- Light rail service is suspended until further notice.
- Effective 3/30/20 and until further notice, VTA will be running reduced bus service. Routes are suspended or coming less often, and most service ends at 9 p.m.
- We are not collecting fares at this time.
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Did you construct an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or convert a garage, basement, or room into a separate living unit
—
also called an ADU
—
without obtaining a building permit? Or, did you buy a property with an unpermitted ADU?
Insurance companies will NOT cover a fire, damages, or injuries relating to an unpermitted unit. Protect both occupants and yourself by legalizing your unit. The City’s new
ADU Amnesty Program
waives penalties and may help you save more than $10,000 in fees while you take the steps to legalize your unit, improve the unit’s safety for occupants, and reduce your liability. The program allows for using the building codes from the year the unit was built, and provides 5 years to complete items not relating to immediate health and safety issues. You can explore the program without disclosing your name and address by reviewing the Self-Assessment Checklist, and then calling the ADU Amnesty Coordinator with your questions.
Nosotros hablamos español. Chúng tôi nói tiếng việt.
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Take Advantage of Extra Savings on Electric Vehicles (EVs) at San José Dealerships
This spring going electric is about to get easier! The City of San José has partnered with Capitol Chevy, Capitol Hyundai, Capitol Kia, Premier Nissan of Stevens Creek, and Stevens Creek Kia to offer extra discounts up to $3,200 on seven electric vehicle models from April 1 through June 30, 2020:
· Chevy Bolt
· Hyundai Ionic
· Hyundai Kona
· Kia Niro All Electric
· Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
· Nissan Leaf Plus
· Nissan Leaf 40-kWh
Customers can stack these dealership discounts on top of local, state, and federal rebates for up to $13,500 in savings!
Electricity costs less than $2 for the equivalent gallon of gasoline, and maintenance over the lifetime of an EV is 40-70% lower than a conventional vehicle, resulting in even more savings. Plus, you’ll be reducing carbon emissions and air pollution by driving on clean, renewable energy from San José Clean Energy.
Low-income residents may qualify for additional incentives. Clean Cars for All offers up to $9,500 towards the purchase or lease of an EV or plug-in hybrid or $7,500 for public transportation (Clipper card) if you trade in a car from 2004 or older. Additionally, the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program offers a $5,000 rebate.
Learn more
.
Visit
San José Clean Energy’s EV webpage
to discover the benefits of EVs; local, state, and federal rebates & incentives; special electricity rates; a shop & compare tool; and more information on EV charging.
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Click on the flyers below for more information.
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City boards and commissions were established for the purpose of advising the City Council and providing ongoing input into policies and issues affecting the future of the San José community.
The Senior Citizens Commission studies, reviews, evaluates and makes recommendations to the City Council on any matters affecting elderly people in the City, including health, education, employment, housing, transportation and recreation.
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City Resources
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)
Homeless Concerns
(on City of San José 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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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 on the
Free Junk Pick Up website
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
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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.
Sign up for N.A. Newsletters:
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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JOIN US IN THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.
CONNECT. ENGAGE. BE INFORMED.
#SJD2
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San José District 2 | Office of Councilmember Sergio Jimenez
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