As my staff and I prepare for 2022, we decided to take a look back at what we accomplished in 2021. Here are some of the highlights.

Last year, we received nearly 600 individual service requests from the constituents of District 4 on a wide range of topics. Below is a breakdown of what issues mattered most to you. Our staff takes your input and interfaces with city departments, law enforcement, and other government agencies to resolve as many of these issues in as timely a manner as possible.

Keeping our District clean and free of blight is also a high priority for me and achieving this requires a number of different initiatives. We've worked with the Department of Transportation to curb illegal dumping throughout the district and continue to work with them on strategies to prevent this practice. We also work closely with BeautifySJ, The Trash Punx and other volunteer organizations to do trash and creek clean up days.

Another service we've been providing is dumpster days. So far, we've held 7 in the district, filling 41 dumpsters. This represents roughly 41 tons of unwanted items removed from our homes and streets. We're going neighborhood by neighborhood in order to make sure that each community has its own dumpster day so if you didn't have one in your neighborhood in 2021, please stay tuned in 2022.

We've also been working on larger issues as well such as terminating the Charcot Extension Project, building new wells on the Agnews Property, providing a transitional Safe RV Parking Site, updating the zoning of the Berryessa Urban Village while finally addressing the displacement of the Flea Market Vendors, and many others.

I encourage you to have a look at our comprehensive 2021 Year in Review. It has been an honor to serve you this past year and I look forward to continuing our work in 2022.

There will be a vaccination event on Saturday, January 29, from 9-12 pm & 1-3 pm at Morrill Middle School. First, second and booster shots will be available. This event is open to everyone so please share with your family and friends. 

You can register at: http://mhealthsystem.com/MorrillMiddle

Everyone 16 and older who is six months out from their second Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two months out from their Johnson & Johnson vaccine, is eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot. 

This is particularly urgent and critical for persons age 50 and older, and those with significant underlying health conditions. To find a booster shot appointment or drop-in booster location, please go to sccfreevax.org.

In partnership with Santa Clara County and East Side Union School District, vaccinations and Pfizer boosters will be available for ages 5 and up from 3 - 7:30 pm. No appointment is needed. The location will be the Piedmont Hills High School Theatre - L Building.  

The deadline to enroll in health insurance for 2022 is January 31. Don't wait to get covered! See how much you could save and lower the monthly cost of coverage. Enroll by January 31. www.CoveredCA.com.

Learn more about Covered California, a free service where you find and enroll in quality health insurance that fits your life and your budget. Enroll by January 31. https://youtu.be/boOFPpHcI3k

1. Create an emergency plan: The first step toward being flood ready is preparing for an emergency. Discuss with members of your household what to do during a disaster.

2. Put your 3-day emergency kit together: Create an emergency kit with tools, supplies, non-perishable food and water.

3. Download disaster and emergency apps: You can register for Santa Clara County’s emergency alerts by downloading the free preparedness app “ReadySCC” on your smartphone.

4. Know your flood risk: Visit valleywater.org/floodready to find out if you live in a high-risk flood zone. 

5. Get flood insurance ahead of time: Most home insurance policies will not cover you in case of a flood. Visit floodsmart.gov to learn about homeowner’s and renter’s flood insurance policies.

6. Protect your home from flood threats: Valley Water offers free, filled sandbags for residents of Santa Clara County. For a list of locations visit valleywater.org/floodready or call 408-630-2650.

7. Keep creeks clean and flowing: Healthy, flowing creeks reduce flood risks by carrying stormwaters away from properties and roads. Report blockages like wood or debris and dumping in creeks at 408-630-2378.

8. Avoid floodwaters – Turn around, don’t drown: Never walk or drive through flooded areas, no matter how shallow.

9. Build responsibly in floodplains: Construction within flood zones require special permits. Learn more at valleywater.org/floodready.

Working with City Staff and Community-Based Organizations to find solutions for some of our unhoused in our district has given me invaluable insight into the unique factors that lead to homelessness. Having gotten to know some of our unhoused, I now have a better understanding of how daunting a task it is work one's way back to stable housing. Those who live in their cars and RVs face different challenges. You can read my reflections here in an op-ed I wrote for the San Jose Mercury News, published last Friday.

We know many of our local businesses are struggling financially. As a community, we must continue to patronize our neighborhood businesses. To help support San José businesses we launched #ShopLocalSJ, a campaign to bring attention to our local shops, restaurants, bookstores, boutiques, and more. #SiliconValleyStrong launched a directory of local businesses and restaurants -- Sign up your favorite business or find one to support near you: siliconvalleystrong.org/shoplocal/