Hello Everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the challenges we've had to overcome as a community this year. With the omicron variant looming and our city still reeling from the effects of the pandemic, my staff and I will bring a renewed sense of purpose and resilience with us into 2022 as we continue the work to rebuild. This holiday season, I hope you all can take a breath and spend some time with loved ones.
From all of us at the District 4 office, Happy Holidays! We look forward to serving you in the New Year.
Sincerely,
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- OP-ED ON HOMELESSNESS - SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
- FLOOD SAFETY TIPS
- FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES AND SERVICES DURING THE HOLIDAYS
- VACCINATION INFORMATION
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One of the most difficult challenges we faced this year was the plight of our unhoused. Few groups in our City have felt the effects of COVID, climate change and our housing crisis more acutely than our homeless. They, however, also have to face stigmatization and criminalization. Beyond the trauma of being homeless, we inflict further trauma if we don't approach this issue with empathy and compassion.
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.
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TIPS TO PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE FLOODING |
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During the winter season, it’s important to remember that flooding can happen any time it rains. The extreme drought conditions that Santa Clara County has endured over the last year have hardened the ground. This hardening can increase run-off to streams and creeks during the first few days of heavy rain, elevating the risk of flooding. |
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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.
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The San José Public Library Foundation’s end of year campaign is still going strong! Now through December 31, we encourage everyone to give to the Foundation to support the wonderful programs at the San José Public Library.
You can support the Library by giving to the San José Public Library Foundation. Please visit www.sjplf.org/donate.
The Library will be hosting many holiday-themed “Story Time” and craft-making events this month for children, both virtually and in-person. In the coming months, there will be in-person “drumming” events for families, where kids and teens are taught how to play drums and the importance of drums to different cultures around the world.
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The Library will also be hosting educational events for life-long learners to continue growing their skills. Several in-person English Language Learner (ELL) conversation clubs will be meeting, where learners of all English levels are welcome to practice and learn. Résumé and career development workshops are being offered for professionals at all levels, now and year-round.
All the events described above are free and open to the public. Anybody, regardless of their circumstances, is welcome to participate in, learn from, and enjoy these Library programs.
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SJ FOOD DISTRIBUTION DURING THE HOLIDAYS |
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Residents can access information regarding food distribution every Monday by using the City’s Food distribution map. Updates will be released on December 20 and 27, 2021, and January 3, 2022.
We strongly encourage residents to check in advance with the site for current days and hours of food distribution as information may have changed or been updated by the food-providing agency.
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To Get Food:
- Call 2-1-1, a 24-hour, multi-lingual service;
- Text your zip code to 89821;
- Call 800-984-3663, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley’s toll-free hotline; or
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Text GETFOOD to 408-455-5181 to request assistance from Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
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SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM (SNP) sites will be closed (as well as San José Community Centers) on December 24, 30, and 31. Shelf-stable meals will be available from your SNP site on December 29 in advance of the New Year's holidays. Please check with your SNP program in advance.
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MEALS ON WHEELS will deliver as normal on December 30. The Friday, December 24 and Friday, December 31 meals will be delivered in advance as normally scheduled.
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EVICTION HELP CENTER'S HOLIDAY HOURS |
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The Eviction Help Center will continue to provide assistance to our residents during the last two weeks of the year. Assistance will be available at the City Hall location and at Court during the eviction/UD calendar.
Here is the schedule:
Rental Assistance:
Dec. 23-25: closed
Dec. 27-29: Rental assistance by phone 9:30am-4pm
Dec. 30-31: closed
*Franklin McKinley site will be closed Dec. 20-Jan 2
Court Days/Rental Assistance:
Wednesdays & Thursdays, 9:30am-11:30am (Dec. 29 and 30)
The eviction prevention help center email will be monitored as well, residents seeking assistance can email evictionhelp@sanjoseca.gov. Please share this information with your residents.
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THIS WEEK'S VACCINATION SITES |
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To keep our community safe, everyone is encouraged to get a booster shot. There will be several vaccination clinics during the holiday season. |
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Booster shots are available, through both appointments and drop-in availability, at many pharmacies, clinics, and mass vaccination locations throughout the County.
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.
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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/
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HOLIDAY TRAVEL & NEW TESTING REQUIRMENT |
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Ahead of December holiday travel, in response to the new Omicron variant, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a new travel mandate. The new CDC testing order requires all inbound international air travelers to test for COVID-19 within one day of departure to the United States.
Questions regarding the new federal requirement can be submitted directly to @AskTSA on Twitter and Facebook or by calling 866-289-9673 between the hours of 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. EST on weekdays or 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. on weekends/holidays.
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