This Week's Big Question

What are you most thankful for this holiday season?

Send your answer to district4@sanjoseca.gov and we'll publish our favorite answer next week!

Last week we asked about your Thanksgiving plans. Here's how you answered!

1. Staying in town - 35%
2. Traveling to see family - 24%
3. Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner - 22%
4. Not celebrating Thanksgiving - 20%

MY STATEMENT ON THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION

Congratulations Councilmember Matt Mahan, Rosemary Kamei, Omar Torres, Peter Ortiz, and Bien Doan on winning your elections!

Thanksgiving reminds us to take inventory of our relationships, to let our loved ones know how much we appreciate them, and to spend some time thinking about how fortunate we are. We’re lucky to live in such a vibrant, diverse, community. We’re lucky to have each other. 

While many of us are blessed with the comforts of stable living situations, ample food, warmth and security — many of our neighbors are in need. The nights are colder this time of year, and for a lot of folks in our community, the Holidays are the most difficult season. That’s why this Thanksgiving I’m hoping you’ll consider making a donation of time or resources to a local charity organization. Let’s look out for each other. 

Second Harvest • Humane Society • Spartan Food Pantry

The San Andreas Regional Centers 3rd Annual Holiday Craft Fair is being held on Saturday, November 18th. Well over 70 individuals with developmental disabilities will be selling their Homemade Arts & Crafts next week. And please post on your social media pages information about our Holiday Craft Fair. Everyone is welcome to attend. 

Your support in helping these ambitious and creative individuals with disabilities sell their Holiday Crafts will truly be appreciated. And they will get to keep 100% of everything they sell. We are hosting this event for these microenterprises who are looking to earn extra funds for holidays while displaying their artistic abilities. 

Sunday, December 11th, it's the triumphant return of the Santa Run Silicon Valley benefiting SJ Aspires. This 5k Run/Walk & Kid’s Run is a holiday treat for the whole family.

Sunday, December 11, 2022

5K will start at 3:00 p.m. and begin downtown before following the Alameda

Kids GreenWaste Reindeer Run for ages 2-10, at 4:00 p.m. 

Kids distances vary by age: 0-3: 100 yards; 4-7: 300 yards; 8-10: 400 yards

Start: Santa Clara St. and Market (Downtown San Jose)

Kids race will start at Christmas in the Park Finish Line

2nd Annual Holiday Pajama Drive!

Help us keep kids warm by donating for our Second Annual District 4 Pajama Giveaway!

We are once again partnering with local schools to deliver warm pajamas to kids for the holidays. We had an incredible response to our request for donations during our pajama drive last year and are once again asking for your donations.

Pajamas are important to kids because they give them a way to display their admiration for superheroes and cartoons, keep them cozy and warm, make them feel secure, and even lower risk of cold or flu. Donating a pair of pajamas will make a world of difference for a child in your neighborhood during the frigid winter months.

We request new with tags or new in package pajamas in any kids’ size 5-18, or adult sizes small or medium for older kids. They can be footy pajamas, two-piece pajamas, flannel, plaid, plain, with popular characters, for boys or girls or gender neutral.

Please bring or have pajamas shipped to the Berryessa Union School District office, c/o District 4 Pajama Program, 1376 Piedmont Road, San Jose, CA 95132. E-commerce sites such as amazon.com, target.com and Costco.com make it simple to purchase and have pajamas delivered directly, but you can personally drop off if you prefer. Feel free to attach a holiday greeting note to your gift for the recipient.

You may also contact the Council District 4 office at 408-535-4904 if you need guidance with your donation or if you want to make a cash or gift card donation to the District 4 Pajama Program instead.

We appreciate the kindness our constituents display toward their neighbors and hope you will join us in making this giveaway another terrific success!

• EMERGENCY INTERMIN HOUSING PROGRAM UPDATE
• BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AT BERRYESSA COMMUNITY CENTER
• ASSISTANCE WITH HOME REPAIRS
• SJ EFFICIENT BUSINESS PROGRAM

EMERGENCY HOUSING UPDATE

On Monday, November 14th, the City published an update to the community suggested sites they received. This list contains updates to the status of the sites reveiwed and can be found here. If you would like more detailed information, you can visit the Emergency Housing Page.

As a result of your advocacy and the efforts of my staff, plans to utilize the Robert Gross Perculation Ponds/Noble Park have been canceled. As part of the process, the City of San José collected suggestions for alternative locations in District 4.

GIVING TUESDAY IS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY, ON NOVEMBER 29TH!

Join thousands of organizations across the globe participating in the largest giving day of the year. SVBC has set a goal to raise $15,000 in just 24 hours—It’ll be a group effort to get there, but the impact your donations will have is incredible. Traffic violence is a problem all of our cities face and changing our physical environment is the best way to prevent it. Safe Streets Save Lives. Please consider supporting SVBC this Giving Tuesday.

Here's what you can do right now: mark your calendar for November 29th and start spreading the word!

P.S. Have you checked out the Ways to Give page? Check it out in preparation for the big day by clicking here.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AT THE BERRYESSA COMMUNITY CENTER

SAN JOSÉ ENERGY EFFICIENT BUSINESS PROGRAM

Local businesses have a new opportunity to reinvigorate their business, save money, and support community-wide energy conservation efforts through a new program from San José Clean Energy, the local clean electricity provider operated by the City of San José.

The San José Energy Efficient Business Program has unlocked several rebates to San José business owners for qualifying HVAC, refrigeration, or water heating projects. These rebates, totaling up to 80–90% off the project cost, will make renovations to your small business more affordable and kickstarting these upgrades so much easier! All business customers with an active San José Clean Energy account are invited to participate.

Want to see if your project qualifies for the rebates above? Learn more or find a participating contractor at SanJoseCleanEnergy.org/Business.

HELP US PLANT SOME TREES!

District 4 is collaborating with Our City Forest and Orchard School District to plants some trees at Orchard School on November 30th!

Trees are crucial to the ecosystem because they produce oxygen, reduce soil erosion and storm runoff, and provide a valuable habitat for many species of wildlife.

Help us reach our goal of planting 1,000 trees in the next two years by volunteering at our tree planting events! Our City Forest will bring the trees, the equipment and the instructions on how to plant, but we need people to help with the planting.

Call our office at (408) 535-4907 or email us to volunteer. 

COVID 19 UPDATE

Omicron specific booster shots are available for everyone who has had the two initial vaccinations. Reservations can be found at sccfreevax.org.

How to Protect Yourself and Others From COVID-19: With COVID-19 cases on the rise, it is important to follow CDC guidelines to prevent illness. Most importantly, stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines, wear a well-fitting mask, avoid poorly ventilated areas and crowds, and take precautions when you travel.

Free Masks Available: Each adult can get three free N95 masks at pharmacies and community health centers. For help finding a location, call 800-232-0233.

Resident Resources: The City of San José’s Virtual Local Assistance Center is a one-stop for information on Food Assistance, Housing, Employment, Health & Wellness, Utilities, and Immigrant Resources.

Current Vaccination/Booster Sites: The full list of vaccine sites, and testing sites are available on the County of Santa Clara COVID-19 website. Please note that vaccination sites are a combination of drop-in and by appointment only. Residents are encouraged to make an appointment, where possible. All sites have boosters available.