This Week's Big Question:

Voting can be complicated. There's a lot on the ballots to read through and it can be overwhelming. That's why Voter's Edge has created a site where you can see candidate and proposition information information. That's where you can check out sample ballots from your particular precinct, see endorsements, find your nearest Vote Center, and more. Participation is the most important part of democracy, and helping to decide local elections is a great way to impact your community.

Community Garden Ribbon Cutting in Alviso!

Alviso Community Garden Grand Opening

Date: Saturday, Nov. 5

Time: 9:00-11:30 a.m.

Where: Alviso Community Garden at the corner of Wilson Way & Tony P. Santos Street next to the community pool.

A master gardener will give a presentation on best gardening practices. Come by, get a plot and celebrate your new community garden!

Wilson Way & Tony P. Santos Way

Ride Out The Drought!

Santa Clara County is in a severe drought, and we all need to do our part. One thing you can do is learn more about the county's water systems and how they work to bring us this precious resource. Join us for Ride Out the Drought (#ROtD), a free, month-long program that combines the joys and benefits of riding bikes with learning about the water system. Register HERE to get access to the routes (geared toward different levels of riders), as well as a chance to win prizes! Oct. 15-Nov. 12, 2022

It's simple! Choose a route from the list of rides provided in the Ride with GPS Ride Out the Drought challenge and follow them when it's convenient for you. Ride with GPS includes directions and information about the points of interest we've called out to help you learn about the water system.

Ride to win! Record your ride in Ride with GPS and post to social media to get more chances to win in the weekly raffle. Those who ride the most miles can earn special grand prizes.

Register to receive updates about Ride Out the Drought and instructions on how to use Ride with GPS. 

E-Waste Recycling

Safely Dispose of old, unwanted electronics, devices and appliances.

Saturday, Nov. 12

8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

2750 Cisco Way

next to building 15. 

Acceptable Items for Drop Off Include:

• TVs
• computers
• monitors
• printers
• radios
• various data and power cables
• video game consoles 
• phones
• tablets
• 
  

No loose batteries.

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!

In The Wake of the Week

• VOTING INFORMATION
• ALVISO COMMUNITY GARDEN RIBBON CUTTING
• BEAUTIFY SJ GRANT PROGRAM
• VACCINATION CLINIC AT PIEDMONT MIDDLE SCHOOL

IT'S TIME TO VOTE

Ballots are in the Mail! Voting Starts Now! Election Day is November 8th!

Did you know California modernized our voting system when we passed the Voter’s Choice Act in 2016? Gone are the days of paper voter rolls and having to vote at only one specific polling place in your neighborhood. Now the Registrar Of Voters employees are able to look you up at the check in desk, print your particular precinct’s ballot, and show you to a voting booth anywhere in the county! You can request a paper ballot or vote using an electronic machine. You can even vote from your car in most Vote Centers, using drive-up services intended for folks with health and mobility issues. 

(Fun fact: The touchscreen voting machines are technically just another way of marking a paper ballot. They record your choices and print them on a sheet of paper you can double check before depositing it into the ballot box. Voting machines do not tally votes and are not connected to the internet.)

EMERGENCY HOUSING UPDATE

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. In the spirit of full transparency, the City published the entire list of suggestions they received. An updated list was published at the end of September.

Our Emergency Housing Page has the latest information including a link to the updated site list.

IS YOUR SAN JOSE HOME IN NEED OF REPAIRS?

Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley has partnered with the City of San Jose to offer home repair grants to low income homeowners--mobile homes included. We make repairs that directly impact a homeowner’s health, safety and quality of life.

Repair assessments are made by Habitat staff after visiting the home with the homeowner to determine the scope of work. Projects range in size depending on the home and homeowner's needs.

Download a Request for Service form inDownload a Request for Service form in English – Español – Tagalog – 繁體中文 - 简体中文 – Tiếng Việt - Hindi.

Required Documentation

• Photo IDs and Proof of Legal Residency for all Applicants
• Copy of Certificate of Title
• Proof of occupancy (including space lease agreement if in a mobile home)
• Copy of Homeowner’s Insurance Policy
• Income documentation for all household members 18 years of age and older

You can visit the Habitat for Humanity website for more details on grant amounts, requirements and other information.

BEAUTIFY SJ GRANT PROGRAM

The City of San José is committed to supporting residents in their efforts to beautify their neighborhoods and create a cleaner and more vibrant San José.

The mission of the BeautifySJ Grant Program is to support residents’ efforts at reclaiming their public space and to empower residents to aesthetically demonstrate their pride in our City. The City believes that the power to shape the future of our neighborhoods lies in strengthening the civic participation of our residents.

The BeautifySJ Grant Program provides funds (from $300 up to $5,000) for neighborhood clean-up efforts, beautification projects and neighborhood engagement opportunities in San José.

Proposals will only be accepted online via WebGrants. To register for a WebGrants user ID and to access the application, please go to: grants.sanjoseca.gov.

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.