d4sanjose.com • (408) 535-4904 • district4@sanjoseca.gov

Taking stock of what our office accomplished during 2022, I'd like to share with you some highlights, some facts and figures, and a call for your feedback as we run full speed into 2023.

Policy Accomplishments

Safe Routes To School

Improving safety for children and families walking to and from school.

As a previous School Board Member and a parent, I care deeply about the safety of our students, teachers, and families. I wrote this memo to ensure that we have safe walking routes to and from our schools by expanding and publicizing our traffic safety programs. We began the conversation of prioritizing Safe Routes to School by investing in school crossing guards and collaborating with our school districts to evaluate traffic safety near schools.

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Accelerate Police Staffing Levels

Directed city staff to develop a workplan to accelerate police staffing levels and reduce mandatory overtime.

We are in critical need for police officers to protect our streets and neighborhoods, but in the meantime, we are relying on an overworked police force that uses mandatory overtime to compensate for the lack of officers. I wrote this memo to have city staff develop a workplan to accelerate police staffing levels while strategically reducing mandatory overtime. It is important that we create a plan to recruit more officers while supporting our current police force. 

North San José Strategy

Led negotiation efforts with multiple government agencies to open up North San Jose for development. Ensured at least 20% of new housing built in North San José is rent-restricted affordable housing.

North San Jose is one of the key sites for housing development in the city. Some envision a New Downtown in this region of district 4. With these new developments, I wanted to make sure that at least 20% of this new housing will be affordable for more residents.

Our memo instructs the City Manager to determine ways we can meet this affordable housing goal.

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Homeless Crisis Funding Transparency

Creating systems of measurement and metrics of success in programs addressing the crisis of homelessness in San José by publishing a data dashboard to communicate details of spending towards transitional housing, emergency shelter, and homelessness prevention.

Homelessness continues to be a top priority for everyone in the city, but we need to be clear and open with how we are solving it. I wanted to demystify where this funding is coming from, what is being spent, and what outcomes we are achieving. This memorandum recommended that the City develop a public page on our website that clearly reports these metrics. 

Protecting Penetencia Reach 2 Park

Protected open space in Noble and bolstered community outreach for housing projects.

I listened to dozens of residents that came together to protect this important open space from development. The series of memos ensured that the Noble site will be permanently removed from development and gave the City of San Jose the opportunity to properly engage with the community when new developments are proposed

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Growing Our Tree Canopy

Approved an Advisory group with multiple city departments, Our City Forest, other government/non-profit partners, and residents to execute the Community Forest Management Plan to grow our city's tree canopy.

The City approved the Community Forest Management Plan to help grow and maintain our city's tree canopy. With my memo, I directed the City Manager to include representatives that understand the best practices for expanding a healthy community forest that includes city staff, Our City Forest, relevant government agencies, and residents.

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Prioritized Creation of a Climate Commission

Started the process of the creation of a Climate Commission to advise San Jose's climate and environmental policy.

Combating climate change and making San Jose the greenest city in the nation has always been a top priority of mine. I worked with city staff to create recommendations on how we can establish a Climate Commission that can advise and create the best climate and environmental policy. Now, we are looking to fund the Commission during this year's budget cycle.

Increased Library Hours

Fully restored all branch library hours to 47 hours per week and added Sunday hours to Berryessa and Alviso libraries.

Libraries serve all of our community members, providing public spaces to gather and a peaceful learning environment for all ages. Due to the impacts of the pandemic, library hours were cut short. Entering 2022, I knew that we need to bring hours back to pre-pandemic levels and open on Sundays, which have been among the most popular service days of the week. Now, the Berryessa and Alviso Branch Libraries in our district are both open on Sundays!

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Funding Alviso Library Facility

Prioritized grant funding to be directed to Alviso Library for modernization of finishes, furnishings, and fixtures.

Alviso Library has long been neglected for modernization and improvements. With this memo, I directed Library and Public Works staff to find funding to go toward customer-facing improvements to Alviso library so that it will be more welcoming and accessible to the community.

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Citywide Wi-Fi Access

Requested that the city look into options for a city-wide open access fiber internet network that increases public benefit to the community.

San Jose is the capitol of the Silicon Valley, yet we still do not have city-wide high speed internet access for all residents, businesses, and visitors to enjoy. I, along with other council colleagues, requested that the city look into options to citywide open access fiber internet network that gives the best public benefit to the community.

Quality of Life Improvements

The most important thing our council office can do for our residents is to make improvements to their neighborhoods. Road resurfacing, reconditioning of the local baseball field, building a new sidewalk to make it safe for kids to walk to school; these are all projects we completed in District 4 last year. We’ve got our sights set on plenty more projects in 2023.

Fixing the Field at Flickinger Park

Flickinger Park’s baseball diamond was falling apart. We worked with Parks & Rec to fix the sprinkler system and recondition the turf. In addition, we’ll soon be adding new bleachers! We’re excited for San José National Little League to hit the field again.

Sidewalk at Brooktree Elementary

We’re happy to announce that the construction of a sidewalk on the south end of Brooktree Park is complete! Neighbors have requested this sidewalk from the very beginning of my time in office to improve accessibility, safety and access to the park. This sidewalk also provides a safe route to school and makes it easier for students at Brooktree Elementary to walk.

Sierra Road Safety Measures

Sierra Road has long been a spot for speeding, illegal parking and accidents. The City of San Jose, at our office’s direction, and Santa Clara County conducted speed studies.. The speed limit was lowered and lanes were narrowed. Bollards are being installed between Lundy and Flickinger Ave to separate the roadway from bike lanes and eliminate illegal parking.

Noble

In response to our community’s opposition to a proposed development project in the open space at Pentitencia Reach 2, I managed to take this location out of consideration by designating it park space, protecting it for future generations to enjoy. 

Alum Rock Park Staffing

Until 2022, parks in Council Districts 4 and 5 had to share a parks maintenance supervisor with Alum Rock Park. Through my efforts, a separate Alum Rock Park Supervisor position was created, placing duties related to the park under control of one dedicated supervisor.

Agnews Park

The site at the former Agnews facility has begun to undergo redevelopment, with a new K-12 campus opening last year. The other half will eventually be a large city park. We’ve secured federal and county funding to begin demolition of the old buildings and start the master planning process for the park. With more development coming to the area in North San Jose, we’re working to ensure a vibrant community in the future.

Alviso Park Improvements

We have focused a lot on the existing Alviso Park. The public restrooms had been unavailable due to maintenance issues, and we had work done to reopen those facilities to the public. We funded the completion of a brand new Community Garden, which opened in 2022. The picnic and bbq area has been upgraded to provide more modern amenities to the community. In addition, we are working closely with the city's parks department to begin making progress on the park master plan for the expansion of the park.

Which Issue Is Most Important To You?

Today is Read Across America Day, celebrating the birthday of Dr. Seuss! This morning I visited the Berryessa Community Center and the Berryessa Library to read books to the children. Later in the day I stopped by the Alviso Library and read to students from George Mayne Elementary School. The book I read was We Are Together by Britt Teckentrup. Take some time to read with your children as often as possible!

Paint the CitySJ is a series of free events in our parks that feature a live painting instructor who teaches up to 50 guests how to paint a particular design. The event is free for all those who RSVP ahead of time via our Eventbrite page and they will receive a complimentary canvas and necessary painting supplies to complete the painting. Beverages will be available for purchase (e.g. wine for those 21+ and non-alcoholic beverages as well).  

This year we will be at the below parks in District 4: 

Thursday, March 30^th at Brooktree Park - RSVP LINK 

Thursday, May 18^th at Noble Park - RSVP LINK

Check-in | 5:45 p.m.  

Event | 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 

Promotional Video | LINK 

The City of San José Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services is now accepting applications for the 2023-2026 Bringing Everyone’s Strengths Together (BEST) Grant Program. The mission of this program is to provide funding for San José youth to build on their strengths and reduce their risk of gang involvement and youth violence.

Qualified non-profit organizations serving San José youth may apply through Thursday, March 23,2023 by 4 p.m. Applicants are required to attend one of the two identical pre-proposal workshops. More information on workshop dates and the virtual links can be found here. 

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Content Magazine Party

Celebrate the 11th Anniversary 

of Content Magazine • Co-hosted by Baunfire

You are invited to Open San José on Friday, March 3, from 6:30-9:30 pm for our Content Pick-Up Party. Spend the evening with your family and community while helping Content celebrate 11 years featuring 1,500+ creative individuals.

Irish Flag Raising

You're invited to attend the Irish Flag Raising on March 2023 at 10 a.m. in the City Hall Plaza. As a special treat, the Dublin Sister Cities' delegation from Ireland, including the Lord Mayor of Dublin as well as the Dublin City Manager, will be attending the event. Wear your green and come celebrate our 37 years of sister city relationship with Dublin, Ireland!

Who's making a big difference in your community? A great teacher, business owner, a police officer who goes beyond the call of duty. Maybe there's someone spending their free time organizing creek clean-ups or blanket drives for the unhoused... If you've got someone special in your neighborhood, let us know by nominating them to be a District Hero!

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.

Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 4:00 pm at Berryessa Union School District, 1376 Piedmont Road. For more information email support@campusclini.org or call 855-286-2577.

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