March 16, 2021

FACING OUR UNHOUSED CHALLENGE

Homelessness is one of the most pressing issues facing our district and our city today—one that has only gotten worse over time. In just the last few years, our homeless population has soared, and we continue to face challenges in connecting the unhoused to much-needed resources. It’s clear the old way of doing things hasn’t worked: we need a new approach that offers a sustainable, long-term solution to the issue of homelessness in San Jose. I’m pleased to say that on Tuesday, in an important step towards building that solution, the City Council voted almost unanimously to approve my joint memo with Councilmember Foley. Our memo recognizes that abatements often haven’t been an effective tool against homelessness in the past, and that abatement should be a last resort focused on encampments that pose a clear health, safety, or environmental risk. To ensure abatements are used only when necessary, the memo calls on staff to establish clear guidelines on when and where abatements can take place. It also recommends that the city expand services and outreach to large encampments in San Jose, so that unhoused individuals have access to the resources they need to find stable housing, while also keeping the encampments and the neighboring communities safer and cleaner. Lastly, our memo calls on the city to expand funding for transitional housing programs with a proven track record of success, like the Bridge Housing Community on Mabury. Ultimately, our goal should be to get people off the streets, out of encampments, and into housing. By using abatements as a last resort and focusing on providing services to encampments, we can do a better job of connecting the unhoused to interim accommodations, and from there to permanent housing. The work is far from done, but this memo sets us on the path to a long-term solution to one of the most serious problems in San Jose. Sincerely,

ASIAN AMERICAN DAY OF ACTION Alarming, appalling, disheartening, devastating; as my staff and I continue to work with our Asian communities, these are just some of the many reactions we've heard. I can not begin to imagine how all of you must be feeling. What I can do is pledge to continue listening and learning so that together we can find ways to make our community safe for everyone.

Image from the Stop Asian Hate Rally on March 21, 2021

#AsianAmericanDayOfAction is meant to be a day of action and healing. To me, it is also a reminder that we have a lot of work to do. Today, and each day forward, we must fight to ensure our communities are safe. Go to http://asianamericandayofaction.com/ to find out how you can take part.

PROGRESS ON STREETLIGHT CONVERSION TO LED

In partnership with PG&E the City of San José is replacing around 27,000 of 64,000 City owned streetlights to bright, energy-efficient LED fixtures. Installation of LED lights began late December 2020 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

Since the work started in the Northern half of the City, most of the northeastern half of District 4 has been completed. You can track the progress of conversion using this page. If there are streetlight outages in your neighborhood, you can refer the case to San José 311 and report it or reach out to our office at district4@sanjoseca.gov and we can work with City staff to get it repaired. Fortunately, constraints on City services due to COVID-19 have not impacted repair times, and you can expect a response with 16 business days. For more urgent issues, such as exposed wires or a damaged pole please call 311 or (408) 535-3500.

THE SOUTH BAY YACHT CLUB - A HIDDEN HISTORICAL GEM IN DISTRICT 4

Did you know that Alviso is home to one of the oldest yacht clubs in the Bay Area? The South Bay Yacht Club (SBYC) was founded in 1888 as the South Bay Yachting Association by 35 local, influential businessmen who loved sailing. The club and its facilities are historic. The clubhouse was built in 1903 and was moved up to its current location in the 1980s due to levee realignment. These days the SBYC is a hangout for sailing and boating enthusiasts from all over the South Bay. Members of the Yacht Club affectionately say it is “a social club with a boating habit.” Those interested in joining don’t need to own a boat to join the Club. All they need is the sponsorship of two current members, the $150 initiation fee and to attend a Club meeting. In return, members may use the Club’s facilities and the water access. They also become part of a tradition that goes back more than 100 years, and includes past members such as famed writer Jack London. The Club currently holds socially distant meetings and dinners to go, but during pre-COVID times, the Yacht Club hosted celebratory events regularly including Christmas dinners, midsummer celebrations and Fourth of July events. During the events and social gatherings, the members could order cold beers served over one of the oldest bars in San Jose, in constant use since the day after prohibition ended in 1933.

“We have a great fellowship,” Club Commodore Earl Jensen said. “If it wasn’t COVID time, we’d have people hanging out here all the time.” Visit the South Bay Yacht Club to get a firsthand look at one of our city’s hidden gems. The clubhouse architecture is splendid with an interior full of history and character, the views of the bay are magnificent, and the officers and members are extremely friendly. To find out more about the South Bay Yacht Club, learn about membership or to contact one of the Club’s officers to find out about an tour of the interior of the club house, visit the website here.

APPLY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS COMMISSION Part of my goal as your Councilmember is to encourage civic engagement from the residents of District 4 and I’m currently looking for applicants for the San Jose Neighborhoods Commission. As part of the Neighborhoods Commission, you’ll be doing the following: Study, review, and evaluate and make recommendations to the City Council regarding issues, policies, and programs affecting the quality of life in San José neighborhoods focusing on neighborhood safety, transportation, and code enforcement. Advise and make recommendations to the City Council regarding annual budget priorities. The Commission officially meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6PM (10 meetings a year) and could include other committee/workplan meetings as well. The time commitment is usually 10-15 hours per month. Please go to the link below and apply if you’re interested in helping to shape the neighborhoods of our city: https://tinyurl.com/D4Neighborhoods

ONLY 1 WEEK LEFT TO ENTER GROWING UP ASIAN IN AMERICA!

This year marks the 26th anniversary of the Growing Up Asian in America (GUAA) Art, Essay and Video contest! Founded by Lance Lew of NBC Bay Area in 1995, the contest provides a unique platform for young artists to creatively explore and celebrate being both Asian or Pacific Islander and American. It remains one of the largest youth celebrations of APA Heritage Month in the nation! 10 students will be selected for a cash award and a chance to appear on NBC Bay Area! This year’s theme is: This is My Time Entry Deadline: Friday, April 2, 2021   The year of 2020 has left a mark on history. With the COVID-19 pandemic, our community has battled a difficult time of uncertainty, illness, loss, and inequity. However, we can reflect and implement change to ensure a brighter future. Share what your vision of the future is and what tools and lessons you think will help to propel us into a new era post-pandemic.   One (1) $1,000 Lance Lew Grand Prize winner* Nine (9) $500 Best in Class winners   We will be continuing to offer a Grand Prize award, and one Best in Class winner will be selected to win this year’s Grand Prize and a $1,000 award. Honorable Mention winners will also be selected. All winners will have their entries showcased on the AACI website and have a chance to be featured on NBC Bay Area.   *Grand Prize winners from previous years will not be eligible to receive the grand prize again   K-12 Students in the counties of Santa Clara, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma, Solano, Napa, Alameda, or San Mateo are encouraged to submit artwork, essays, and videos relating to this year's theme. Entries must be submitted online by Friday, April 2 2021 at 11:59 PM.    To learn more or to submit your work, please visit our GUAA website or click the button below! For any questions please contact us at GUAA@aaci.org.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Distribute 300 Grocery Gift Cards, Books and Gifts to 300 Children Saturday, March 27, 2021 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM McKinley Elementary School, 651 Macredes Avenue, San José, CA 95116 Food and book distribution, gifts and Community Policing-Fostering a positive experience for children and families from the McKinley/Bonita neighborhood. This is a NO CONTACT event; mask requirements and social distancing will be in effect with curbside pick-up. Virtual Purified Water Project Scoping Meeting Monday, March 29, 2021 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Dial-in: +1 669 900 9128 Webinar ID: 944 7734 2812 https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/94477342812 Valley Water is hosting a virtual scoping meeting for the Purified Water Project. At this meeting, the community will learn more about the project, the planning process and provide feedback related to environmental impacts that will be analyzed as part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process.

KEEP IN TOUCH

For day to day updates, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. As always, please feel free to contact my office with your questions, comments or concerns by email at District4@sanjoseca.gov and visit our website at sanjoseca.gov/district4.

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