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Dear Neighbor,


I know our hearts go out to those who have been impacted by the catastrophic fires in LA. The scale of these fires means many of us know someone who has had their entire lives thrown into utter chaos overnight. 


Witnessing this devastation makes us wonder – how prepared are we for a disaster of this magnitude? Specifically, what more can we do to prevent wildfire and protect lives and property if one breaks out? 


These questions have been front and center in my mind these last two weeks. The LA fires are both a poignant reminder of the risks we face here in California and an opportunity for us to conduct an assessment of our emergency preparedness efforts, particularly focused on fire risk, which has only increased over time. 


We generally can’t predict when or exactly where the next natural disaster will hit, but we can make sure we’ve done everything in our power to reduce risks, mitigate impacts and save lives. To that end, I’ve had many conversations with our City Manager Jennifer Maguire in recent days about our shared commitment to keeping San Joseans safe and what else we can do to increase our preparedness. 


Thanks to voters’ support for Measure T and the hard work for city staff, much important work has been done in recent years to improve community safety, including the construction of a new state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center, three new fire stations (one of which is already operational), disaster worker training for nearly our entire workforce, updates to evacuation plans, tabletop exercises with key stakeholders, additional vegetation management in high-risk areas like Alum Rock Park, and continued funding for the CERT program, among other investments. 


But we can always do more. And the truth is–we can never be too prepared. As we approach budget season and define how our limited dollars will be spent over the next year, I’ve asked the Administration for an assessment of our current level of wildfire preparedness and recommendations for improvement. 


Specifically, I’ve asked for this analysis to include a look at our shared public and private-partner obligations related to: vegetation management near the wildland-urban interface (WUI), including how we are educating and ensuring private property owners follow best practices; water availability and testing of hydrant capacity and pressure; the number of acres of brush in the WUI abated every year compared against the estimated need to create sufficient defensible space; the adequacy of evacuation plans for high-risk areas; roles and responsibilities of partner agencies in responding to wildfires; opportunities to secure State and Federal funding to augment our efforts both as a City and as part of the County; investments we could make in the coming years to further strengthen our readiness; and ways in which our community can actively participate in safeguarding their homes and preparing for emergencies. 


We’ll share this analysis with you, and I’ll use it to guide my annual budget message, which outlines our priorities for the coming fiscal year. While we work on that analysis, I want to thank our brave San Jose firefighters who made the long journey down to LA to protect fellow Californians in their moment of crisis. We provide this mutual aid with the knowledge that in our moment of need neighbors from across the state will do the same. I was honored to stand beside our City Manager and Fire Chief to welcome our firefighters home.

Sincerely,

Mayor Matt

Compassion without accountability will not create the change neighbors across San Jose need and deserve. 



That’s why–as we double our shelter capacity by opening over 1,000 additional beds this calendar year–we will also require that people come indoors by establishing no encampment zones and no parking zones in select areas. We must incentivize everyone to come indoors, preserve our progress when we close an encampment, and ensure our public spaces are truly accessible to the entire public.


When it comes to oversized vehicles–lived in and not–we’ve begun a pilot program I included in my budget message last year which establishes temporary–and, if needed, eventually permanent–tow-away zones in areas that have become unsafe and unsanitary due to the establishment of quasi-permanent congregations of RVs and other oversized vehicles. 


We began outreach in South San Jose along Chynoweth Avenue – an area that is heavily encamped. Neighbors in this area have felt unsafe, unable to use their public park, and hopeless as they’ve watched this area fall into disarray for too long. 


Day 1 of this initiative focuses on placing tow-away signs and informing those parked that they need to move or they will be towed. Next, staff will identify vehicles, collect their information (make/model/license plate), and distribute flyers to any vehicle occupants with information on enforcement. Representatives from our Housing Department will also be on-site to connect individuals living in vehicles with available shelter options and other services.


The week after notice is given, towing will begin followed by a deep cleaning of the area. I want to make sure the community knows that we will be towing ALL vehicles parked in these designated areas — whether they are lived-in or not. 



Over the next six months, staff will systematically clear each of the 30 identified sites across the city, and we will evaluate which areas need permanent tow-away zones based on the results.


This pilot program will not solve our homelessness crisis alone. It’s part of an approach that creates a spectrum of housing options, and then holds people accountable for coming indoors and off the streets. I believe we can make real progress this year and I’m looking forward to sharing our results with all of you. 



Finally, if you’re inspired to help us get a handle on this crisis, ONE important thing you can do is encourage your County Supervisor to 1) significantly expand in-patient treatment beds for addiction and mental illness so we have even more appropriate places for people to come indoors, and 2) fund the case management and supportive services at city-run shelters, including our quick-build communities and converted motels, so we can sustain our effort to end the era of encampments.

African American Community Service Agency’s 45th Annual MLK Luncheon 

Monday, January 20th at 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

San Jose State University Ballroom, 211 South 9th Street San Jose, CA 95192


Happy MLK Day! Join us to honor Dr. King’s incredible legacy at AACSA’s 45th annual MLK Luncheon TOMORROW, featuring live performances from local artists and a keynote address with Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley. Learn more and purchase tickets here


Beautification Day at Guadalupe Oak Grove Park

Saturday, January 25th at 10:00 AM

5982 Thorntree Drive, San Jose, CA 95120


Help restore a pollinator and monarch butterfly habitat with Team Mahan and friends of Guadalupe Oak Grove Park! We'll be planting milkweed (the host plant used by monarch butterfly caterpillars) and other young shrubs to create a nectar-rich habitat for the adult butterflies and native bees. Learn more and RSVP here.


Lunar New Year Festival with Vietnamese American Roundtable

Saturday, January 25th to Sunday January 26th at 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Grand Century Shopping Mall, 1111 Story Road San Jose, CA 95122


Celebrate the Year of the Snake with a weekend full of live entertainment, delicious local food and drink vendors, interactive photo booths, and more family-friendly activities! Learn more here


San Jose Sharks vs. Florida Panthers

Saturday, January 25th at 7:00 PM

SAP Center, 525 W Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95113


Step into the Shark Tank and cheer on the Sharks against the Florida Panthers! The fun doesn’t stop there — in celebration of the Lunar New Year, every fan in attendance will receive a special edition Sharks beanie! Learn more and purchase tickets here


Friend Fest Marketplace with SJ Made

Saturday, February 22nd to Sunday, February 23rd at 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

South Hall, 435 S. Market Street, San Jose, CA 95110


Shop over 250 local artists and small businesses at SJ Made’s fifth annual Friend Fest! In addition to the endless vendor marketplace, you can enjoy exclusive giveaways, special programming, and more. Learn more here.

Oxford Economics agrees — the San Jose metro area is one of the strongest in the world based on economics, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance. But we’re not resting on our laurels. We have so much more to do. Watch out NYC and London — each day we’re working to make San Jose safer, cleaner and more economically competitive!

We’re kicking off a new year of community clean-ups at Lake Cunningham! Yesterday, we joined forces with Councilmember Candelas, California Native Plant Society, and dozens of volunteers to remove curly dock, an invasive plant species, from the park. With fewer weeds competing for nutrients, native plants can thrive! Looking to join our movement to create a safer, cleaner city? RSVP for our next clean-up here: bit.ly/cleansj

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