Long Story Short...

Here’s what you need to know this week — in 20 seconds or less:

• A Fourth like no other — San José pulled off its first-ever drone show in less than 24 hours after tragedy struck.
• Summer in full swing — festivals, concerts, art, and a wave of new restaurants to explore.
• Big shifts in local leadership and state policy — a new councilmember, corrected crime data, and a budget only a mother could love.

Keep scrolling for all the data and details.

Dear Neighbor,

Happy 4th! I hope you had a holiday to remember. 

This is one I’ll certainly never forget. By now, I’m sure most of you have heard about the tragedy in Yolo County. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those still missing. 

When our City team heard that the explosion meant our 2nd annual Lake Cunningham fireworks would be canceled, they jumped into action. And in less than 24 hours, San Jose’s first ever drone show was organized. 

I want to thank Councilmember Candelas, Assistant City Manager Lee Wilcox, Events Director Tommy O’Hare and many others for coming together to find a solution that meant families in San Jose could celebrate Independence Day and the innovation that keeps us on the cutting edge.

Speaking of celebration, we have a lot going on here in the sunny Capital of Silicon Valley this summer. City Council is in recess, the sun is out, and it’s time to get out of the house and enjoy everything happening in our city. 

Below are some of the many events I’ll be attending – I hope to see you there! 

Beloved San José Summer Traditions

• Music in the Park — The beloved downtown concert series featuring live performances all summer.

• San José Jazz Fest — The city’s premier summer music festival, bringing top jazz, R&B, Latin, and more.

• Gilroy Garlic Festival — Food and fun just south of San José, July 25–27 at Gilroy Gardens.

• Santa Clara County Fair — Classic summer fair, July 30–Aug 3 at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.

• Silicon Valley Pride — Parade and festival, Aug 30–31 at Plaza de César Chávez.

Ongoing Festivals & Series

• Viva CalleSJ — Open streets festival where miles of city streets are closed to cars and open for biking, walking, and community fun.

• CityDance San José — The City-sponsored dance series continues with monthly events through September.

• Levitt Pavilion Summer Music Series — Free live music at St. James Park through September.

• Viva Parks — Family-friendly park activations Monday–Thursday from 6–8 p.m. (movie nights on Thursdays from 6–10:30 p.m.) until August 28.

• Paint the CitySJ — Free painting classes in the park starting July 10 through September 26. Registration opens one week prior to each event at 8 p.m. Check-in at 5:45 p.m., events begin at 6 p.m. 

• Dine Downtown — A celebration of San José’s vibrant food scene with special menus and events.

Special Events

• GalaxyCon San José — Pop culture convention returns to Downtown San José in August.

• Chicano Soul Fest — Featuring soul legend Joe Bataan at History Park, possibly his first-ever show in San José.

• Alebrijes: en San José — New public art installation launching around Summer Fest, expected to draw 100,000+ visitors downtown.

• Momentum AI San José — AI and tech innovation conference, July 15–16 at San José Convention Center.

• San José Bike Party — Monthly social rides every third Friday (July–September). 

New Eats Across San José

• The Pressroom — Elevated California-American in a beautifully restored historic downtown building. The former headquarters of the Mercury News!

• Sumi Sushi — New favorite sushi spot on Paseo de San Antonio.

• Tostadas Downtown — The long-awaited return of this local favorite.

• Tsujita Artisan Noodle — Famous ramen and tsukemen at Moorpark Ave.

• Augustine (Santana Row) — Upscale Mediterranean-inspired dishes with speakeasy vibes.

• Raising Cane’s — Newly opened and first location in San José.



Whatever you’re doing this summer, I hope you take some time to be with family, support our small businesses and create lasting memories.

Sincerely,

Mayor Matt

If you saw this article on the front page of the Mercury News on Wednesday, it might have looked a little different. It might have left you with the impression that crime is skyrocketing in San Jose. That is incorrect. In reality, crime in San Jose is down about 4% between over 2023-2024 while the Merc originally cited a 27% increase.  

The error stems from the fact that the City changed its crime statistics reporting in April 2023 (to be in line with new federal standards) and it turns out the reporter accidentally used incomplete data for 2023, which means it is not an apples-to-apples comparison. We are working with the publisher to make sure the community has accurate information going forward. The Merc has since issued a correction and we hope that they will publish a new article covering San Jose’s declining crime trend in the coming weeks. 



See the raw data here:

Congratulations to Anthony Tordillos – San Jose’s newest Councilmember! 

I’m thrilled to welcome Anthony to the Council – he’s smart, independent and focused on outcomes. And while we may sometimes disagree, I know that he will look at the data, strive to deeply understand the issue, and take the approach he believes is best for his district – not best for the loudest interest groups and most extreme factions.

I’m looking forward to working with him to build more housing, continue our fight to end unsheltered homelessness and make San Jose the safest big city in the nation. 

He’ll be sworn in on August 12th, which will also be our beloved interim Councilmember, Carl Salas’, last day in office. But you’ll still catch him riding his bike down Santa Clara, offering kayak rides in the Guadalupe River, and working with all of us to make San Jose the best it can be. I’ll share more about Councilmember Salas’ impact as his time with us comes to an end. 

I want to thank both Councilmember Tordillos and Councilmember Salas for serving the city, and especially for providing steady, forward-looking leadership for a district that has been through so much over the last year. I hope that Councilmember Tordillos’ arrival will help us close the chapter on a tumultuous era, provide closure to District 3 residents whose trust was violated, and prepare us for an incredible 2026 in Downtown San Jose!

From my perspective, this year’s budget came up short. There is one positive thing I can say about it, and that’s CEQA reform, so I’ll start there. 

For years, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) was a third rail issue in California politics. Despite its humble and honorable start, it has been much abused by individuals and interest groups who have had a narrow interest in stopping investment or creating leverage in a negotiation. The net effect? Derailing much-needed housing, infrastructure improvements and other investments that would have made our state more affordable and more prosperous. 

In fact, a majority of the lawsuits brought under CEQA are not even about the environment. With these long-overdue reforms related to urban infill projects, California is finally restoring balance to a process that has stood in the way of progress. In San José, we’re pairing these state-level changes with local incentives so we can say ‘yes’ to more housing and other things we need — and actually get shovels in the ground.

The Governor was right to push the legislature into reforming it. But that’s about all I’m able to celebrate in this budget. 

The Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program (HHAP) has been cut. Prop 36 does not have enough funding to make a difference. And other than CEQA it seems like the Legislature forgot its main goal going into this budget cycle: to make life more affordable for Californians. 

We will update you on the effects of this budget as they begin to emerge. But we know that in San Jose losing $30M of HHAP funding in the fight against homelessness isn’t just small change – it’s the equivalent of keeping 1,000 people off the streets each year. If the State wants to end homelessness, it needs to do its part. But this year they’ve stepped back – and we will all feel the impacts.

Bay Area Panthers vs. Vegas Knight Hawks

Friday, July 11th at 7:05 PM

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

Cheer on our Bay Area Panthers as they go head to head against the Vegas Knight Hawks! Buy your tickets here.

Pobladores Night Market

Thursday, July 17th at 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM

SoFA District, 510 S 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113

Shop over 35 local small businesses, grab a bite at the food trucks and beer garden, soak in the live music and more at the Pobladores Night Market! You can check out the market every Thursday through the end of July. Learn more here. 

Santa Clara County Fair 2025

Wednesday, July 30th to Sunday, August 3rd

Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road, San Jose, CA 95111

Mark your calendars — the Santa Clara County Fair is back! Bring your friends and family and enjoy exciting carnival rides, games for all ages, dozens of food vendors, and more. Learn more and buy your tickets here.

Discovery Meadow Beautification Day

Saturday, August 2nd at 9:00 AM

Discovery Meadow, 180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110

Join your fellow neighbors to beautify a beloved San Jose landmark, the Discovery Meadow Park! We'll be adding community art projects, revitalizing the Guinness World Record holding Monopoly Board, beautifying our Sister Cities sites, and shining a light on our Children's Discovery Museum. Learn more and RSVP here.

Thanks to everyone who joined us at the Rose, White and Blue Parade! Hope you had a safe and fun 4th of July.

Last week, we partnered with PRNS and over 100 neighbors to pull weeds, spread mulch, and beautify Solari Park! Stay updated and join us next week: bit.ly/cleansj

We were live from the Shark Tank on Draft Day and I can definitely say — the future is teal! Let’s give a big San Jose welcome to Michael Misa, our newest Shark!